One of my fondest memories when traveling in the great UK was a time driving the A470 from Cardiff to Trefriw w/a native son behind the wheel(we drive on the wrong side here on our side y'know)listening to the Wales/Ireland qualifier for the Rugby World Cup on the car radio. It was very exciting though completely foreign to me. Being a Welsh-American all of a sudden I was rooting passionately for Wales. I grew up playin American Football so I had a respect for rugby though I'd never played it. It was like a spirit was channeling through me and I got very involved and insisted we stop somewhere and watch the balance of the match. We found a pub, ordered 2 pints of bitters each and I hollered like a madman for the Welshmen to no avail. Immediately becaume fast friends or blood-oath enemies(all good-natured, of course) with all the rooters in the pub. Was given on the spot and spot on explanations of the subtleties of the match as it progressed. They were given a sound thrashing by the opposing Irish team and were elimimated from the qualifying...I think next year they hired the coach from the All Blacks.

Anyway, for the next year or two I would stay up late on Sunday nights to watch Rugby highlights much to the consternation and concern of my friends and son. He was 13 at the time and thought it strange I would have this sudden passion for rugby when I brought him home a replica Wales National team Jersey and an Aberystwyth Field hockey jersey. He still has them and played rugby for his fraternity in college...They got killed everytime out as they had no real concept and worse yet no size or speed to speak of. But they were game and won respect in taking their weekly thumping in the fall. The field hockey jersey he used when he played roller hockey w/his mates on Sundays. My son's out of college now, but his fraternity still fields a team though I don't think they've got one in the win column, yet. Someday, someday.

It was an off chance experience for which I'm thankful I had. The folks in the pub were raucous, but always well intentioned and they made this culturally inexperienced Yank feel real welcome. Raise a glass to those good folks in the pub, the very essence of 'hail, fellow well met' A sad day in my life was when All Sports American network ESPN discontinued showing international highlights of rugby, football, Austalian rules football and Irish Hurling. I'll get them back someday, though as we've got a satelite dish at our place and when we've got the money we'll have it turned on.

So congrats to South Afirica and condolances to England.