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Céad Míle Fáilte

'One of the best': Joe Schmidt becomes an Irish citizen

Richardt Strauss and Olly Hodges were also granted citizenship today.
6.48pm, 2 Sep 2015
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JOE SCHMIDT BECAME an Irish citizen at a ceremony in Dublin today.

The national rugby coach, who is originally from New Zealand, wasn’t the only one officially welcomed into the fold today, with player Richardt Strauss, from South Africa, and the IRFU’s Olly Hodges, from Australia, also being granted citizenship.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald gave a speech in which she praised the contribution the men have made to Irish rugby.

She quoted journalist Anthony Woods as noting Schmidt is “one of the best”.

“People in rugby tell me that Joe does an untold amount of work behind the scenes to support grassroots rugby in Ireland – quietly declining offered payment,” Fitzgerald said.

And he’s not on his own. As key members of the Irish rugby management and team Joe, Oliver and Richardt have, time and again, lifted the mood of the nation, made us proud to be Irish

'One of the best': Joe Schmidt becomes an Irish citizen
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  • Richardt and Megan Straus

    Source: Leah Farrell

  • Joe Schmidt and Minister Frances Fitzgerald

    Source: Leah Farrell

  • Joe Schmidt

    Source: Leah Farrell

  • IRFU's Olly Hodges and Emma Hodges

    Source: Leah Farrell

  • Citizenship ceremony

    Source: Leah Farrell

  • Fitzgerald and Schmidt

    Source: Leah Farrell

  • Fitzgerald and Schmidt

    Source: Leah Farrell

All images: RollingNews.ie

Read: This tough-tackling scrum-half is set to become the Rugby World Cup’s youngest ever player

Read: ‘That’s two or three individuals with massive amounts of money to spend’

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