EMERALD WALLS WITH WADE

When Wade called and asked if I wanted to come to film the European leg of the Championship Tour (CT) and check out Ireland afterwards, I dropped everything. That time of year on the east coast of Australia usually suffers from small swells and the dreaded northerlies. So I happily said, “Goodbye Gold Coast and bonjour France,” as I imagined a month of sipping fine red wine, dabbling into some cheese platters, and guzzling a few pints of Guinness.

While we were in Europe, the whole Ireland thing was up in the air. It wasn’t until we were in the sardine-rich town of Peniche that we met with Wade’s sponsor and talked all things Irish. A few days later, myself, Wade, and tag-along friend Ben Jones, farewelled the CT circus and hopped onto a flight to Dublin.

We arrived in Dublin and sorted out car hire. Wade went to the left side of the car and the steering wheel wasn’t there. We stood there confused and wondered if we’d gotten the wrong car. “What side of the road do we drive on then?” came out of all our mouths