Former Ireland international Nick Popplewell spoke about his rugby career and the birth of his first child, in the latest from our 'Answering Ireland's Call' series.
The loosehead prop played for Ireland 48 times between 1989 and 1999 and won three caps for the British and Irish Lions on their tour to New Zealand in 1993.
Popplewell's first cap was certainly a baptism of fire as he came up against the All Blacks in Lansdowne Road.
“So, it wasn’t going to be an easy one. And it proved not to be an easy one. I only lasted about 18 minutes. I broke three ribs, or they were broken for me, apparently,” Popplewell commented.
For Popplewell, winning a cap for the Lions was the crowning achievement of his career. He was the only Irish man to beat the All Blacks for 38 years until Ireland finally beat them in Chicago in 2016.
“The one that probably stands out is obviously the British and Irish Lions New Zealand tour in ‘93.
“Getting picked for the first test - you know for us that’s the Olympic medal. It’s quite easy to get on a Lions tour but to get a cap is a different scenario altogether,” Popplewell said.
Another hugely significant moment in Popplewell’s life came when he was playing for the Newcastle Falcons in the late 1990s.
His wife Rachel was expecting their first child back in Ireland and Popplewell had intended to travel home for the birth of the child.
“The phone call duly arrived on the Friday evening. We were playing a vital league match the next day. I think it might have been against Saracens at home.
“I put a call into Rob Andrews [Newcastle Falcon’s Director of Rugby at the time] and said, ‘Listen Rob, Rachel’s gone into labour. Best of luck tomorrow. And best of luck to the lads.’
“He said, ‘You’re not going anywhere bud. You’re playing this match tomorrow.’ So at half-time over the tannoy, a message went out to congratulate Nick Popplewell on the birth of his daughter.”
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