Home win

My rugby team (U16B) won their opening match of the season 34-5. It was fascinating to experience the difference in the rugby culture. We played on the immaculate main oval, with the large electronic scoreboard, in front of around 150 people. It's a beautiful setting - right in front of the main school building with its clock tower and with tree-lined banks for the spectators.


It was a very warm morning, and many people were making a day of it, bringing picnics and deck chairs to sit in the shade of the trees lining the grass banks around the oval - there was, of course, a bbq as well. At the end of the game my team formed a long tunnel which I thought was to clap off the visitors - in fact it was a guard of honour! It's customary to do this for the senior team in each age group as they run on to the field. 


Here, unlike the UK, teams within an age group play one after the other on the same oval, starting with the lower teams at 9am. Each team then stays on to watch and sub for the team that plays after them. So the C XV stayed on to support and sub for my team, and then my team did the same for the A XV after our match. The main event is the 1st XV at 3.15pm.


Other differences:
No changing rooms used - boys arrive in rugby kit and leave bags on the side of the pitch.
Almost the entire school is involved, either officiating or playing in one of the sports' teams.
Boys wear blades not studs, so we can warm up on the outdoor (shaded) astro basketball courts.
On site paramedics, and a doctor, deal with all injuries.
I was somewhat taken aback when a boy in Year 11 (L6) came over to me before the game to ask to check studs and speak to the captain - it took a few seconds for me to realise that he was the (qualified) referee!
The quality of the rugby and the commitment of the boys - incomparably different given this is a B team. Incidentally, amongst the old boys' of the school are Phil Kearns and Nick Farr-Jones.....


Today was a 'friendly' - the serious stuff starts next week when the GPS Competition starts. There are eight Greater Public Schools and each team competes on a league basis against the others. Still, I'm pleased to have started with a win!