Joe Biden has wished the Eire rugby union group luck of their Grand Slam recreation in opposition to England in Dublin on Saturday.
On Friday, St Patrick’s Day, Biden welcomed the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, to the White Home for a standard go to and talks.
At an official celebration, with Varadkar standing by, the president launched the previous Leinster, Eire and Lions full-back Rob Kearney, amongst a bunch of distant Biden cousins.
“I need to see you after this, pal,” Biden stated, asking Kearney to face up.
He added: “No offense to anybody however we all know who we’re rooting for within the Grand Slam match between Eire and England.”
Biden and Kearney additionally shook hands.
The president additionally has English ancestors however he appears unlikely to be disillusioned in his help for Eire on Saturday. Coach Andy Farrell’s group are prohibitive favourites to beat England and win the Six Nations championship with a clear sweep of 5 wins from 5 video games.
The Irish are ranked No 1 on this planet. They beat their nearest challengers, France, in a pulsating recreation at dwelling final month. Final week, France beat a struggling England group 53-10 at Twickenham.
The US president has made no secret of his love for rugby union, which he has stated he performed for a 12 months at legislation college in Syracuse, New York, within the late Sixties.
He has welcomed Kearney to the White Home earlier than, and has displayed an Irish rugby ball within the Oval Workplace.
In November 2021, Biden wished Eire luck in opposition to the mighty New Zealand All Blacks, then known as to congratulate them after they won.
Biden has additionally said that when he was a younger US senator – he entered Congress from Delaware in 1973 – he adopted an All Blacks tour in Eire.
“My brother was a rugby participant as properly,” Biden stated in Auckland in 2016, whereas vice-president to Barack Obama and through a gathering with two All Blacks forwards, Jerome Kaino and Charlie Faumuina.
“And sooner or later after I was a younger senator throughout a recess interval, he stated: ‘The All Blacks are enjoying 4 matches in Eire.’ And so we packed up, and we adopted all of them by Eire. There was nothing however carnage left behind.
“However I’m an actual fan.”
