World News – GB – Exclusive Interview: Joe Biden’s US election victory was a family affair for Ireland champion Rob Kearney

The former British Lions full-back reveals an exchange of text messages with the family of the president-elect, with cousins ​​Biden and Kearney V.

At the height of the uncertainty and chaos of last week’s US presidential election result, former Irish full-back Rob Kearney received a text message from Joe Biden’s brother..

« It was the day before the result was officially announced, » Kearney recalls.. “I was texting Jim, his brother, back and forth and texting to say they won. So, I started telling everyone that Joe Biden had won but they were using CNN saying, « No, he didn’t, they’re still waiting in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. ». I replied, « No, no, believe me, he won! »

The story behind this wonderful exchange of texts between the brother of the 46th President of the United States, the former Irish full back, and the British and Irish lions began four years ago, when Biden, the then US Vice President, was on an official visit to Ireland..

Kearney, who has played 95 caps with Ireland and won four Six Nations titles including the Grand Slam titles, received a call from Taoiseach Enda Kenny to say that the search for Biden’s Irish ancestry had revealed that Biden’s father and Kearney were fifth cousins. . Along with his brother Dave, who is also an Irish international, the couple were invited to lunch with Biden at Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park and forged a lasting relationship that left the 34-year-old, who retired from international rugby this year, on texting terms with the family. Closeup of the new leader of the free world.

“It was weird how all this happened,” says Kearney. We chatted away at lunch and communicated well. He said, « Listen, you should come to Washington and visit us at the White House. ». We weren’t sure if one of those calls that says if I’m in the area called, but Dave and I went two months later when we spent some time and did a full tour of the White House, Senate, all conference rooms.

Congratulations to KearneyRob’s cousin on behalf of Biden. @ IrishRugby First win over New Zealand in 111 years. Made history again in Chicago.

“Then in 2018, when he finished his position as Vice President, he was in Dublin to attend a charity event for cancer research. He was staying at the Shelburne Hotel and I got a phone call from his brother stating that he and Joe are going to dinner and I would like to join them..

“So, the three of us went out to dinner at St Stephen’s Green down little Italian restaurant in a small basement and the atmosphere was so great..

Despite everything Kearney has achieved on the field, he has also won four Heineken Champions Cup titles and six Pro14 titles with Leinster and made the Test Lions team in 2009 and the tour to Australia in 2013, he has described dinner with the Biden brothers As « totally unbelievable ».

“I was really impressed. He was a charismatic, down-to-earth personality and a caring man, too. You look at the adversities his life brought with him, he has suffered many ups and downs throughout his life, and there is a truly human element to him, ‘.

“He is interested in people and asking a lot of questions about me and sincerely caring for my answers.

“The most important thing that struck me was his level of knowledge of many different things. When we went out for dinner we were talking about medicine, politics, history and war and he was an expert on everything we discussed.

“After we beat the All Blacks in Chicago in 2016, he called me that night to congratulate the win.. It was very strange at the time, but when I look back now that he’s the president-elect, it’s totally unbelievable.

To celebrate his victory in the presidential election, Kearney tweeted his congratulations to Biden, in response to the letter the then vice president sent him in 2016 after Ireland’s victory in Chicago. . Kearney and Jim Biden, whose son plays rugby in America, are in regular contact.

« But there is a little bit of a relationship that has arisen over the years and I’m sure our paths will cross again, hopefully, in the future, ».

For now, though, Kearney is back on familiar territory, returning to the Aviva Stadium for the first time since his career with Leinster ended last season as part of Channel 4’s live coverage of Ireland’s inaugural Fall Nations Cup campaign in Ireland against Wales at Stadium Aviva.

Andy Farrell named a team with a fresh look that includes seven changes from France’s defeat to the insecure Welsh team after five defeats from six competitive matches since Wayne Bevac replaced Warren Gatland as head coach. . The main thriller on Friday is not the US election but the debut of Kearney’s former Leinster teammate James Lowe, who starts out on the wing..

The New Zealand-born player has qualified on the basis of residency and has already been presented as a potential supporter for Warren Gatland’s Lions on next year’s South Africa tour, even if questions remain about his defense.

« We all know all the cool things he can do with the ball in his hand, » Kearney said.. « It’s going to be a step forward for him and I think what a lot of people will really care about is how he adapts to international rugby without the ball in his hands. ». What you do without the ball in rugby is as important as what you do with the ball.

And does Kearney think he has the power to lobby his claims in favor of lions? « The most important thing about Year of Lions is playing for Ireland and playing well – it’s on the first step of that journey, » added Kearney..

“It will be no secret that he is the Warren Gatland winger. He’s big, powerful, and he can make things happen, and if you’re old and powerful when Warren Gatland picks a team, you’ve got a head start..

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Joe Biden, Rob Kearney