MIGHTY TADHG MAKES HISTORY!
WINNING has become a habit for Campile man and former New Ross RFC player Tadhg Furlong, but few wins will have felt sweeter than the first ever victory over the All Blacks on Irish soil at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night.
Throughout the bruising encounter, which Ireland won 16-9, Furlong shone, making some lung bursting charges, knocking over the All Blacks like they were cardboard cut-outs, showing his world renowned strength and skill in the powerful Irish scrum which did the unthinkable to the All Blacks, forcing them back several feet at one point. By the end of the match, the Wexford man was hailed by commentators and journalists from around the world as one of its stars. Ireland captain Rory Best heaped praise on Tadhg, saying immediately after the game: ‘Tadhg had an unbelievable day in the scrum.’
The son of Margaret and James Furlong, Tadhg has been regarded as one of the best players in the world in recent times, and having won the Six Nations Grand Slam, drawn the British &
Irish Lions tour against the All Blacks on their home soil, and won the European Champions Cup with Leinster, he is already being touted as one of the Irish rugby greats of all time.
President of New Ross RFC David Burke echoed the sentiments of most, when he said. ‘I am absolutely delighted. As an officer of a club you couldn’t be more proud of Ireland winning, but to have one of your nurtured players from under 8 playing for Ireland in the first team in history to beat the All Blacks in Ireland - and he was in the top two or three players vying for man of the match. It was kinda special. We were watching it in the pub and I sent him a message of congratulations, as did other club members. He got back a few hours later to thank me for the support. We text him after every match and he always gets back. Every man woman and child in the club - when you see the Facebook comments - you can see the pride.’