It is normally at this time of the week that this column presents a quote to stir the loins in anticipation of tomorrows game. However, it is with a heavy heart that this fledgling draughtsman has awoken after a difficult week at the coalface.

We find ourselves at that time of the season when the nights are drawing in, bodies are carrying bumps and bruises and our individual, well-meant goals for the year may be under question.

Men, we must take this time to remind ourselves that we partake in all that is good about rugby because it is not football, or any other sport you can think of. It is different, it is unique. We must never forget our objectives and our principles lest we become just another game that values the individual above all else. Rugby has always been more than that and as such, this is not a time to cast blame or resist the criticism that we are all at times due. Rugby is about sportsmanship, finding our level and helping the man next to you to strive for the next. Other sports often only pay lip service to those ideals, rugby exemplifies them.

Rugby is not a game, it is a significant part of all our lives. Its essence is not drawn simply from the physical competition on the pitch, but also from the camaraderie that develops from sharing such an uncommon-common bond that will last longer than one can imagine. It starts on the field but is reinforced during the post game assembly in the Club when opponents break bread and toast each other with drink and song, along with stories of fly-fishing on the pitch at Lenzie in 1968. It is a unique endeavor in sport, this time is a celebration not just for the victors, but for all no matter age or standing.

Let us pick up the baton again, along with the man next to you, and collectively exemplify the true spirit of our great game tomorrow wherever we may be playing and whatever badge it may be for.

The 15 charged with this task from GHK have a few positional changes with the ‘Driller’ Gun on leave in birthday honour for old GHK favourite Dave Fearnley. This has allowed for Chippy’s first start for a while in the famous jersey [His friend Franco has to serve more time in Hawks 1’s before he can be granted the same pleasure]. Young Campbell-Young finds a berth on the wing and also welcomed back to the fold is Dicky. The body shape may have changed but this canny young man is more than aware that one touch of the Size 5 tomorrow guarantees him a seat on the plane for this years tour. Someone pass him the ball!

Padre Dunlop and Assistant Adjutant General Shambilton continue in the map room. Fire up the Enigma. Incoming.

The Regiment for tomorrows game against Forrester in Edinburgh, 3pm kick-off, is as follows:

15 A ‘Maximum Continuous Thrust’ McTavish
14 F ‘ Pinky Pinky’ Campbell-Young
13 C ‘200 Pounds’ Breckenridge
12 D ‘Das ist Jacke wie Hose’ Hoffman
11 R ‘Groovy Little Thing Called’ Love
10 S. ‘Touchy and Irritable‘ O’Donnell
9 A ‘Creosote’n the’ Shedden
1 A ‘Flashback’ Forbes
2 G ‘Immunisation’ Reid
3 C ‘I’ve got a pottery class in half an hour and cant find’ McLay
4 A ‘Not up to much on Thursday and Friday’ Drummond
5 H ‘Aghios Nikolaos‘ Parker
6 P ‘Some say that the outline of his left nipple is exactly the same shape as Murrayfield. All we know is he’s called...’ Broadbent
7 A ‘Featuring Dido‘ Neilson
8 E ‘La Plus Belle Avenue du Monde ’ Thow

16 M ‘Baltic Herring’ Tuominen
17 M ‘Two Fire Extinguishers‘ Dickson
18 R ‘Canoe‘ Brookbanks

Theme for the bus home: Anything but clothes.

Genuine best wishes to all Anniesland teams tomorrow.

Yours as always, running towards the gunfire in front row union, ball in hand and making ground, with a Samoan sidestep, handoff and correct presentation. Never beaten, its best Mizuno boot forward and onto the second phase.

Disco [Cpt.]

This article was posted on 23-Oct-2009, 10:19 by Hugh Barrow.