Bagman in the background packs a lot into running smooth operation
22.05.12
JOHN O'SULLIVAN
HE IS a mother and father, rolled into one. He is a confidante. He is a handyman. He provides a shoulder to lean on. He drives a white van. He is the lost-and-found property office. He offers an escape clause to the forgetful. He is Dixie’s fella, who loves all music but will genuflect to the Beatles and Christy Moore.
He has been moulded by the 1960s and loves to spend time at the bar in Lakelands, home of his beloved Terenure College, and Inishbofin. He is a reformed hooker, going straight, that is to say to the hearts and minds of those with whom he works. He is the good-natured punchline to many a practical joke played by the players.
He is the bagman to the Ireland rugby team, a duty he’s discharged since 1994 by his own recollection. Some day he hopes to become a baggage master. It’s his aspiration. But most of all he is the incomparable Rala.
Here he outlines his role with Ireland in the build-up to a match and for these abstract purposes, the fixture takes place on a Saturday afternoon at the Aviva Stadium (3pm) and the squad are based at Carton House.
Source: Irish Times
