Kick off. The rugby World Cup has begun at last. What an honour it is for the UK to be hosting such a significant sporting event, I do hope we can use this to our advantage on more than one level. This is a wonderful opportunity to spread the word and increase participation. Rugby has always been overshadowed by the more popular sport of football, yet in my eyes it brings so many more desirable values to those who play or support it. For the England team this is their chance to maximise the home advantage, it worked for our Olympians three years ago, let's hope it can work for our rugby players too.
I have failed in the efficient and logical planning of my diary. The rugby World Cup arrived to the UK and I left. The timing could not have been any worse if I had tried. The Australian team checked into the city of Bath just as I left it, then the Georgian team arrived in Exeter the same week I headed back out to Eastern Europe. Yes I am currently in Georgia commentating on a summer beach sport. I am enjoying the weather but missing the excitement that comes with any World Cup, let alone a sport I love that is hosted by my home country. Thankfully and probably due to the nation of Georgia competing, and winning their opening match, I did manage to find a bar showing the england game. My friend and I were the only viewers in this open air bar, the atmosphere could not have been further from that found at home. Nonetheless putting up with the time difference to support our team was worth it. I now feel a slight allegiance to the Georgian team and after seeing some incredibly shocking results from some of the favourites in the opening matches, who knows how far they can go.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Home soil
For some reason I have felt detached from much of the recent sporting action which has taken place over the past week on this small island we call home. In theory a true supporter’s interest should not vary when sporting events change their locations yet I have been aware of my personal enthusiasm waning as the north of the country has been attracting all the attention.
Admittedly I had a busy week of work which featured a lot of driving and even included a trip north of the M4, yet I have hardly taken any notice of this year’s Tour of Britain cycle race. That could be due to the lack of a British yellow jersey or more likely it is due to the location. The last two years I have followed the Tour diligently as it passed through the Southwest and beyond. Even friends from outside of sport were talking about it yet this September I haven’t even heard my cycle club mention the race. I am sure the whole of Yorkshire has been getting behind the cyclists but I do hope the legacy of this significant international cycle event will live on across the whole country. We need to encourage people to get on their bikes and not just when a few professionals fly past their door.
Thanks to Olympic champion Mo Farah I did hear more about the Great North Run. Aside from the elite race this event is a fine example of getting thousands of the public active and engaged in sport. It really is a major highlight in the sporting calendar and always receives a phenomenal level of support, even if it is the wrong side of the M4..
All of this pales into insignificance though compared to my excitement about the forthcoming Rugby World Cup which kicks off in less than a week. The action will be coming right to our doorstep as Exeter’s Sandy Park hosts a number of the opening pool games.
Admittedly I had a busy week of work which featured a lot of driving and even included a trip north of the M4, yet I have hardly taken any notice of this year’s Tour of Britain cycle race. That could be due to the lack of a British yellow jersey or more likely it is due to the location. The last two years I have followed the Tour diligently as it passed through the Southwest and beyond. Even friends from outside of sport were talking about it yet this September I haven’t even heard my cycle club mention the race. I am sure the whole of Yorkshire has been getting behind the cyclists but I do hope the legacy of this significant international cycle event will live on across the whole country. We need to encourage people to get on their bikes and not just when a few professionals fly past their door.
Thanks to Olympic champion Mo Farah I did hear more about the Great North Run. Aside from the elite race this event is a fine example of getting thousands of the public active and engaged in sport. It really is a major highlight in the sporting calendar and always receives a phenomenal level of support, even if it is the wrong side of the M4..
All of this pales into insignificance though compared to my excitement about the forthcoming Rugby World Cup which kicks off in less than a week. The action will be coming right to our doorstep as Exeter’s Sandy Park hosts a number of the opening pool games.
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