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Earls' candid claim: 'I can feel the snobbery and the falseness'
Seasoned Ireland international Keith Earls has spoken about the awkwardness he has felt when attending post-game dinners hosted by the IRFU in their lavish Shelbourne Hotel haunt in Dublin. Hailing from Moyross in Limerick, the 34-year-old with 93 Test caps has recently published his autobiography – Fight Or Flight, My Life, My Choices.
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In the book, Earls revealed how he was diagnosed as bipolar in 2013, how he told Munster coach Johann van Graan he was retiring with immediate effect in September 2020, and how from about 2017 until the end of 2020 that his lung capacity was only functioning at about 50 per cent due to his liver being affected by loosened ligaments which caused a breathing dysfunction.
Earls also touched at length on his upbringing in Limerick in an area of the city that suffered from having a bad reputation down through the years. The winger outlined how this discrimination hurt him when he was growing up, how from his childhood onwards he was picking up signals all the time that he was different from so-called normal society.
This feeling that Earls was different continued into his rugby career and he wrote in his autobiography about the discomfort this has caused, particularly when the IRFU hosts its post-Ireland match dinners in Dublin.
“I’m not part of that social network,” wrote Earls. “I couldn’t have been born further from it. On the Saturday night of a home international, I’m in the Shelbourne Hotel with the squad, the IRFU officers, the alickadoos and the corporate guests and the society types. There’s the dinner and the speeches and the small talk and the back-slapping. But I don’t want to be there.
Keith Earls has spoken about his battle with the condition on Irish television. https://t.co/gNhghTjeI4
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 16, 2021
“I want to be back in Kinsella’s in Thomondgate with my friends and family. That’s where I belong. I don’t belong in the Shelbourne. I’m way out of my comfort zone. I can feel the snobbery and the falseness. People only want to talk to you because you’re a player. They wouldn’t give you the time of day otherwise. Edel had situations where people were unbelievably condescending until they discovered she was Keith Earls’ partner. Then they’d change their tune.
“Don’t get me wrong. Not everyone in that environment is like that. You will meet some very genuine, warm people there. But to go from Moyross to social occasions like that is a massive journey to make for me. For years I found it intimidating.
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“I had two huge learning curves. One was how to be an international player on the pitch, the other was how to be an international player off it. Being honest, I found the first easier than the second. I remember having to learn the whole etiquette of the dinner, the big banquet back in the fancy hotel.
“The first few times the waiter put the starter in front of me, I’d start eating it before the rest of the table was served. I didn’t know you should wait until everyone was served. I had to learn which glass was for water and which one was for wine. What were all the knives and forks for”
“One night the lads were asking for horseradish to go with their beef. So the next night, I can remember I was sitting next to John Hayes, I was having beef and I was asking the waiter if he could get me some horse hummus please. Some what? Horse hummus please. Well, the whole fuckn table erupted with the laughing. I got a desperate slagging. It’s funny now but at the time I was mortified.”
Having had what he describes as his first proper pre-season in about five years, Earls is currently with the Ireland squad in Dublin preparing for their three-game Autumn Nations Series which opens this Saturday versus Japan at Aviva Stadium.
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Hansen gets an Ireland call-up after making a major splash in the URC. #AutumnNationsSeries https://t.co/MzzjeGba1D
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 1, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
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