Twickenham September 2011

I was very excited at being selected to represent Seckford Warroirs (Woodbridge) at the Touch Rugby competition at Twickenham.  I have, over the years become progressively more involved with rugby as a whole and this was to be a very high point for me.  From the moment we arrived at Twickenham the organising staff were professional and friendly and had clearly planned the day well.  Following food, a screening of the England v Argentina match and a very informative tour, the players changed into kit.  The organising staff lined up four teams at a time in the tunnel to the pitch having previously closed the doors.  Once ready the doors were opened to reveal the spectators, who had made the trip.  They cheered as each team ran out on to the pitch, making me feel very special and giving us all an opportunity of a lifetime.  Some players kissed the pitch as they ran on, grabbed handfuls of grass for a keepsake or simply lay prostate hugging the turf!

The Touch Rugby competition was very well run and well refereed with the emphasis on fun and enjoyment.  The emphasis became somewhat more competitive towards the latter parts of the competition but the enjoyment aspect was ever present. At the end of the competition all players were presented with a generous ‘goody bag’ and had the opportunity to collect them from the Royal Box having ascended the famous stairway to cheers and applause from the other teams.  Another nice touch from organising staff and an experience unlikely to be repeated.  On the whole, the day did a very good job at promoting rugby as an accessible community sport that can be enjoyed by all the family.  The intrinsic comradeship and respect between opposing players was evident throughout and enabled a few new friendships to emerge.  I applaud the organisers, sponsors and their staffs for creating such a wonderful opportunity for people like myself to experience a deeper understanding of the game and the infrastructure that supports it.

A very proud and happy Seckford Warriors player