UPDATE: Recent successful Phants recruiting activities
08 May 2009, 01:40pm Posted by Coach
The elation shows on "Bob's" face as Coach Sibree presents the hallowed Number 2 Phants jumper at last week's red-carpet Gala
Click to enlarge photo.Gentlephants across Vientiane are raising their trunks to the sky today on hearing the news of the greatest recruiting coup in the (post-'75) history of the LPDRFC.
Despite formidable odds and a complete inability to compete in the pay-brackets that some clubs where offering (including a lucrative, last-minute offer from the Dubai Heat involving a 37% stake in a recently discovered oil deposit in the sandy emirate), the Phants have secured the services of the Australian Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Mr Bob McMullen ("or you can just call me Bob") as it's number 1 ticket holder.
At a gala reception last week that was hosted at the Ambassador's Residence (which the LPDRFC also generously allowed to be called an "official reception" for the Parliamentary Secretary), the presentation of the Phants jumper was made by current coach Sibree on behalf of all Phants past and present.
While clearly very surprised to be receiving the honorific position within the Phants legend - aka think Stephen Bradbury's facial expression as he crossed the line first to secure the Australia's inaugural Winter Olympics gold medal - Bob maintained a steady composure as he accepted the privilege. In giving thanks for the sacrifices of so many Phants that have come before, Bob also identified young Logan Manley as the player of the future to watch, despite only being 7 weeks old.
Awkwardly, there were some tense moments when Bob realised that the colour of the jumper was, in fact, pink and that it bore the number 2 on its back. However, Coach Sibree was quick to point out that the No. 1 jumper had in fact been last seen at "Hollywood" Hassett's house sometime around his departure from Vientiane in a haze of controversy involving a whisper on the breeze about a stake in the re-development of the Talat Sao carpark. Lawyer's are swirling.
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