You're barred, Dublin pubs tell Umaga - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

You're barred, Dublin pubs tell Umaga

10/11/2005 05:55:08 AM Comments (0)

New Zealand captain Tana Umaga could be hard pushed to get a pint in Dublin this weekend after a number of pubs put up posters telling him he's barred.

Umaga, who dumped Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll out of the British and Ireland Lions tour of New Zealand this year with a controversial spear tackle, has incurred the wrath of Ireland fans, including Charlie Chawke, owner of at least six popular Dublin pubs.

"We have to make a protest about what he did to our own sporting hero," Chawke said.

"We believe he tried to destroy the man and he could have deprived us all in Ireland of a great rugby legend."

Posters in the windows of Chawke's hostelries, including city centre sporting pubs The Bank and The Oval, show Umaga's face with "Barred" emblazoned above it.

Chawke said that if Umaga, who will accompany the All Blacks for their match at Lansdowne Road on Saturday but has not been included in the match 22, entered any of his pubs he would be shown the door.

"He seems to be a bit of an animal so we also have to keep the safety of our customers in mind," Chawke said, adding it was "a bit of fun as well".

Critics have slammed the incident in the first minute of the Lions' opening test in which Umaga and team mate Keven Mealamu combined to lift O'Driscoll out of a ruck and throw him to the ground, dislocating his shoulder.

O'Driscoll is still recovering from the injury and has been ruled out of Saturday's clash.

Mealamu, who has received much less publicity for his part in the incident, has been named as the starting hooker in Saturday's match.

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