The most-capped test player ever, Australian scrumhalf George Gregan, has announced his retirement from all rugby.
One of those players whom opposition supporters have always loved to hate, the Zambian-born Gregan is currently plying his trade in Japan, after a stint with Toulon in the south of France. At 37 years of age, Gregan has decided to call time on a career that saw him capped 139 times for his beloved Wallabies over a 13-year period, before retiring from the international scene back in 2007.
Gregan was a key member of the Australian side that won the Rugby World Cup in 1999. During his heyday, he has also winners medals from the Tri-Nations, Bledisloe Cup and Super 12 (two) as well as helping his side to a series win over the British Lions in 2001.
Cheers, George. It’s been a blast and the game just won’t be the same without you, mate!
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3 cheers for George!Most definitely loved to hate this dude
One of those players that I loved to hate 😈
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 1) : @Pokkel (Comment 2) : Snap!
@Pokkel (Comment 3) : 😆
Hating aside, thanks for the memories dude, 4 more years boys, and then of course theirs the trinations game with John Smit coming through a ruck and completely owning him, aaah good times
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 4) : I also always remember THAT tackle he made on Jeff Wilson to ‘win’ the Bledisloe cup. He is a legend but damn I couldn’t stand him 😉
Legend
@Morné (Comment 6) : Legend with a big mouth 😆 Could be a movie 😉
I just sent him the link to this, so play nice 🙂
@Pokkel (Comment 7) :
His mouth was as important as his pass, he used it to devastating effect.
@robdylan (Comment 8) : He’ll probably enjoy it 😉
The kind of guy you hate whenever he plays your team, but admire whenever he plays against others.
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
Cough -namedropper- cough..
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Im sure it will be cool, we saffers do give respect where its due albeit a bit begrudgingly.Would be stoked if he could come on and post the ref chirp when he and John Smit were called in.Something along the lines of “John are you the ref?No?Yeah, hes the guy with the whistle lets let him ref shall we?” John just throwing out Jedi death stares
Here we go, Rugbydump to the rescue http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2008/07/friday-funnies-gregan-chirping-smit.html
Legend. Enjoy your retirement Georgie!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 13) : it was classic… you know they’re actually quite good mates off the field?
Georgie G… What a player. One of the all time greats of the game IMO.
One of the All Time Greats!! 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 16) : I believe so
Sydney Football Stadium 1994 – ‘That Tackle’- what an effort !
One of my greatest memories of Mr Gregan ! 😎
Thanks for the memories ! 😆
@SharksRTB (Comment 17) : snap!!
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 20) : I didn’t think ‘That Tackle’ would sit well with a AB supporter 😉
Rickie “Shepherd’s Pie” January is still baas though.
Right wpw?
@Big Fish (Comment 23) : Got Ricki at Ratanga Junction on Friday, he was both too short and too heavy to go on the rides 😈
@Pokkel (Comment 22) :
Not when you are a big Jeff Wilson fan ! 😆
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 24) :
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 24) :
bwahahahahahaa 😈 😆
Some of my best memories of Gregan were of him as a Brumby in Super 12. Their style of play under McQueen then Jones then Nucifora was really special, being based on possession, possession, possession mixed in with creativity. They would often go thru 5+ phases before coming up with a moment of magic. Gregan no doubt a great player was also surrounded by some of the most creative players in the game at that time. The likes of Steve Larkham, Pat Howard, Joe Roff, Stirling Mortlock, Andrew Walker and even Rod Kafer contributed to some very entertaining rugby. My favourite move was the cheeky yet always effective backflip pass that GG would often offload to the brilliant Owen Finnegan. Gregan is player I’ll remember for seldom kicking, good defending, arriving timeously at every single ruck and most importantly being one of the best minds and therefore decision-makers that our wonderful game has ever know.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 24) : Better watch out he might just sit on you 😉
@Pokkel (Comment 29) : Jokes aside, he also looks like he could hand out a porper pakslae
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 30) : it’s the orc thing, isn’t it?
@robdylan (Comment 31) :
Just try to grab his Nandos burger and he’ll be like: ‘My preeecciiooouuss’
😆
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 14) : Great clip. definitely a love to hate kinda player!
@beet (Comment 28) : Very well said agree 100%.
Cheers Georgie, you legend.
@beet (Comment 28) : Agree. I remember watching the Brumbies playing the Stormers in early 200+ at Newlands. As a neutral I just wanted to be entertained and boy did the Brumbies oblige that day – there just always seemed to be somebody running at an impossible into space, hanging onto backflipped and blind passes. That was royal entertainment. They gave The Stormers a pasting that day.
He was definitely one of those players you loved to hate but no one could deny he was bloody good in his hey day.
What a character! I’ll always remember how he couldnt stop talking to refs. Irritated the crap out of me. Live well George 🙂
can’t put the face to the name but so long Georgie it was well i’m nt even going to go into this just cheers so long