It’s a big week for Declan Rice, who could be in line to make his England debut after switching allegiance from Ireland, but controversy was stirred when a dormant social media post of his emerged this week.
The post itself was to the effect of “UP THE RA – Wait ’til we draw England” with some added emojis, and was posted back in 2015, the year the West Ham midfielder would have turned 16 years old. And still a part of the Ireland youth setup.
The timing was obviously less than perfect for the young footballer, who apologised for his “naive words” this week, adding that it does “not represent who I am”.
Here’s Declan Rice’s statement on his 2015 “up the RA” Instagram comments#martinbrennan pic.twitter.com/u7pPOWa0w9
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 21, 2019
England manager Gareth Southgate defended the player in the aftermath of the furore, pointing to the fact that he was still a child when the comment was made.
Southgate on Declan Rice's tweet: "He's apologised. It's not representative of what he believes and feels and his views. Outside of that, the obvious point is when he was 15, 16 when engaged in a conversation with friends… I don't think he can do or say any more than he's said"
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) March 21, 2019
Aside from Rice’s age, it is worth pointing out that Irish slogans such as “up the RA” and “Brits Out” have become, for all intents and purposes, memes, at least in online spaces among Irish people, as explained really well by Paulie Doyle on Vice’s website.
It should be obvious to anyone that Rice was not declaring quite literal support for a paramilitary organisation, but likely trying to fit in with his mates in the Ireland team, or chums as he’d probably call them now.
Still, not everyone reacted well to his four-year-old comment.
When I was 15 I knew exactly who the IRA were and what they stood for .. I will have none of this snowflake let him play for #ENG bullshit .. it’s a total shambles .. country’s gone !!#DeclanRice
— Grant Nichols (@granty3333) March 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/SulaimanMinhas/status/1108787832947130368
the more I hear #declanrice speak the happier i am that he chose England,, @FAIreland were good enough to bring him into the system after Chelsea rejected him and now he wont even acknowledge his 3 senior caps #fraud
— brandon walsh (@brandonwalsh8) March 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/Egan2710/status/1108782047034781702
https://twitter.com/awhite66/status/1109062972641607680
England fans defending #declanrice who has openly supported the IRA…..while disgustingly abusing James McClean who has never once come out and supported the IRA!!Could’nt make this shit up!
— Gl3NN (@Gl3nnC77) March 21, 2019
Rice did have his defenders mind, who were willing to forgive the player for his mistake.
15-year-old sends Up the Ra tweet while an Ireland underage player and has to issue apology four years later.
We are all fucked.#DeclanRice
— Ger Keville (@GerKeville) March 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/curtiswoodhous8/status/1108791558999064576
The criticism of Declan Rice doesn’t sit right with me at all 2bh.
— Richard Amofa (@RichardAmofa) March 21, 2019
So Declan Rice has to apoligise for a tweet he made four years ago at the age of 15? Christ, if I had to apoligise for everything I did at 15 years old the word 'Sorry' would lose all meaning ? #DeclanRice #getalifelads #isittoolatetosaysorry
— Forgotten Clubs (@forgottenclubs) March 22, 2019
Unsurprisingly it became an instant meme in itself, as droves of Twitter users dove in to take the opportunity to poke fun at the midfielder, who was capped three times for the Republic of Ireland at senior level.
So 3/4 years ago Declan Rice was a normal teenage kid shouting ‘up the RA’ to his mates and now he’s voting Brexit and speaking about his love of the 3 Lions. So the question must be: by who, and where, did he get radicalized?
— Dodge ? (@seidodge) March 21, 2019
the IRA have issued a statement distancing themselves from Declan Rice
— mick (@mickthetaig) March 21, 2019
Declan Rice’s PR team are going to send him out with the biggest poppy known to man when November comes around
— Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) March 21, 2019
When Declan Rice finds out you’re in the IRA pic.twitter.com/rYOazhdx5M
— Ireland Simpsons Fans (@iresimpsonsfans) March 21, 2019
Just dug up Declan Rice's West Ham Initiation song….
All the signs were there#DeclanRice #upthera pic.twitter.com/qCoq6hAuV8— Jürgeneedabiggerboat (@Razor_LFCDT) March 21, 2019
No-one will ever have sung God Save the Queen louder than Declan Rice this evening.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) March 22, 2019
It’s getting worse for the poor chap! #declanrice pic.twitter.com/0fEgPBP0oi
— Glen Loughran (@glenio1234) March 21, 2019
In fairness who hasn't at some point tweeted 'Up the Ra' while playing junior football with Ireland, only to decide later to play for England while proudly declaring your Englishness? We've all been there. Give him a break. #declanrice
— Joe Donnelly (@kildarejoe) March 21, 2019
Declan Rice is an anagram of "Licenced Ra". Wait til the lads who hate James McClean find out
— aidan o'hara (@oharaa) March 21, 2019
Hiding in plain sight all along…#declanrice #upthera pic.twitter.com/QTqIFvMqdX
— Jürgeneedabiggerboat (@Razor_LFCDT) March 21, 2019
Of course, this would have to happen the same week as Alan Partridge’s Martin Brennan skit. That’s what you call comedic timing.
I'd say the English lads were a bit confused by Declan Rice's initiation song https://t.co/v3ViViNdXr
— Nathan Murphy (@nathanmurf) March 21, 2019
Too soon? #DeclanRice #COYBIG #UpDaRa #UpTheRa pic.twitter.com/xNte5yRO5E
— David Byrne (@byrne_david) March 21, 2019
It all makes sense now! #declanrice pic.twitter.com/qOu4nqY13x
— Glen Loughran (@glenio1234) March 21, 2019
On a positive note, Declan Rice has been announced as the special guest on next Monday’s “This Time” with Alan Partridge where he will duet with Sligo native Martin Brennan on a rendition of “Four Green Fields” #AlanPartridge #declanrice #ThisTimeWithAlanPartridge
— Eamon Lowe (@EamonLowe) March 22, 2019