Its Time For Our Weekly Man Friday!

Friday, 10 February 2006

This weeks Man Friday is a Rugby expert turned children's' author turned property developer turned Afternoon show guest. He is one half of a controversial duo specializing in commenting in the antics of rugger buggers in Ireland. Have you guest who it could be?
To find out who it is, tune in at 3:20!

Brent Pope was our Man Friday!!
 
Brent has lived in Ireland since 1991. He says he came for a weekend and decided to stay. Whilst here, Bent played for St Mary's Rugby club from 1991-1994. He went from player to coach.

Brent writes a weekly column for the Evening Echo in Cork. Brent is currently into property development in Bulgaria and thinks that the area around sunny Beach is the next big thing.
He has given up coaching and decided to concentrate on his property development business; however, during his time as a coach he traveled all over the world.

Brent has written two children's books.  They feature characters that are loosely based on well known rugby players.  However, kind hearted Brent has donated the profits from his writings to the Children's' Hospice Home Care and he has another book in the pipeline called 'Bangers and Smash.'  This is about two inner city twin kids. One likes sausages and one likes mashed potatoes.

Brent is very enthusiastic about a summer training camp he's been involved in for young Irish rugby players.  The players go to New Zealand for a seven week training course and play against New Zealand schools and college teams.  The scheme is called 'The Irish shamrocks,' and Brent feels it gives young players who may never play professional or international sport a taste of what real rugby life is all about.

Unfortunately he's not doing it this year due to time constrictions with his property development company.  He said he is looking for someone to do it on a voluntary basis.

He was in Clondalkin last Friday giving a talk and there is huge interest in the scheme.  He said lots of mums' came up to him and said how thrilled they were that their kids had really enjoyed the course and they had even learned how to cook and were cooking for themselves.

"I've always been a believer that rugby shouldn't be just for the elite, it's for everyone, and it's not a money making venture." Says Brent.

The course costs each kid €3,500.00 for two months; this includes coaching, accommodation, food and entertainment.