William Webb Ellis – who with a fine disregard for the rules of football…
Rugby is taken seriously in New Zealand. Very seriously. There is no getting away from it for long – just like football here in the UK. And that suits me just fine, as it’s the game I love. I enjoy watching all sports, am a lifelong Spurs fan, and get emotionally and patriotically involved in any sporting event involving England; but Rugby is my first sport, and my favourite to watch. The product of a public boys school education my dear.
Used to love playing the game when I was at school, but never at a great level. Was never the biggest of kids so was stuck out on the wing as I was a speedy little blighter! One of my biggest regrets in life was that I never kept it up at university or during my ’20s. Unfortunately, I’m now the wrong side of 30, and me old body couldn’t take the hits without permanently bathing in ice or caking myself in tiger balm and deep heat.
There are many reasons why I am planning to head over to NZ in 2010. The country is Rugby mad, and that is just another ‘pull’ factor for me. Imagine my delight when I found out that their equivalent of Sky Sports has a dedicated 24/7 Rugby channel! The imaginatively named ‘Rugby Channel’. That is just too good. Add to that, the massive event of the Rugby World Cup being held in NZ in 2011. Please, please, please Jim can you fix it for me to be nicely settled in the country before 2011. The thought of being firmly ensconced in NZ at that time has just made me do a little bit of man wee. Sorry.
