Andrew Porter, the combative Irish prop, has spilled the beans in his new autobiography, joining a parade of Irish rugby notables like Conor Murray and Andy Farrell in hitting the bookshelves with personal revelations. Porter's narrative dives into controversial incidents on the field and the brutal backlash that followed, providing a raw look into the life of a professional rugby player.
In 2022, during a heated Test series in Wellington, Porter found himself at the center of controversy when his collision with All Blacks' Brodie Retallick resulted in a broken cheekbone for the lock. Despite the uproar and calls for a severe penalty, Porter maintains the incident was purely accidental. "I only learned that Brodie’s cheekbone was broken after the match. I sent him a message to see if he was okay and he was very understanding. He knew that it wasn’t malicious and that accidents can happen," Porter recalls in his book.
"He knew that it wasn’t malicious..."
Another contentious moment came in 2025 during the Six Nations clash against France, when French scrum-half Antoine Dupont suffered ruptured cruciate ligaments. French coach Fabien Galthie lambasted the play, resulting in a severe backlash against Porter and his teammate Tadhg Beirne on social media. Porter defends their actions, emphasizing there was no intent to injure Dupont. "When France’s head coach complained about the Dupont incident, some French fans turned their attention to Elaine. Threatening messages poured in, full of abusive comments and general malice, and that made me so angry," he explained.
Apart from on-field incidents, Porter also reflects on personal setbacks, like the rejection he faced at 16 from the Leinster under-16s coach. He recalls standing devastated as he was told he wasn’t big enough for the team. "I was gutted at the time, because when someone puts the problem out there clearly, and doesn’t beat about the bush about it, it’s tough," Porter shared. This early rejection fueled his determination to never be seen as inadequate again, pushing him to bulk up significantly.
Porter's journey from rejection to becoming a powerhouse prop weighing 131kg in 2016, is a testament to his resilience and commitment to proving his detractors wrong. As he continues to confront challenges both on and off the field, his story is a vivid chronicle of the highs and lows of professional rugby.
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Andrew Porter, the combative Irish prop, has spilled the beans in his new autobiography, joining a parade of Irish rugby notables like Conor Murray and Andy Farrell in hitting the bookshelves with personal revelations. Porter's narrative dives into controversial incidents on the field and the brutal backlash that followed, providing a raw look into the life of a professional rugby player.
In 2022, during a heated Test series in Wellington, Porter found himself at the center of controversy when his collision with All Blacks' Brodie Retallick resulted in a broken cheekbone for the lock. Despite the uproar and calls for a severe penalty, Porter maintains the incident was purely accidental. "I only learned that Brodie’s cheekbone was broken after the match. I sent him a message to see if he was okay and he was very understanding. He knew that it wasn’t malicious and that accidents can happen," Porter recalls in his book.
"He knew that it wasn’t malicious..."
Another contentious moment came in 2025 during the Six Nations clash against France, when French scrum-half Antoine Dupont suffered ruptured cruciate ligaments. French coach Fabien Galthie lambasted the play, resulting in a severe backlash against Porter and his teammate Tadhg Beirne on social media. Porter defends their actions, emphasizing there was no intent to injure Dupont. "When France’s head coach complained about the Dupont incident, some French fans turned their attention to Elaine. Threatening messages poured in, full of abusive comments and general malice, and that made me so angry," he explained.
Apart from on-field incidents, Porter also reflects on personal setbacks, like the rejection he faced at 16 from the Leinster under-16s coach. He recalls standing devastated as he was told he wasn’t big enough for the team. "I was gutted at the time, because when someone puts the problem out there clearly, and doesn’t beat about the bush about it, it’s tough," Porter shared. This early rejection fueled his determination to never be seen as inadequate again, pushing him to bulk up significantly.
Porter's journey from rejection to becoming a powerhouse prop weighing 131kg in 2016, is a testament to his resilience and commitment to proving his detractors wrong. As he continues to confront challenges both on and off the field, his story is a vivid chronicle of the highs and lows of professional rugby.