By RtR
January 1 2004

Mark Regan MBE

	Nickname	Ronnie
	Position	Hooker
	Date of Birth	28/01/72
	Previous Club	Bath
	Height	5' 10"
	Tykes Debut	31/08/02
	Honours	British Lions England

Since Mark Regan joined the Tykes his impact at the club has been massive. In a short time, ‘Ronnie’ has become the Tykes talisman. Week in, week out. Ronnie has put his body on the line, and has lead the Tykes pack by example. His performances for the Tykes this season have not gone unnoticed, and Ronnie has not only forced his way into the England 22 for the recent series against the Southern hemisphere sides, but was voted September player of the month by the Budda of bath himself, Stuart Barnes.

This all represents a remarkable turnaround in Ronnie’s fortunes. Ronnie joined the Tykes from Bath, where he was deemed surplus to requirements by the new coach Michael Foley. Ronnie, 23 England Caps and a Lions cap from the victorious tour to South Africa, once England’s number 1 hooker, was second in the Bath pecking order behind Andy Long. Foley then bought in former Wales captain Jonathan Humphreys. No longer a first choice for his club, no longer a spring chicken, in the international wilderness, Ronnie’s days looked numbered.

But our man followed John Callard up the M5 to join the Tykes, and the rest is history. JC has put his faith in Ronnie, and has given him a leading role within the club, which Ronnie seems to relish. The Tykes have benefited from Regans excellent form, and Ronnie has rejuvenated his international career – the perfect symbiotic relationship.

Our opponents seem to have him down as a marked man, and he takes unbelievable amounts of intimidation and physical battering every time he takes to the pitch. Ronnie’s ZP debut was against the Tigs, where both Ben Kay and Johnson attempted to give Ronnie a simultaneous working over. Ronnie stood firm, the Tykes won, and the post game reaction of Ronnie said it all. There was some serious payback in that result, and a new Tykes star had announced himself to the South Stand.

In another incident against Saracens, the Sarries front 5 had given Ronnie some serious punishment. Ronnie got up, returned to the Tykes pack and let them know, in a tirade of expletives, that he was not happy. The Tykes up their game, and won that one too. Every time the Tykes need that little but more, Ronnie is the man driving the boys forward.

It would be interesting to know Ronnie's thoughts on Baths current predicament, languishing in relegation territory, while the Tykes fly high in the league. No doubt he'd offer a colourful take on the situation in his broad Bristolian tones.

So who would you like in your side, a fully fired up and roaring Ronnie Regan, driving the pack forwards, not accepting defeat, not accepting anything but total commitment to the cause, hassling and harrying the opposition, meeting intimidation with steely resolve and gritty determination . . . . . or Jonathan Humphreys? Answers on a postcard to M Foley, Head Coach, Bath Rugby, Bath, England.

Last updated 01/10/03