Where are they now? Damien Geraghty
We catch up with players and club members from years gone by and see what they're up to now...
Damien Geraghty
Hooker 1988-1996
Jubilee Cup champion 1994, 1995
Damien Geraghty is another in a long line of successful Marist St Pats hookers, playing for the club in the early 1990s. He played for the Wellington Lions in 1994 and 1995.
What are your favourite memories from your playing days?
Just being in a team of players who kept on trying from 1991 and eventually succeeding in our quest for the Jubilee Cup.
I remember Thursday trainings that ended up being cheeky drinking sessions in the changing rooms - those moments of team bonding have formed friendships for life.
We had a great team trip to Ozzy where Kevin Horan organised the Sydney Uni team to harden us up. A fight started, which we finished, and Nick Farr-Jones was taken off. We won the game of course!
Who are some of the characters you remember?
Clippy Callahan who was known to give front row advice whilst sitting on the toilet in the sawdust gym.
Or when Pat Dunn being told (by Hogan I might add), that he couldn't push for toffy whilst on the scrum machine. This subsequently resulted in my backside being introduced to my head!
Who was your toughest opponent?
Sean "Ragdoll" Horan, like an annoying fly just kept coming atcha and my old St Pats 1st XV front row hooker Cedric Carter who I tried to emulate when I eventually moved to hooker.
What have you been up to since you finished playing?
When I left New Zealand, I played professionally in the UK for Moseley (Birmingham) and Sale Sharks (Manchester) before eventually settling down in Cardiff where I played two seasons for the Blues prior to finishing off my professional career with Caerphilly in 2002.
Life after rugby has been raising my three children Josh (16), Ben (12) and Lola (10) with my wife Joanne, living in Cardiff working as a police officer for Gwent Police.
How do you still follow the club?
I've been following the club via Facebook and the internet, I'm glad to see Marist is still a force in Wellington rugby.
Advice for the current team?
I think the All Black's have set the bar for everyone in rugby - just watch and learn. Practice on your weaknesses to improve your skills.
You're a caretaker of the Marist jersey, enjoy the time whilst playing and give 100 percent, no one can ask any more.
Keep striving for the next step up - once you make the senior team look to get into the Lions and Hurricanes.
Are you looking to reconnect with rugby in 2017?
MSP Supporters
Shamrock Club
