Hoggy's got nothing on Gordon Ramsay
Hoggy's got nothing on Gordon Ramsay
How's it going all my rugby readers? As the festive period has been and gone, I've set myself the usual New Year's resolutions....FAIL! I managed to make it to day two before I gave in to temptation. While lounging on the couch getting some PS3 minutes under my belt, I accidentally demolished a Cadbury 'Fruit n Nut' chocolate bar. Looks like resisting temptation over Christmas finally made me crash and burn! Oh well...take two ha!
2012 couldn't have started off better for myself and the boys with a 17-12 win against our derby rivals Edinburgh on New Year's Day to retain the 1872 Cup and keep it where it belongs here in Glasgow. It was great to experience a packed out Firhill with a record attendance, showing Glasgow Warriors support is building and looking bright for the future.
For the next few weeks I'm going to introduce you to a couple of future stars. With them stealing all the limelight on the field, I wanted to put them to the test and see what they're really like in their own time. What better way than seeing how they fuel their body. With nutrition being so important for a professional athlete I wanted to see if these guys have what it takes to look after themselves properly. Since lunch is provided at training, dinner is the only meal they have to worry about.
My first victim just recently signed his first pro contract and has also earned himself a well deserved place on the Scotland Six Nations squad after only fourteen appearances in the Glasgow Warriors jersey.
A fine specimen of a man from Hawick, where I'm told they speak a different kind of English, and going by this guy it must be true. Who better to be my first victim than this guy, the very talented and down to earth Stuart Hogg (Hoggy). If you don't have the pleasure of knowing this young fella, he's just come out of pre-school at the ripe age of 19 and he's no stranger to topless gym sessions.
He has grabbed the bull by its horns and made the number fifteen jersey his own. He's got a bright future ahead of him and is a great role model for youngsters out there, a prime example that if you put your mind to the task age is just a number!
Walking into training last Wednesday morning I told him I was doing a 'Come Dine With Me' style blog and asked if he would take part in it. Unfortunately Hoggy isn't the best reader and hadn't read my first few blogs so I had to read them for him. Before I even had a chance to finish the man ran away so quick shouting back at me in his Hawick accent and laughing "I can't cook ¦no chance pal!" But after a few days trying to convince him with the help of some of the boys he gave in but made me promise to give him a Twitter shout out. So get following folks @StuartWHOGG_92 and catch up on his latest adventures.
To be honest, pulling up at Hoggy's I expected to be handed beans on toast for dinner. I definitely wasn't expecting what I was presented with. Mummy Hogg had prepared him some Haggis lasagne at the weekend so his only task was to re-heat it (and he even struggled with that, ha). I don't know what was more scary, trying haggis for the first time or what inside info into the life of Hoggy I was going to discover with the question's I was about to ask him over dinner!
I have to say I will definitely be having haggis again, it was delicious! And the Marks and Spencer's chocolate cake topped it off nicely. It was a top night with the man of the moment but I'm afraid his mum gets all the credit for the top class meal even preparing the salad for him. So now to get to know him a little better here are some quick questions I fired at him.
So bro, after signing your first pro contract you went out and bought yourself a car the next day. How did that make you feel and more importantly what will be your next purchase?
"Haha. That has been coming for a while. Eh, no idea, think I'll go for a new laptop or iPad.
You just got called up to represent Scotland for the Six Nations! That's a major achievement. Looking back on the start of the season did you ever think that was possible or where did you think you'd be at this stage of the season?
"It's great and I'm really happy with what I've achieved so far. I was expecting to be playing club rugby and targeted to get into the Under 20's again for their Six Nations and World Cup."
After all the press and media attention that you've had lately, do you enjoy it or does it get annoying?
"Well it can be good for you but then again it can work against you, but I'm happy with the guys I've had media work with and yeah, I do enjoy it ha!"
How does your girlfriend Nicola feel about your fine cooking skills?
"Well me and cooking are not associated. I have Finlay Gillies who helps me massively in the flat, and my lovely mum who cooks for me when I'm home."
You live with three Glasgow Warrior players, Henry Pyrgos, Finlay Gillies, Alex Dubar and defence coach Gary Mercer..Who's the worst to live with and why?
"Haha classic Troy chat! And no Gary doesn't stay with me! Yeah it's great, we spend a lot of time together and we are all best mates....I think! Great boys to stay with and I'm enjoying my time with them."
The Rugby World Cup is in four years, what are your goals before and after?
"Obviously I've targeted to get capped for Scotland so I'll work extremely hard to get there. You dream of playing for your country and fingers crossed my dream will come true. I hope so anyway!!!!!"
Come Dine With Me ratings;
Food Quality and taste 8/10
Presentation 6/10
Entertainment/Atmosphere 7/10
Cooking ability 0/10
With an overall score of 21/40 it might be an easy target for my next culprit. I want to thank Hoggy for a great night. I wasn't too impressed that he didn't know how to cook and left his poor mum to do all the work but at least he was honest and didn't try to pass it off as his own handy work.
Since he doesn't have his mummy's home cooking every night if anyone would like to donate a cook book to him you can send it to Glasgow Warriors, Scotstoun Stadium.
Last week I made the most of my first rest week of the season and took the opportunity to head back to Ireland to catch up with family and mates. Catching live updates from the @Glasgowwarriors Twitter feed Saturday evening as the boys were battling the Scarlets at Parc y Stadium was like watching grass grow.
With a gutsy effort from the boys they had a narrow 16-14 defeat. When down to thirteen men for ten minutes they showed a massive defensive display.
This weekend for the third time this season we're taking on European champions Leinster at Firhill. After one win each we are looking forward to trying to exact revenge, especially after our disappointment back in November.
With Heineken Cup qualifications at stake it will be another tough encounter. As intense a battle as it will be, it's always awesome to be able to catch up with mates playing for the opposition. This time I'll be having the craic (afterwards!) with my former Connacht pals Sean Cronin, Fionn Carr and Jamie Hagan.
That reminds me I better tell Fionn to leave his hair straightener at home as it's more than likely to be forecast rain. As always it's looking to be a big crowd at Firhill on Sunday and I hope the Glaswegians will be as vocal as always. It's sure to be a goodie.
Thanks again to all my readers. Catch you up in a fortnight. Keep the questions and banter flying in. Tune in again in two weeks' time when I'll have another Come Dine With Me victim for ya! Hope your New Year's resolutions are going better than mine!
Stay Cool,
Troy
@dizTroy_
