Paddy Reid only played four Tests for Ireland. Three of them were absolutely humdingers.
The Garryowen and Munster centre has passed away at the age of 91. He was one of the last surviving members of the Ireland team that claimed their first ever Grand Slam, in 1948.
The Limerick native made his Ireland debut in 1947 but was on the losing side to Australia. Few expected Ireland to make many waves in the following years’ Five Nations but they swept away the competition.
Reid played in the wins over France, England and Wales – only missing out on the victory against Scotland – as Ireland made history.
Reflecting on that Grand Slam, decades later, Reid told a tale that only goes to show the difference between the sport then and now – amateur and professional. He said:
“You couldn’t possibly compare now to then. Everybody was struggling. If a fella had a job he was very lucky.
“After every game, you gave your jersey back… Old [IRFU official] Rupert Jeffreys came over and you gave it back. At the end of the season, you got a jersey.”
Players also had to supply their own white shorts and were told to wear their club socks [predominantly blue for Reid]. The former centre fondly recalled a colour picture of his Irish team, taken in Belfast, that shows the squad in all their multi-coloured socks. “It was fantastic,” he said.
He may have had to hand his jersey back each time but he always did it proud.
