During the 2000s to the mid-2010s, a Six Nations afternoon or Rugby World Cup evening was far from complete without the iconic RTE punditry crew of Tom McGurk, George Hook, and Brent Pope [Conor O'Shea was also an integral part for many years].
While McGurk and Hook are long retired from their roles and O'Shea gone onto other rugby ventures, Pope has provided us with analysis on RTE all the way up until the last World Cup.
However, the New Zealander has given us his last World Cup by the sounds of it, and in an interview with the Irish Mirror, he did not sound pleased at being 'put out to pasture' by RTE, despite still, in his view, having a lot more to give to the job:
I was put out to pasture... it was tough because I have a good understanding of the game coming from a player and coach background.
People think when you get to a certain age you are washed up as a pundit and don’t have anything to offer in the modern game.
Brent Pope Takes Aim At RTE Ahead Of Rugby World Cup
10 November 2018; RTE Presenter Daire O'Brien, left, with analysts Eddie O'Sullivan, Brent Pope and Stephen Ferris, right, prior to the Guinness Series International match between Ireland and Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
READ HERE: Brent Pope Speaks About His Mental Struggle In An Exceptional Article
“That couldn’t be further from the truth because you in fact know more about the game and players that are involved," added Pope.
“I have a good insight into all the teams and this will be the first World Cup I will not be involved in since 1987, either as a player or a pundit."
SEE ALSO: Ex-England Out-Half Backs Jack Crowley Over The 'Limited' Ross Byrne
