Sat Aug 22 2026 - 06:00 • 1 MIN READSir,- My fondest memory of The Irish Times rugby correspondent, Edmund Van Esbeck, who has sadly died, is waiting to read his match report in your sports supplement after an international rugby weekend. His commentary was always informative, accurate and entertaining. Who can forget his comment that the IRFU would sooner pick Laurel and Hardy to play for Ireland before they selected Tony Ward. Ar dheis Dé go rabh a anam. – Yours, etc,MICHAEL C O’CONNOR,Dunmore Road,Waterford.