An unexpected obstacle for Ireland to overcome at the Rugby World Cup has been the infestation of bed bugs which has ravaged Paris in recent weeks.
Bed bugs have posed a problem in the French capital for several years now, with one in ten households suffering from an infestation of the blood-sucking insects between 2017 and 2022.
The problem has dramatically worsened this year, however, and bed bugs have been spotted roaming on public transport, in cinemas, and across Parisian homes. Deputy mayor of Paris Emmanuel Gregoire urged the government to take action ahead of next year's Olympic Games in the city:
Bed bugs are a public health problem and should be reported as such - the state must urgently bring together all concerned in order to enact an action plan appropriate with this scourge as all of France prepares to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024.
The Olympics and Paralympics take to Paris next year - but the Rugby World Cup is there and now, and Ireland fans who have based themselves in the city have an infestation of bed bugs to tackle.
With two of Ireland's four pool games taking place in the Stade de France on the outskirts of the city, and any potential knockout games guaranteed to take place there as well, the bed bugs issue is one Irish fans and players will have to get used to.
When asked about the issue at Friday's press conference, scrum coach John Fogarty gave a brilliant response when asked about how the squad had tackled the isssue.
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2023 Rugby World Cup: Irish scrum coach throws hilarious jab at Ireland forwards
Having left their base in Tours and settled in the Parisian suburbs, the Irish squad have been exposed to the insect infestation which is ravaging France's biggest city.
Bed bugs in Paris 💀 #rugby #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/YWLQEYz4kf
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 7, 2023
Ahead of their final pool game against Scotland on Saturday night, Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty was asked if the players had been fumigating their beds to protect against bed bugs - and made a cheeky joke at the expense of the Irish pack:
A few guys fumigate their beds naturally, especially the front five, so that's not been a problem!
But no, not that I’m aware of. We’ve been so lucky with where we’ve stayed. We’ve been well looked after so I’ve not heard of any issues.
Fogarty got a chuckle from second row Tadhg Beirne alongside him at the press conference.
Ireland will be grateful that the bed bugs have not given them too much cause to worry, with a crucial final pool game lined up on Saturday evening.
Scotland could yet claim a quarter-final place, should they defeat Ireland on Saturday night, while extremely long-winded permutational possibilities could see both teams through ahead of South Africa.
For the Ireland team, they will hope they can avoid Scotland's bite as they have that of the bed bugs in Paris.
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