Cincinnati linebacker Dhani Jones tackles the Globe and learns to hurl in Lucan Sarsfields Lucan Sarsfields is this week preparing to welcome the cameras of the U.S. network "Travel Channel" as they follow the exploits of Cincinnati Linebacker Dhani Jones. Jones is partaking in a global challenge and is learning the rudiments of, and playing competitively, a new sport in a week. Earlier this month, Jones spent a week with English rugby team Blackheath learning the skills of that game which by a stretch of the imagination are not too unlike those in his own sport, American Football. This week however, his challenge will be to pick up a hurley, learn the basic skills and play hurling with Lucan Sarsfields. Jones, was drafted to the New York Giants in 2000, and now is a linebacker with Cincinnati Bengals. At 6 foot one inch and weighing 240 pounds, he is a formidable giant on an American Football pitch. (http://www.bengals.com/team/player.asp?player_id=173) Lucan Sarsfields, based in west County Dublin, Ireland is a voluntary organization of some 1,600 members. Playing four codes of Gaelic games, Football, Hurling, Ladies football and Camogie (Ladies hurling), the club fields 65 teams weekly. Catering for all age groups from 5 years to, well, 21 years (plus a bit!!), Sarsfields play senior in all four codes. In advance of the arrival of Jones to Lucan, Sarsfields Chairman Paul Stapleton said that while Dhani will have his work cut out to learn the complex skills required for hurling, we will be enlisting the help of our own Dublin Senior hurler John McCaffrey (who in fact is also the Games Promotion Officer in the Club) and former Kilkenny legend D.J Carey to sharpen-up his skills. "We will be fast-tracking Jones", he said, "what takes years of practice and dedication will be, we hope, completed in one week!" Jones will formally sign up as a member of Lucan Sarsfields on Saturday May 3rd at 2.00pm. He will be then shown the basics of hurling and even partake in the hurling nursery for underage players. Kilkenny legend DJ Carey and John McCaffrey will also be on hand for intense one-on-one coaching. In the week that follows, he will train with his adoptive team, the Junior Hurlers team; making his first competitive outing with them as they take on Celbridge in a challenge match Saturday May 10th. Tweet

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