Hooky’s send-off finally put smiles back on Welsh faces

I CAN officially reveal that I am available for motivational speeches, coaching clinics, TV commentary and written media work, but I am never, ever going to accept another invitation to put my boots on for one final game. It’s over!

While it was great to be asked by James Hook to play in his Testimonial game at

The Gnoll on Friday night I woke up on Saturday morning wondering if I’d ever be able to walk again. I’ve had a good innings, but at 45 my legs simply can’t take it any more. I had to sit in the hot tub to recover.

That said, it was great fun and brought home to me what rugby in Wales currently needs – something to put a smile on people’s faces.

Hooky thoroughly deserved a big send-off after his major contribution to Neath, the Ospreys and Wales and I was delighted to play a small part. There was a crowd of around 4,000, some big names to watch and some fun rugby to watch. We even had a pitch invasion at the end.

It has been all doom and gloom in Welsh rugby in recent years and it was nice to be able to put a few smiles back on people’s faces.

All everyone seems to be talking about is how bad the game is in Wales at the moment. It even gets through to the kids, who are now looking on with admiring eyes at the success of the Gareth Bale inspired Wales football team!

But Wayne Pivac’s side will be heading to France for the World Cup next year hoping to do even better than fourth place in 2019.

Let’s find a way through all the petty squabbling among the professional factions, bang some heads together around the board room table and find solutions. After all, that’s what the people sitting down together are paid and elected to do. Can we please find a way forward to improve the game in Wales. We simply cannot afford to have another 12 months like the last year.