GREGAN SIGNS FOR ABBEYFEALE !

By

GARRET O’ROURKE

(Our Man Down Under)

EXCLUSIVE PICS IN MSN GALLERY – ABBEYFEALE RFC SECTION

After numerous trans global video conferences, mobile phone calls, texts and e-mails from my contacts back in Abbeyfeale R.F.C, namely a Mr. Denis Murphy and a Mr. William Blair, I was under strict instructions from the lads to “keep an eye out” for any players I reckon might “cut it” in the challenging, attacking and dog eat dog world of Munster Junior Rugby whilst down under in Oz.

Not one to take things lightly, I immediately summoned an Abbeyfeale R.F.C Player Development Task Force here in Sydney i.e. Ronan & Tiernan O’ Rourke and myself {Garrett }and a very good friend of ours over here in Oz by the name of Niall Dunne (aka the Leinster Lady Boy) from the wee County of Louth, a fierce rugby stronghold by all accounts according to Niall.

After several unsuccessful meetings in the local watering holes of Bondi Beach (the receipts are in the post Denis) it finally dawned on me there was only one strategy to adopt and that was to go straight to the top.

Who else would be worthy of glorious black and amber of Abbeyfeale R.F.C only the man himself, George Gregan, the Australian Captain.

After receiving the electronic wire transfer from western union via the Isle of Man then the Cayman Islands and then Knocknaboul from Denis and Bill, the funds were eventually wired over and we had the artillery in our armour to make a serious offer to sign George up.

So off we went and headed straight to Canberra to watch George playing for the Brumbies in action against the Crusaders in the Super 14’s (not a patch on the Heineken Cup lads don’t worry). After all, we at least wanted to see him in action in the flesh in case we sent home a dud and a couple of hundred thousand euro down of Abbeyfeale R.F.C funds, I’d never be able to look at Jimmy or Patsy Prendiville in the eye again.

I got in contact with Phil Guiney above in Foster beforehand and he put me in contact with a guy, who knew a guy who would put us in contact with Gregans milkman.

Fair play to the milkman and true to his word, he gave us Gregans mobile in exchange for a six pack of Fosters.

After the game we met up with George and congratulated him on his six tries for the Brumbies. Tiernan and Ronan were quick to point out, that he won’t have it so easy should he sign with us and that Tralee and Castleisland were a much more daunting prospect than the Crusaders. After several hours of lengthy negotiations and about a gallon or two of Fosters, we managed to convince George that Abbeyfeale R.F.C was the club for him in Europe and much to our surprise he said he had already heard of some of our players a Davey Cautious, Kevin P, Smiley and a Georgie Best just to name a few he said.

The ink was barely dry on the contract and I had Denis on the mobile back in HQ in the Grove as he was holding an EGM to inform the committee of our most recent recruit in oz. He also told me he wanted Gregan back with immediate effect for pre-season training. We headed straight to the bar under the stand for a quick think/drink. After a quick con-flab with the boys we knew there was only one man to arrange anything to do with planes,flights, transportation etc. in such a short space of time and that was a Mr. Timothy “Spike” Murphy. Rang Spike but the reception was a bit bad as he was at the dogs in Limerick. He said he was a good friend of the Fijian Minister for Transport who had a “serious bus” that would collect George within the hour. True to his word Spike delivered and we managed to airlift George straight out of the pitch and straight home to Abbeyfeale and we have the photos to prove it.

Garrett and the boys signing off from our highly successful Abbeyfeale R.F.C mission.

All the Best,

                      Garrett and the boys.

P.S

For the record Tiernan took the photos, hence why you can’t see his ugly mug.

P.P.S

Dan Carter from the Crusaders expressed interest too but we felt George would “fit in” in Abbeyfeale better

P.P.S

Spike, fair play, Michael O’ Leary wouldn’t get a look in with your logistical capabilities, Australia to Abbeyfeale in 4 hours via chopper…………(would someone please pass on to Spike and Denis Murphy & Jimmy the Prince as there respective Personal Assistants wouldn’t divulge there e-mails to me)

Regards,