Gala testimonial for rugby great O’Gara on eve of England game

He’s had a plethora of moments to cherish on English soil, from that 2006 pressure conversion for Munster at Welford Road to the standout victories over the Red Rose at Twickenham.

Now, in the shadow of another Six Nations battle between Ireland and England, rugby record-breaker Ronan O’Gara is planning another London evening to savour.

The Munster and Ireland legend — the subject of a must-see one-hour documentary on RTÉ 1 tomorrow night — will be honoured by the Irish and the wider rugby community at a gala testimonial dinner on Thursday, Feb 20, two days before the Six Nations clash with the auld enemy.

A veritable who’s who of international rugby from both sides of the Channel will be present to pay tribute to Ireland’s 128-times capped record point-scorer at a glittering soiree at London’s Hilton Park Lane Hotel, to be compèred by The X Factor’s Dermot O’Leary. Over 800 guests, ranging from the sports-mad Irish diaspora to Irish corporate interests in London will share the memories from a stellar career with O’Gara and a number of his guests.

Old adversaries Lawrence Dallaglio, Matt Dawson and Martin Bayfield will be joined by a phalanx of Ronan’s ex-Munster and international colleagues, such as Brian O’Driscoll, Keith Wood and Geordan Murphy. A percentage of the ticket sales for the Six Nations game will go towards the chosen charity — the Ireland Fund Of Great Britain.

An impressive number of supporters from the world of sport and finance have signed up to the London testimonial dinner committee, chaired by developer Michael O’Flynn and including businessmen Liam Casey, John Nesbitt, John Magnier AP McCoy, Kevin Moran, Donal Lenihan and Ruby Walsh.

- More information is available here. Parties can book directly with Paragon Sports Managements via [e-mail]. or Sara Jennings on 0044-207-7584730. The Ireland Fund of Great Britain can be accessed via Sheila Bailey on 0044-207-9409850.