Rog proves a rugby royal in 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.
For Munster ex-pats too it was a compulsory draw — even with tables priced as high as £5,000 (€6,060) — and an opportunity to voice their gratitude for the video reel of special occasions Rog engineered for his province.
“To many people of my generation, he is Mr Munster,” said Jay Brigante, the chairman of the London branch of the Munster Rugby Supporters Club. “I’m old enough to go back to the AIL with Garryowen, but then Rog and Munster gave us all those moments to savour, going right back to the early 2000s and kicks against Saracens. The interest here in Munster is phenomenal, and he was one of the main reasons for that. He was Mr Clutch under pressure.”
Munster colleagues Donncha O’Callaghan — who passed O’Gara’s Munster appearance record last weekend — and Damien Varley, whose powerful baritone voice kick-started the night, were joined by other former colleagues of O’Gara’s, such as Peter Stringer, Mike Galwey, Peter Clohessy, Denis Hickie, Tomás O’Leary, Shane Horgan, and Jerry Flannery
Other Irish sporting achievers such as jockey Ruby Walsh, former Irish manager Mick McCarthy and Kerry football ace Paul Galvin were also there to honour the Cork man.
The X Factor host Dermot O’Leary and a Michael Flatley dance troupe performance were among the star turns, but O’Gara was just as moved by the presence of NewcastleWest, Co Limerick woman Catriona Robertson (nee Cussen).
Her Scottish husband Fred passed away 18 months ago and had become an “obsessed” Munster fan on the back of O’Gara’s feats. “He was such a Ronan fan, and in his memory, it was important that I be here tonight to pay tribute to the man who gave us so many happy days,” she said. Mrs Robertson kindly donated a five-star trip to Paris as a Grand Auction prize, and had her generosity reciprocated by two prized tickets to Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park in April against Toulouse.
In specially recorded segments from the Irish camp, Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll and Jonny Sexton paid tributes.
Said Munster colleague and close friend O’Connell: “When you’re playing a big game and you’re under pressure, it’s great to look across the pitch at a guy who just doesn’t blink under pressure.”
The man himself arrived in London yesterday straight off the training pitch in Paris via the Channel Tunnel with his wife Jessica, who is expecting the couple’s fifth child in May.
O’Gara said he was “humbled” by the outpouring of affection towards himself and his family.
