RUGBY-mad youngsters were given coaching tips during their weekend training sessions by legendary George Gregan who was on a flying visit to Bahrain Rugby Football Club.
Former scrum-half Gregan, currently Australia’s highest-ever internationally-capped player with 139 caps, said he was ‘impressed and thrilled’ by the skill, dedication and enthusiasm shown by the players.
Schoolboys Dylan Vermeulen and Harry Slattery, both aged 11, said it was ‘exciting’ to have a sporting hero in their midst. “There’s so much to learn from such an inspiring player!” added South African expat Vermeulen and Irish expat Slattery believes that the ‘teamwork’ needed in rugby was the ‘best part’ of playing the game.
Gregan will be spending 12 days in the Middle East as part of HSBC’s youth, education and community rugby programme, as well as promoting rugby sevens.
“It was an honour to have him
as HSBC rugby ambassador here in Bahrain,” said Melika Bentley, the bank’s CEO in the kingdom, who was pitch-side yesterday morning during the popular coaching sessions, run by volunteers, all club members. The Wallaby hero was also the star turn at a special dinner last night.