Niall Guing

Niall Guing "2015 Vic Masters players player award winner"

Club: Melbourne University Gents

5 nations team: Wannabee 35s and Brittle Lions

Position: Flanker

Niall Guing is from a small village an hour west of Dublin Ireland, called Clonbullogue.

He grew up in a GAA area where Gaelic Football was a religion.

However he fell in love with rugby during the 1999 Rugby World Cup. The close game between Ireland and Australia being such a highlight that was the catalyst for a life long love of our great game.

Other fond memories for a young Niall was to see the Wallabies v All Black game and the famous goose step and no look pass of David Campese.

Niall was a late starter to the game and started playing for Edenderry RFC at age 14 . He was put into the fullback position.

During his teenage years he split his time between Gaelic football and rugby and went on to represent his county Offaly at various underage grades , u16, u 18 .

Niall got involved in rugby more seriously in his early 20s playing for his home club Edenderry where they won the midland league and were narrowly beaten in a towns cup final ( Leinster Towns Cup Final )

The Move to Australia:

In 2006 he decided to come to Australia for a 3 month holiday and travelled down the east coast from Cairns to Melbourne. It was at this time Niall fell in love with Melbourne and later in the year he met his stunning future wife -Kathy. They now have 2 beautiful kids.

Initially in Melbourne Niall played Gaelic Football with the Sinn Fein club and really enjoyed it winning the Victorian Championship in 2010.

From his younger years Niall always loved and wanted to get back into rugby.

One sunday morning whilst playing touch footy Niall and Gary Berman (aka The Bermanator) got talking. It was at this time when Gary convinced Niall to give rugby a go and started playing for Uni in 2013. Niall has loved every minute of it since that time.

Niall has gone on to win Vic Masters players player of the year in 2015 ( huge honour and named after Vic masters legend - Ray Dougherty)

Biggest influencers in Nialls rugby career have been a guy called Eddie O'Neill. Eddie was in his 40s and was Nialls player/coach of Edenderry 1st XV. Eddie was hard as nails but never expected anything he wouldn't deliver himself. Niall has taken these lessons into every game he plays.

Niall loves the Vic Masters community and comradery of Vic Masters Rugby .

He says that the first beer drank after a tough game of rugby is the most satisfying drink that there is . The fact that you share it with your opponent is even better.

Niall would like to thank you all for making his Saturdays special and looks forward to many more years of mateship and new friendships with the Vic Masters.