Tiger Maggs Leads The Way

Kevin Maggs led home the winning team in the Ireland rugby squad’s World Cup corporate golf tournament on the Greg Norman designed Vintage course in the renowned wine region of Hunter’s Valley on the Central Coast earlier today.

The 18-team shotgun fourball event was part of the IRFU’s successful commercial programme in Australia, under the direction of the Union’s John Lyons and Padraig Power.

The hugely successful golf tournament, featuring the keen golfers amongst Ireland’s 30 strong World Cup squad, was played following an early morning work out as attention now turns to preparation for the game against Namibia in Sydney next Sunday.

Training was held on the partly water-logged Central Coast Grammar School grounds after the Terrigal area took an overnight and early morning pounding from heavy rain. The inclement weather has truly brought an end to a drought alarm in the locality but also wry smiles to the bemused Irish squad who only occasionally since their arrival in Australia 11 days ago have enjoyed any periods of sustained sunshine!

High morale, however, is assured as the Irish count their blessings that no serious injury was suffered in a bruising encounter against Romania. One of the big talking points of the weekend’s opening series of games is the widespread acknowledgement of how formidable Romania have become.

Keith Wood (dead leg), Anthony Foley (knee), Brian O’Driscoll (sore ribs) and Reggie Corrigan (calf strain) are on the injured list but the good news is that none of them seem doubtful for selection.