‘I was born lucky, I suppose. I should be dead about 10 times’ – Ginger McLoughlin still dancing to his own rhythm
Legendary former prop is best remembered for his famous try in Twickenham, but after years battling depression and learning to love himself it’s dancing, cycling and the simple parts of life that bring him joy – not watching Ireland
Irish rugby legend Gerry McLoughlin remembers special 1982 try against England in Twickenham
Gerry ‘Ginger’ McLoughlin pulls up the leg of his trousers to show the state of his right knee as he sits in the back kitchen of his home in Garryowen in Limerick city. He knocks twice on the knee, “made of steel”, he says.
When McLoughlin got a knee replacement, the surgeon said it might last around six years. Over 20 years on, he’s played rugby on that knee, cycled on it, danced on it, fallen on it, gotten up again and carried on with it.
