From The Sunday Independent
A Wexford hurling star has claimed that his appearance in a porn movie has not affected his sporting career.
Greg Jacob, who was a member of the Wexford senior hurling panel, appeared in a video alongside busty British blonde porn star Tanya Tate.
Mr Jacob, from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, said his decision to take part in the X-rated video Sex Tour Of Ireland did not lead to the decision to drop him from the senior panel onto the intermediate team.
Speaking this weekend, the hurler said: "It's all nonsense. You know how s**t goes around," he said. "I don't regret doing it."
The sports-mad Wexford player said he decided to make his once-off film debut following a dare from his friends.
"It was just a bit of fun. It was a dare from the lads," he said.
Porn actress Tanya Tate, who made an infamous appearance at the 40th birthday party of Kieron Ducie last year, travelled around Ireland on a motorbike to fans for "some naughty fun".
The men were told where to meet the British porn actress in a camper van to play out their roles for the camera.
Speaking this weekend Mr Jacob said that he was not ashamed of what he had done -- but added that he had only just gotten around to breaking the news to his parents in the past few days.
"I'm not ashamed of what I did, I just didn't want the family to know," he said.
"No one knows, only a few friends and that's the way I want to keep it."
The GAA player also expressed his concerns about any potential female admirers.
"Let's put it this way -- if I asked you out on a date would you go out with me if you know I had been in a porno? Irish girls in general, if you were to go talk to any girl in your local bar, in the countryside, [they wouldn't]," he said.
But he said his friends are giving him a pat on the back. "My friends are all saying 'fair play' -- and I got a few pound," he said.
Asked about the experience he said: "Yeah, I suppose it was great."
Speaking on her blog afterwards, Tate paid tribute to the men who turned up to help her film the programme.
"My fans that turned up were such lovely guys. I am definitely left with some good pleasurable memories. Prizes should go to the most well-endowed guy, the most loyal guy staying for two days and the best stage name."
She continued, "To the guys that came to meet me on my sex tour of Ireland, I want to thank you all. The hardest part was turning up."
The striking blonde said the wet weather conditions in Ireland made it difficult but was thrilled she got the project finished.
"It was a hard time. The worst floods in Ireland for 50 years. Sleeping in a damp cramped caravan. Wind about to take away the caravan during the night. Constant rain. Toilet getting blocked. Shower only giving out cold water. It was so bad I had to give the motorbike up half-way through the week," she said.
Mr Jacob said he would not rule out appearing in another porn movie in the future.
The revelations have caused a major stir in GAA and rugby circles where Greg Jacob is well known.
"Nobody was dropped from the panel -- this was not discussed at the county board meeting last Tuesday," said county secretary Ger Doyle last week.
Asked about the player at the centre of the Tanya Tate video, he said: "No comment."
- NIAMH HORAN
Sunday Independent
