Jonny Grogg is top seller
A Welsh institution deep in the heart of some of the most fanatical rugby country around has revealed that its fastest-selling product is Jonny Wilkinson.
The Grogg Shop, home to miniture statues of Welsh rugby's greats such as Gareth Edwards, is now selling models of the England fly-half hero faster than his red-shirted counterparts. One fan even phoned the Treforest-based pottery shop from a taxi as he travelled from Sydney's Telstra Stadium to the pub after England's vistory over Australia so that he could secure an order. Another order has come from Tokyo.
Shop owner John Hughes believe the Wilkinson Grogg has become the fastest seller since 87 special-edition Golden Boot Neil Jenkins models made to mark the Welsh fly half's record-breaking 1,000-points score were snapped up in tow days.
England fans will be lucky to get their hands on one of the new limited-edition Groggs. John Hughes, who founded the Grogg Shop in 1965, said, "There is a waiting list until at least January for the 500 limited-edition models of Jonny. These will sell out straight away without a doubt."
Standing at nine inches tall and costing 59.95, the English Groggs of Wilkinson, Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio all ironically bear the stamp "Made in Wales' on their base. Some models are selling out faster than they can be made in the converted pub in Treforest. "We cannot keep up with the demand, models of both the English and Welsh players have become so popular since the Rugby World Cup," said Mr Hughes.
Groggs of Welsh players Shane Williams and Colin Charvis have also sold out after what Mr Hughes described as "a brilliant World Cup performance by the Welsh rugby team".