BS: Rugby

Subject: BS: Rugby
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Oct 21 - 04:59 AM

I kind of hate to admit it but I recently discovered that the game is hugely entertaining. I say I don't like to admit it because it feels like I just admitted that I used to like boxing (NOT kickboxing- I never could stand that) and that although I no longer do, I liked it because when I was a youngster every male in my family boxed, from my father on down- I was and am female but I liked developing and displaying quick reflexes. We did not hit faces, just chests, arms and bellies but I was proud of myself.

Back to rugby. I've only watched a whole game a few times but it's kind of like boxing, in that it is total involvement and the guys, ferocious as they are, clearly are enjoying it. I can just imagine how wrecked but peaceful they are when they return home in the evening.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 06 Oct 21 - 05:07 AM

All I know about rugby is that it's a game played by men with oval balls. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Oct 21 - 01:31 PM

But only one.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Oct 21 - 09:10 PM

At a time.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 07 Oct 21 - 06:50 AM

I played rugby for 16 yrs and suffered many jarring injuries as a result. I have three discs in my lower back and two just below my neck which suffered damage. As a result I have nerve pains too often. People warned me when I was late teens of what might happen when I got older.... but I enjoyed the game so much I would not have given it up. Now I am paying the price but have no regrets!!.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Oct 21 - 02:44 AM

Union or League, Ebbie?

I enjoyed going to the occasional RL game at Swinton in my younger days but I could never get into RU.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 08 Oct 21 - 07:04 AM

What's that one where they get into a huddle like a big tarantula in order to grab each other's testicles?

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 08 Oct 21 - 07:10 AM

Mind you, it's not as amusing as American football, in which once every couple of minutes somebody throws a ball along a double line of heavily-padded men, who then proceed to beat each other to pulp...At least you can take your mind off it by watching an array of beautiful young women in feathery frocks jumping up and down on the touchline for reasons yet to be discerned...

Or ice hockey, in which the top priority is to break legs, the second-top priority being to score goals...

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Raggytash
Date: 08 Oct 21 - 09:25 AM

I have always decribed American "football" as formation mugging. I have yet to hear a better description.

Dave I used to follow Swinton Rubgy League in the days of Kenny Gowers, Peter Kenny and my favourite although he didn't often get into the team Granville Hoyle.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Oct 21 - 10:52 AM

The back room of the White Lion in Swinton, where we had the folk club, was full of Swinton Lions memorabilia at one time. The team took their name from that pub.

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 09 Oct 21 - 08:17 AM

I always remember at school, a very enthusiastic master yelled at me "put your head down and GO" after being passed the rugby ball, which I did but unfortunately ran into the tallest bully in the school who brickwalled me - result was a broken collar bone!!

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 09 Oct 21 - 09:47 AM

My first days at Grammar School..

I turned up with a dap bag of brand new rugby boots, shirt, and shorts.
Part of the expensive compulsary purchase list of essentials for starting there.

What.. no football allowed at Grammar school..!!! So what's this rugby all about then...???

I was a big lad 11 year old who enjoyed rough and tumble play fights with mates on the council estate,
so was well up for having a go at tackling.
I was never any good at playing football, but enjoyed lurking in defence to foul the other teams strikers..
So rugby tackling definitely appealed to me as a substitute for football fouling.

On a freeezing Autumn morning we turned out for games in full rugby kit.
As soon as we lined up to be selected for teams,
the PE teacher ordered me to take my glasses off,
or I wouldn't be allowed to play.
Arguing with the teacher did no good, so I ended being stuck on the sideline freezing my bollocks off.

That was the start and end of my rugby career.

Annoying thing was, glasses never stopped me getting in playground fights.
My NHS specs were always held together with sellotape...

After that, I tried playing without my glasses, but was useless.
So Rugby lessons just became a futile exercise in going through the motions learning scrum and passing skills
I'd never be able to use in any match..

.. and I hated cricket..

Grammar school games and glasses is one of the main reasons I ended up in the despised arty farty clique,
wannabe rock stars, writers, and actors...

