Ade and Mel said they would break up with us if we didn’t go to a Rugby match with them. Ade is convincing. And in this case ‘convincing’ could mean ‘intimidating’. Besides, the consulate called to say she would be forced to revoke our visas and deport us if we did not attend a rugby match prior to the two year anniversary of our grand expatriation.
In case it means anything to you, the match we attended just happened to be the Leicester vs Saracens match at Twickenham – and it also just happened to be The Final.
You’ll be glad to know that I’ve taken on board the finer points of the game.
Lesson One: Cheer for the team of the biggest bloke in your group.
I quickly developed the warm fuzzies for something or someone called the ‘Saracens’.
Lesson Two: Be sportsman-like.
My flag boy and your flag boy should not set the others’ flag on fire.
He should also refrain from starting a fight in a platinum wig and thong underwear, however striking his fashion statement may be.
Lesson Three: Face your challenges. (Also known as a ‘scrum’. The ball eventually emerges, but sometimes piles of players happen first.)
Lesson Four: What must go forward must first go back. It’s why we study history and it’s why a painter takes a step back from her work every few strokes. In rugby, the players can run the ball forward but can only pass the ball backwards.
Lesson Five: Lift up your friends and teammates. This was my favorite bit – the line-out (pictured below). I am assured by Ade that it is highly unacceptable, and in no way cool, to refer to the line-out as choreography.
Lesson Six: Eat and drink. (Preference seems to be for junk food or food of little nutritional value.) Which brings me to my next point.
In celebration of rugby, in honor of the sponsor, and because junk food is so intricately linked to sporting events, we are giving away these little lovelies:
Leave a comment on this post (www.drewandjengotolondon.com) if you’d like to add your name to the hat. Â We’ll choose a comment Saturday morning at 10am GMT.
2 responses to “Score!”
This is incredibly helpful – Rugby might be one of the hardest to understand games for Americans.
[…] things, first:  Congratulations Taylor!  We’ll be sending you some rugby related treats shortly!  You have no idea how high […]