Tag: rugby union

R is for Rugby

Think of it as a physical version of American Football.

Oddly Rugby hasn’t really come up whilst I have been doing this blog given that it plays such a large role in my life, and always has.

Born in East Hull there is the inevitable link to Hull Kingston Rovers and I remember going to watch them from a very early age.   You grow up in Hull and you’re either a Red and White or a Black and White, there is no sitting on the fence, and I was a red and white.

There was something really magical about trips to the games with my Dad and there was such a thrill when I would take the match day programme and try and get player autographs.  It’s nearly 35 years ago now but the memories of drinking bovril in the cold remain and there is still a real sense of just how important it was to me all those years ago.

We moved to South Africa in 1981 and rugby is a bit like religion over there, just more important.  I loved playing growing up and despite those huge Afrikaaners forever battering us it was there that I grew to love Rugby Union.  I am a Northern Transvaal fan at heart still and was fortunate enough to live there in 1995 when the Springboks won the world cup.  Talk about fever pitch, the country went berserk and it was truly an amazing thing to witness.

Now I get that it is not everyone’s cup of tea, and the rules can be confusing and there are two types which doesn’t help but there is just something about the game that I love.  Whether its the physical nature of the contest I love or the skill, speed and power I do not know, but something in the game just appeals to me.  It doesn’t matter what level it is played at I can just watch it because of the sheer pleasure it brings me.

There is a real community, honest and camaraderie about rugby too and it is that side of things I enjoy more and more as I get older.  I spend a lot of time doing work for the local club and both my boys play so most weekends are taken up in one form or another with something rugby related.

Hmm.  You know this might be the most bland and sensible thing I have ever written.  You know, that must show just how serious I take it.  I think I will stop right there because I feel very grown up suddenly and I seem to be an awful bore when I’m serious about something.

 

 

 

What a week

A quick scribble on the week that was and on being a bit of a knob.

Ever have one of those weeks you think will never end?  The sort that keeps you wound up and all frantic with your innards all knotted, only to look back at the week and think “What was all the fuss about?”

I had one of those.

I have a decent job, one that I am pretty good at and that does not particularly vex me.  Just the way i like things – without vex.

This week’s vex though came in the form of a Rugby festival that I organise and deliver for about 800 children.  I do it because I love the club my kids play at, it is part of the community and over the last few years has become a huge part of my life and my families.  They discovered I was bad ass at spreadsheets (my words obviously, not theirs) and before you know it I am involved in all manner of things including being in charge of this thing (though I am still unsure how).

Planning includes doing a lot of the actual work needed in the run up including things such as putting up fences and gazebos and a list of other jobs as long as my arm.  I have this all in hand, no problems, and love doing it.  Then, with a week to go I seem to head into a spiral of panic and am convinced that it is going to be a disaster and become a complete arsehole and beat myself up.

So today, the big day arrives and with the exception of some major traffic and parking issues it goes off really well.   There is a brilliant team of people there making sure

Whilst the cars queue and some people rant and perform it seems the end of the world and I am convinced it is going to be a disaster.  I’ve organised everything so of course traffic on a tiny Island housing 70 million people is my fault.

Eventually, a semblance of calm ensues and I take a walk through the site to see what we have put on and I had a right lump in my throat.  800 children ranging from 6 to 11 playing rugby, having a wonderful time and not a care in the world amongst them.  7 hours later we are all packed away, I have had a couple of Woo-woo’s and I get home to take a look at my emails and Facebook to discover a load of thanks and congratulations on a great day and how they’re looking forward to next year.

I know there are probably loads of deep and meaning things I could assume about myself in this regard but mostly I thought “stop being such a dick, you prepared for this, enjoy yourself more because one day you will be dead.”

Nothing is the end of the world, apart from the end of the world of course.

Anyway, I’ve been up for a very long time and I don’t usually post about things like this and I am going to bed secretly quite proud and a little bit emotional about what we achieved today.