For 14 years Mike McGurn has rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in world rugby.

A much sought after fitness guru, the Fermanagh-man has now returned to Belfast with the aim of setting up his own fitness consultancy.

He thought long and hard about the move and it wasn’t an easy decision to make.

“In my last year with the Ospreys I actually got bored with rugby and that had never happened me before,” he said.

“I felt stale and was missing home so after one year I got early release from a three-year contract.

“I gave up a small fortune to come home, but it was purely for family reasons and I’ve absolutely no regrets.”

The main thing as far as he’s concerned was that he and the Ospreys parted on the best of terms.

Ironically no sooner is he home than a number of invitations from overseas have landed through McGurn’s letterbox.

He was already signed up for a two-week international conference in Australia and further invites have landed both from the All Blacks and from Canterbury Crusaders.

On the home front he’s still involved with world boxing champion Bernard Dunne while a gig with Adidas will see him work with golf star Sergio Garcia.

It seems a long time ago now, but McGurn headed off to university in America as a 17-year-old.

Then his main interest revolved around athletics, but he was fascinated even then with fitness and training methods and how other sports prepared

Getting to sample three different and diverse sports while still at university only whetted his appetite and thirst for more knowledge.

Through sport he’s made friends with some of its biggest and well known star names.

And he has nothing but good to say about Ireland rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll.

“He’s one of the most genuine guys I’ve ever met,” said McGurn.

“He’s as down to earth as they come and despite being at the very top of his sport he has never changed which says an awful lot about him.

“He’s the kind of person I can lift the phone and speak to at any time day or night.

“There’s also a side of him that the public don’t see and that’s the huge amount of stuff he does for charity.

“Take it from me Brian and other tops sportsmen just want to be treated like everyone else.

“Brian came to my wedding two years ago and mixed really well.

“Nobody treated him any differently and he loved it so much he actually stayed on in Enniskillen the next day.”

Tommy Bowe, who starred with the Lions in South Africa, also gets the McGurn seal of approval.

Bowe took both the South Africans and his critics by surprise on the recent tour.

“Tommy Bowe made a brave decision to come over to the Ospreys where nobody knew him and where he was rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in Welsh rugby like Lee Byrne, Shane Williams and Nickey Walker,” said Mike.

“For Tommy it was very much a case of sink or swim. He worked his socks off, put on muscle and increased his acceleration.

“He was accused by his critics of not having sufficient pace and yet against Wales in Cardiff he burned off Shane Williams for pace.”

McGurn will again be involved this autumn with the Ireland International Rules squad, renewing acquaintance with big Sean Cavanagh a player he greatly respects.

“I got to know him last year and he’s a real big gentleman who puts so much time and effort into everything he’s involved in” he said.

“His Tyrone colleague Enda McGinley is another who caught my eye with his marvellous commitment and work rate.

For McGurn it’s yet another honour to be working with the cream of Irish GAA, but that won’t dilute his thirst for more success.