Ireland fans were left flabbergasted on Saturday after a bizarre rendition of Ireland's Call preceded their final game of the Six Nations against Italy.
The buzz around Saturday's game had plummeted after last weekend's hefty defeat at the hands of France had effectively ended any hope for Simon Easterby's side to claim a third consecutive Six Nations title.
Despite this, over 25,000 Ireland fans were expected in Rome, with the Stadio Olimpico sold out for a Six Nations game for the first time this year.
The Irish fans were in full voice ahead of kick-off but they were left perplexed by a less-than-stellar rendition of Ireland's Call ahead of kick-off.
Ireland’s Call being absolutely butchered 😬 pic.twitter.com/aPsv3Frpnd
— Jack Tunney (@JackTunneyRugby) March 15, 2025
The speedy, operatic rendition of the anthem of Ireland's rugby team had fans online fuming ahead of the clash with Italy.
We'll spare you the venom of some of the more outraged tweets but a cursory search for "Ireland's Call" should do the trick if you're curious on what the general public thought.
It followed two unusual renditions of the anthem ahead of the home games against England and France, and was a repeat of the strange version that preceded the 2023 clash in Rome between these sides.
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Italy had bizarre treatment for Ireland's Call once again
The frantic pace of Saturday's Ireland's Call was in stark contrast to the snail's pace rendition that preceded the last away day in Italy.
When Ireland travelled to Rome in 2023, Peter O'Mahony could be seen chuckling in the line-up ahead of kick-off, as the singer delivered a bizarrely slowed-down rendition.
It's Ireland's Call, but not as we know it. After an *ahem* interesting down-tempo rendition in Rome the action is underway.
📺 Watch on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer: https://t.co/UW8C8YbtZD
📱 Live updates: https://t.co/yrkfeBilea pic.twitter.com/nqCYRnm41C— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 25, 2023
At the time, some fans speculated on Twitter that the crawling tempo could have been a deliberate attempt from Italy to rattle Ireland ahead of kick-off. It didn't work in 2023, perhaps informing their decision to switch things up and deliver another bizarre rendition this year.
Ireland's Call is not exactly the most popular of anthems to begin with and it's safe to say the Italians don't seem sure what exactly to do with it.
Regardless, O'Mahony and Conor Murray were visibly emotional during the anthems, as they took to the field in an Ireland shirt for the final time.
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