George Hook

George Hook (born 19 May 1941) is an Irish broadcaster, journalist and rugby union pundit. He hosts The Right Hook on the Irish radio station Newstalk. He had a career as a rugby union coach and businessman, before becoming a rugby pundit with Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). He has also made other TV appearances, such as judging on Jigs & Reels and coaching on Celebrity Bainisteoir.

Life

Hook grew up in Cork and attended Presentation Brothers College, a fee-paying school and rugby union stronghold. Subsequently he attended Rathmines College of Commerce.

Hook has had a number of jobs, beginning as a temporary clerk for CIÉ, and later becoming a travelling salesman for the Burroughs Corporation (now Unisys). He also ran a catering business for over twenty years. He coached London Irish and Connacht as well as the United States national team in the 1987 Rugby World Cup.

The Right Hook, Hook's radio show on Newstalk, is a popular late afternoon to early evening drive-time programme. His wife, "the lovely Ingrid", is regularly subjected to having her intimate details discussed and dissected on air by Hook. Hook appears as a rugby pundit on RTÉ on a regular basis and appeared as a judge on RTÉ celebrity dancing show Jigs & Reels. He has also been parodied in The State of Us.