Austin Healey, the former English rugby star Welsh fans love to hate, has vowed to ‘tame the Dragon’ on Sunday.
The chirpy Healey couldn’t resist winding up his neighbours ahead of tackling the epic 135-mile Wiggle Dragon cycle ride, which starts and finishes at Margam Park, near Port Talbot.
He said: “I have encountered many battles with the Welsh both on the field and on Twitter.
“I like to think I have won ‘most’ of them! The Dragon will be taken on in the same vein with humour and an enormous effort, but like most of the previous battles it should be relatively easy to tame!â€
Healey, 40 later this year, and known as ‘Motor-mouth’ or the ‘Leicester Lip’ for his cheeky outpourings over the years, never lost on the field against Wales in five internationals for England and has always experienced a somewhat difficult relationship with the Welsh.
He has been training hard for the 10th anniversary Dragon ride and is among more 4,000 competitors from around the world signed up for the stamina-sapping event.
It is the highlight of the UK Sportive season and is expected to provide the Welsh economy with a boost of nearly £1m and raise much-needed funds for its official charity partner Prostate Cancer.
Healey and his fellow participants will spend hours in the saddle having to tackle some of the toughest terrain in south Wales, including the Black Mountains, the Brecon Beacons and the Rhigos and Bwlch climbs.
His former Leicester team-mate, recently-retired Ireland and Lions star Geordan Murphy, had been due to accompany him but had to withdraw because of a family illness.
Healey will hope he’s not ambushed by anybody chasing him for the £1 he offered to bet “every person in Wales†before this year’s Six Nations decider at the Millennium Stadium.
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He backed England to be crowned European champions but back-tracked after finding out New Zealander Steve Walsh was referee.
WalesOnline took the outspoken pundit on by launching a Facebook campaign to get Welsh fans to take him up on his offer, but, for once, he went quiet after Wales humiliated Stuart Lancaster’s men.
Healey has a history of banter with Welsh people on Twitter, not always good-natured.
He provoked outrage by predicting Wales would struggle in last year’s tournament, when they went on to win the Grand Slam.
When Welsh fans took exception to that prediction and became embroiled in a Twitter row with Healey, he hit back and denied being “anti-Welshâ€.
So, will Austin pay his debts on his return to Wales? We won’t hold our breath!
And, just in case he’s forgotten what it was all about, here’s a reminder of how Wales won the Six Nations, including that demolition of England.
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Article source: http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/match_preview/0,,11069_59375_1,00.html
Former England rugby star Austin Healey vows to "tame the Dragon" on return to ...
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