Tommy O'Regan was an Irish darts player who captained both the Ireland and England darts teams. From Limerick in the south west of Ireland, he was one of the pioneers of the modern era of darts.
Darts career
A former jockey, he played much of his darts in England, noted by Darts World magazine in 1972 as "a genial milk roundsman", playing in the Walthamstow and District Darts League. His local pub was "the Swan" and he played for Southgate in the London superleague. He represented London in the British Inter Counties Championship, including as its captain in the inaugural season, winning 14 of 28 games. He won the 1968 London Superleague pairs with Jim McNally and singles in 1970. O'Regan won the National Darts Association of Great Britainnational championships in 3 successive years, from 1970-1972, a tournament played in 801 format. He was awarded a replica of the tournament's trophy to recognise the extraordinary feat. He won the Indoor League in 1973, beating Alan Evans in the televised final and winning £150. Evans was the hot favourite after an electrifying semi-final win over Welsh countryman Tony Ridler. O'Regan's winning legs in the final at the Leeds Irish Club were 18 and 21 darts. He was one of three players brought from London by Olly Croft to challenge the predominantly Yorkshire based champions. In his book "Bellies and Bullseyes", Sid Waddell recounts that before the tournament, Croft confidently declared that O'Regan would win the tournament. In the 1974 edition he was beaten in the quarter final by Peter Chapman, who also knocked him out of the 1975 edition. He won of the 1976 Klondike Open darts beaten by Joe Goldwin of Gibraltar He also reached the quarter final of the World Masters in 1976, beaten by 3-2 John Lowe of England. One of the first players to use tungsten darts, he was one of the first to have sets of darts marketed using his name. He has been noted as one of the founders of the darts exhibition circuit, travelling around the UK playing the best local players and demonstrating trickshots. He died in 2000 and is buried in Bruree in his native Limerick.
International caps
O'Regan had the distinction of captaining both the Republic of Ireland and England darts teams, a feat never repeated. His official record on England caps is 3 wins out of 3 appearances. Though this does not include more informal international events held in the mid 1970s. Bobby George notes in his autobiography that O'Regan was chosen to captain the first ever English team in a recognised international game in 1973. He also captained the victorious England team in the 1973 Home Internationals. In the following year, with the foundation of the BDO and the Inter County system, O'Regan returned to playing for his country of birth. In 1976 he captained a "Rest of Great Britain" team against Wales in a friendly international. In the 1976 Home Internationals he represented Ireland in Dundee, playing in the games against Scotland and Wales, scoring one of 10 180s on the day.
