Rog proves a rugby royal in London

He may be the only one of Ireland’s legendary three O’s who won’t play in Twickenham tomorrow, but last night Ronan O’Gara was rugby’s undisputed lord of London.

Almost 900 guests, admirers and friends pushed the plush Hilton Park Lane Hotel to bursting point as rugby paid an emotional tribute to the former Munster and Ireland number 10.

Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell were locked away in their London hotel ahead of tomorrow’s seismic clash at Twickenham, but the city’s swollen Irish community were out in force to toast O’Gara.