Video: Irish rugby stars back Gaza flotilla

A group of Irish rugby internationals have lent their support to the second flotilla aiming to break through the Israeli naval blockade to deliver aid to the Gaza strip.

Retired Leinster player Trevor Hogan (pictured above) asked Six Nations stars Gordon D’Arcy, Eoin Reddan and teammate John Fogarty to speak in favour of the flotilla.

“It was something I have always had a big interest in. I’m delighted to be lucky enough to be invited on board the ship,” said Hogan.

Agreeing to go onboard is a brave move – the first attempt to bring aid to the stricken Palestinians by boat ended in disaster last year when Israeli special forces boarded Turkish aid vessel the MV Marmara in international waters and killed nine of its occupants.

Hogan said rounding up players willing to support the move wasn’t difficult: “The lads would have known my views on Gaza. I gauged that there were similar views in the changing rooms and the lads were more than happy to help.”