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 10 Oct 21 - 01:43 PM

I am married to a rugby fanatic: I should have seen the writing on the wall, when, unusually for England in the 1970s, we got married on a Friday rather than a Saturday? Why? Because our reception was to be in the local rugby club, which would, of course be in use by the players on a Saturday, but we could have it on a Friday.
Our first year of marriage, we lived in a hospital flat, thanks to my job, but no washing machine: himself was playing rugby every Saturday, and I had to try to scrub his filthy kit clean using just handwash powder and scrubbing brush! There was not just mud, but blood, as he only had to look at another player, and his nose would start bleeding!
To my relief, he more or less hung up his boots 3 years later when we moved from that area, but the obsession continued. It has taken us to some nice places from where we live in Scotland now: several trips to Rome, Paris, Dublin, Swansea (not Cardiff!)and even London! Then there was the British Lions in New Zealand 2005 (say no more re the results!) This included a wee diversion to Fiji.
After we moved to Scotland. my husband used to go off to various top division matches in and around Edinburgh, before eventually allying himself to our local Premiership club, Currie. Now a life member, and "grounds convener" for his sins - gets to go and mow that meadow, and many other jobs: down there every day doing something (including clearing up after the local teenage drinkers and the mess they leave behind! GGRRR!)
And in these days of multiple TV channels, her can always find a match somewhere to watch on TV or computer.
Fortunately I have music to keep me sane!

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Hrothgar
Date: 11 Oct 21 - 06:13 AM

The game they play in Heaven.

Subject: LYR ADD: The Devil's Marking Me
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 11 Oct 21 - 08:22 AM

Hrothgar: Heaven's game indeed. Let's hear about it from Max Boyce:

THE DEVIL’S MARKING ME
Max Boyce
I had a dream the other night,
The strangest dream of all.
I dreamt I was in Heaven,
Away from life’s hard call.
It was as I’d imagined,
Where peace ruled all serene.
The signs to Heaven were all in Welsh;
Hell’s signs were painted green.
   Painted green, painted green.
   The signs to Heaven were all in Welsh;
   Hell’s signs were painted green.

I entered through the heavenly gate,
I heard the heavenly band,
And there was John the Baptist
On Barry John’s right hand!
He plays for the Heaven Welsh fifteen,
They’re very fit and keen,
We’d play the Heaven English
If they could only raise a team.
   Raise a team, raise a team.
   We’d play the Heaven English
   If they could only raise a team.

There was Rugby every morning
On a field of golden corn,
and the referee was Gabriel
And he blew on a silver horn.
They tell me we play Hell next week
In the annual charity.
I wouldn’t mind but I’ve been told
The devil’s marking me.
   Marking me, marking me.
   I wouldn’t mind but I’ve been told
   The devil’s marking me.

But now my dream has faded
And I wake up in the morn.
I find beneath my pillow
A sheaf of golden corn
So I know that when I go there
Beyond death’s victory,
I’ll take my Rugby jersey
On that Gospel train with me.
   Train with me, train with me.
   I’ll take my Rugby jersey
   On that Gospel train with me.

Lyrics from the book "I Was There" (1979) by Max Boyce
NP

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Oct 21 - 09:48 AM

When Wales are playing, my mrs screams and screaches at the TV like an over-excited bloodthirsty red dragon demon...!!!

Anyone walking past our house might think there's a murder going on...

I'm not a nationalist or keen rugby fan, [ok, it's a better game than football]
but I'll pretend to be supporting England just to wind her up..

It's one of our long established mixed nationality marriage traditions...

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Oct 21 - 10:48 AM

You THINK it's better game than football...

Subject: RE: BS: Rugby
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Oct 21 - 04:34 PM

Oh well, this might put us above the line, if the referee allows it, but here’s my rugby song!

A RUCKING GOOD SONG                 © words byTrish Santer 21.05.07.

Tune: The Keel Row

1.         As I cam doon thro’ Currie, thro’ Currie, thro’ Currie,
        As I cam doon thro’ Currie, I heard a war-like cry.
Shouted!   (Hey, ref, hae ye no bin tae Specsavsrs?)

Chorus
        My love he lo’es the rugby, the rugby, the rugby.
        My love he lo’es the rugby, and wi’ me he ayeways tries.

2.        I dated a’ the first fifteen, they thought I was a hooker.

3.        He wears a black and yellow strip, like a Wasp or bumblebee.

4.        I only had one goal in life, to meet an upright man.

5.        He took me to the match in Rome, to do what Romans do.
        Spoken:                (they have orgies, don’t they?)

6.        He wanted me tae roll over, but I did a body swerve.

7.         I couldnae stand his mauling, so I telt him tae ruck off.        

8.        He wanted up and under, under, under,
        He wanted up and under, but he couldnae touch me doon.

9.        He tried a dangerous tackle, but I gave him a dead ball.

10.        So this shall be my penalty, I think I ken the score.
( At this point, ladies, stick rugby ball under whatever top half you’re wearing!)

11.        I’ll never be converted, until the day I dee.

12.         But noo we are the Champions, champions, champions, (we were, twice!)
        We made it all the way.