Top rugby player visiting the Island

Former England rugby union captain Martin Corry is the guest speaker at a dinner organised by Vagabonds this evening (Thursday).

During his visit, he will also have a tour of the new ground and clubhouse at Ballafletcher and coach some of the youngsters from the club.

Tim Glover reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

Corry won nearly everything on offer at club level with Leicester, including five Premiership titles and two Heineken European Cups.

On the international stage, he captained England 16 times and played 64 test matches.

He was part of the much criticised England side which defied the odds and made the 2007 World Cup final, which they lost to South Africa.

Corry went on three British and Irish Lions tours earning seven caps, including taking over the captaincy early on in one game in New Zealand.

Current England manager Martin Johnson says of Corry: 'He was one of the most whole-hearted and committed players that I ever played alongside.'