Jeff Peel's Diary

O'Gara and the Queen (Pic: Irish Times)

There’s been a lot of talk about whether Ronan O’Gara was disrespectful to the Queen on her recent visit to Hillsborough Castle. 

The Irish Times photo implies that he slouched with his hands in his pockets.  It does seem like an odd way to stand when meeting a Head of State.  Keeping both hands in one’s pockets doesn’t come that naturally (except, perhaps, to men who play a game with odd shaped balls). 

The photo also implies that O’Driscoll is somewhat distressed by the whole situation.  I can understand.

Good manners dictate that when meeting someone – especially a Head of State – one stands appropriately with hands outside of pockets.  The other team members obviously took that as a given.  As to whether Mr O’Gara was making a political statement – perhaps he was, perhaps he wasn’t.  But such a contrivance looks to have an agenda behind it.  And we’re not talking pocket billiards.

EDITOR’S POST-SCRIPT: AS IT HAPPENS THIS POST IS NONSENSE.  RONAN O’GARA DID SHAKE HANDS WITH THE QUEEN