Rugby
I love a lot of conventional sports. Football, golf, tennis, Aussie Rules, American Football but for me without question the best of the best is rugby union. Growing up at Stew Mel I was immersed in rugby from the start, however my playing career far from flourished whilst I was at school. In fact my rugby was quite honestly shite. I was too small, too weak and not coached well. However I loved the game, had a will to get better and began to foster a genuine understanding of the finer points of how to play the game properly.
When I went to uni I continued on the theme of shite rugby. 1st year I was still too small, weak and more interested in being an obnoxious 18 year old boy living away from home for the first time. To be perfectly honest my 2nd & 3rd years weren’t too much better. The coaching was sporadic, Roly and Rory did their best but we were training on astro and its always hard to create continuity in a university club. I guess I did improve slightly, cardio wise I have always been fit and physically I became bigger and stronger. My passion still bloomed, my understanding of the game developed further, I began to train regularly and took a really active role within the club. I took on the captaincy of the 2nd XV and was on the club committee. With the help of few others we ran the club and were the heart and soul of GURFC 1999-2001. My final year at uni really saw me turn the corner with my rugby and begin to be recognized by others as being a decent player. My fitness was good, my skills developed and my knowledge matured. We shoveled a heap of shit in the Glasgow Leagues on a Saturday against fat opposition on substandard grounds, the only reason anyone played was for the piss up afterwards. The uni leagues on a Wednesday were far better and occasionally we played exhibition games on a Friday night or Brit Unis/Euro Unis where the standard was good. Latterly in my final year I got a run out for the 1st XV and began to enjoy my rugby. At the end of the year I was rewarded by the club with most improved player of the year and my club colours.
Buckie….it was a moral lubricant and inducer of hilarity, violence and good times. GURFC was part of my life for my time at uni and I salute you for the memorable moments, great friends and mischief. 15 lads, a mini bus and 100 miles to get home….need I say anymore. See Bars for some info on the Hive
Murrayfield. What a place. My first time there was the Grand Slam year 1990. At the time I didn’t really understand the significance of it, but now, whoah!, what an achievement for a Scottish team, but hey, it was a hell of a team. Since then I’ve watched Scotland’s international rugby fortunes with mixed feelings. Always passionate for my country but sometimes they are just so shite! GURFC went to Dublin to watch 6 Nations 2000. Hell of a long weekend (trust me) but Scotland got dicked and we, the Scottish GURFC members took it tight from the paddies. Australia 2003, I followed the Scots from Townsville where they played Japan, through Brisbane vs. USA, to Sydney for the French then the Fijians. Now that is a road trip. There was a good bunch of boys on the road: Zander & his crowd; Stu & the nails; Roddy & his van. Altogether about 5 cars moving in convoy down the coast, all staying together and boozing as a unit. I was joined in Towny by the Basil and Carl for the Xtreme Team leaving party and then by Reid, Wylie, Koo, Cahoon, Bremner & Donald for the Sydney debacle. The tournament was great to watch, Scotland were very average but the hilarity unbeatable.
On returning home to Scotland I once again donned the boots and returned to my roots at Stew Mel. The 2nd XV was in need of players and as every team in the world always needs players for the row I was moved straight in. Strange really, cause the team was unbeaten and top of the national 2nd division for 2nd XV. Well, I really enjoyed the 6 or so games I played from early 04 through to our eventual crowning as league champions. These were to be my only games for Stew Mel although never discount the possibility of ‘grandpa Doug’ making a comeback to Invers over the next wee while.
Before leaving for Cayman in late 05 I was well aware of the lack of things to hold my interest out of work so I packed my boots. Great decision. The Cayman Islands Rugby Club is as friendly a club as you will come across. The pitch is superb and although the club facilities will soon undergo well need upgrading they hold a certain colonial charm. The standard is good, mainly due to the quality of ex-patriot office workers that the island attracts. There is however the odd dirt bag like myself, bar worker, returning ex-pat uni student and local player that boosts the club ranks. On arrival I was inevitably stuck in the row as seems to have become habit everywhere I go, however the year and half I have been playing on the island has opened my eyes to the beauty of the row. If rowing with a compatible and competent partner and so long as the rest of the pack are capable then the row can really be the driving force of the scrum and consequently boss the game. The body positioning is crucial and it is only once one has played in the position for a good length of time that the subtle technicalities that make a good row become apparent. Of course, I have always enjoyed to jump in the lineout and in Cayman I got a continued good share of opportunity. Season 05/06 I played for Cayman Development XV in a narrow lose to Canada U21 Development and then sat on the bench with late appearance for the Cayman National XV in fixtures against Bermuda and Canada U21. I then finished the international season with a start for the Caribbean Barbarians vs. Canada U21. My club side, the Pigs were the worst on the island and I don’t think we won a single game all season.
Season 06/07 started with a tour to Cuba. I had been to Cuba a few years previously with Elaine but this was going to be a totally different ball game. The game was ridiculous, the pitch had no posts or lines and a couple of shot putt circles in the middle. They weren’t super sharp on the rules and we were all so hungover we couldn’t play tiddly winks let alone rugby. The game ended in a satisfactory draw and then the real games began. Sunday was supposed to be a relaxed wind down but turned into a debacle. The ultimate balls-up however came when we reached the airport to find we had missed our check in and as there are only 3 flights a week between Cuba and Cayman we would have to stay a further 3 days. After much huffing & puffing by some members of the tour party everybody eventually decided to follow my lead and just forget about our troubles in an alcoholic haze. Next day we made the best of it by checking into an all inclusive beach resort for the remainder of our stay. Tough life! Non stop laughs and a liver replacement on return to George Town.
In terms of rugby it was a pretty low key season. The Pigs started poorly despite a strengthened team on paper and the only other moment of interest was the arrival of a touring team from Texas who we dispatched with ease. The highlight of my season came on my last game on the island when the pigs won the Waterford Cup in fine style. The club dinner followed. Good times.
June of 07 and i was back in Scotland for climbing and paddling ...but i just couldn't shake the rugby bug. Muzza was on my case from the moment i got back to play for the newly reformed Athol Highlanders. I reluctantly agreed and unsurprisingly ended really enjoying myself. Fun, friendly, family oriented club and capable of playing some pretty decent stuff. Amazingly i got to play no.7 and realised that for sure it is my best and favourite position. As i right this athol have won 4 from the first 6 of the season and lie in 2nd in the league. It is a real shame i will not be able to see out the rest of the season with the boys but they have the character to have a strong and successful campaign.
