Last year's Lost Afternoon IV was held at Houston's Crowne Plaza at River Oaks on Friday before the US v Italy match. Since it was the first of the Lost Afternoon series to precede an international test, the attendance was larger than ever. The ever ebullient George Hook emceed. USA Coach Mike Tolkien, USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville and Italian #8 (coaching that weekend due to injury) Sergio Parisse all made guest appearances. Attendees also rubbed elbows with Bob Latham of the IRB and USA Rugby, former Scotland flyhalf John Rutherford, Springbok flanker Rob Louw, and the USRFF's Brian Vizard (who my wife considers the penultimate gentleman). Rollie Meats, former coach of Ireland and Leinster, was the guest speaker. We had a wonderful time and plenty of money was raised for youth rugby through the auction and otherwise.
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| John Connolly, Skip Hefferman, George Hook, Chris Brown & Eddie Brown at Lost Afternoon IV |
This year's Lost Afternoon V is shaping up to be a bigger affair!
The luncheon has been moved the Royal Sonesta Hotel in The Galleria. Guests already include Eagle greats Dan Lyle, Paul Emerick, and Ray Cornbill, as well as Ireland's RFU President, Patrick Fitzgerald, with other IRFU representatives, coaches, and players. The guest speakers are George Hook and rugby referee, the Reverend Howard Haslett. As always, the event planners promise some surprise appearances, but they are not telling who these will be!
You can purchase your ticket or table here. Also, let them know you plan to attend on the Lost Afternoon Facebook Event.
Finally, there will be a noteworthy auction item this year: an Ireland Six Nations jersey signed by the team (including Sexton, O'Driscoll, & O'Connell)!
Stop by the Old Maroon table to say, "Howdy!" and share a round!