Mike Ruddock did us all a favour, earlier this year, when he revealed Tadhg Furlong’s nickname to the rest of the world.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, the former Ireland U20 coach recalled a team meeting with the young Wexford prop. Furlong, apparently, was not happy with his old nickname – The Mayor of Wexford – and had a proposition.
“Tadhg said, ‘Call me The Jukebox’.
“I said, ‘Why the Jukebox?’“
“And he said, ‘Because the hits keep coming’.“
And they’ve been coming, and coming, and coming ever since…
The legend of Furlong is growing by the match and many of the newly named Lion’s fanbase will, no doubt, will be at Talbot Stillorgan Hotel on May 8 to catch a few choice gems from the man himself.
Furlong will be at a Wexford GAA championship preview along with Davy Fitzgerald, Seamus ‘Banty’ McEnaney and radio personality Ivan Yates. It certainly should be some night and it will come hours after Furlong gets back from his first get-together with the British & Irish Lions.
To drum up some support for the night, we were treated to this classic picture of Furlong donning a Wexford GAA jersey. By Christ, does he look every inch the menacing corner back…
Hear Tadhg discuss the small ball, oval ball and football with Ivan Yates, Banty, Davy and more. Talbot Hotel Stillorgan, Monday 8th May. pic.twitter.com/eAnAnjVqmy
— Wexford Supporters (@wexfordindublin) April 28, 2017
Sure doesn’t Furlong have pedigree? He was a handy back in his footballing days.
Knew how to dish out a shoulder too…
Here comes Furlong. Tadhg is gonna get you! #IREvROM pic.twitter.com/jqAldGea24
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 27, 2015
Wonder what the odds are of Furlong and Dublin GAA star Diarmuid Connolly doing some version of AIB GAA’s ‘The Toughest Trade’ later this year…
Very timely with the arrival of our newest recruit @dermoc123 @cabinteelygaa @GraduateDublin @Cabinteely_FC @RossOCK @SportsJOEdotie pic.twitter.com/voEhcymIeK
— Seapoint Rugby Club (@seapointrc) February 9, 2017
We’d definitely tune in.
*Credit to Wasps Rugby physio David Breen for first sharing the Furlong picture on Twitter.