The RUGBYCAN

and I knew what he was all about but didn’t tell this guy I knew anything about him. This guy was a very good rugby player and had played for his country less than ten times as I recall. He probably could have added to his caps but he always seemed to be plagued by bad luck that he created or was created for him. Thios guy even went so far as to run away [...]

not too long ago who was fanatic supporter of Irish rugby. This guy thought there was no problem, in fact, he thought it fantastic that two Irish teams made it to the final of the European championship. I agreed with him because this guy knew more about the Heineken Cup than I did because this guy told me that this would happen and I just shok my head in disbelief. The only reason I went [...]

who got a great job because he did a great job. He was a lucky guy and he knew it but a more derving guy would be hard to find considering the other guy just six months ago. This guy had an agreement with two other guys. Last week one of the guys backed out of the agreement and I haven’t met that guy yet but I heard he was agreeable. Sometimes when one guy [...]

and because I am leaving today, I would would feel badly if I did not get to say what is on my mind now not tomorrow. I met this guy who was feeling rather downtrodden because the rugby team he coaches is performing badly and people are saying some bad things about the guy. I support some guys for the wrong reason sometimes although most observers think that I dislike every guy. That is not [...]

who really and truly believed he knew everything about rugby. It is true that possessed great knowledge because he wrote newspaper articles. At least that is what I have been told. Many people said he was a great player and he did represent his country but he also offended may others by his annoying behavior. Some people said that he had a small man’s complex but I believe that he was just a rather conceited [...]

who had to make a very important decision in ten days. At first, I figured he was going to be executed or execute someone else so serious was the nature of his business. And then, to be sure, this guy was talking about a fun sport like rugby. This guy was very serious. He loved rugby and was a very good player and coach but he loved and embraced the almighty dollar more it seemed [...]

and he had a big mouth. He often had to eat his words. This guy wasn’t too smart intellectually but he was clever. I could see that he grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. He had an ethnic surname. This wasn’t so unusual because he came from a country that people immigrate to. This guy could play footy. He also wanted to try his hand at coaching because he was a people [...]

I never thought I would utter the above and here’s why. The biggest impediment to Ulster success is the Afrikaans mentality. They have had their way for the most part at Ravenhill and I am glad about that. More than that I am elated. I’m not even certain that John Afoa is back from the penal colony. It doesn’t make a difference. I am betting against my own province because the South Africans won’t front [...]

I once met a man I never wanted to meet. He was an average Afrikaans hooker from a middle class Afrikaans family in Joburg and NOT a friend of the man who wrote My Traitor’s Heart Rian Malan. This chap with two names went on to tackle big time rugby with a certain obsessive commitment. This in itself was not a bad thing . Not at all. What became bad is how the end product [...]

Let’s talk rugby, not trash. The only real test tour this summer on any importance is England/South Africa…a full three test series with two midweek matches. Last week I reckoned that England stood no chance at all…..merely flatterers. Now that Northampton is back in the final four and there are arguably real Anglo Saxon charges vivisect Saracens, I acquiesce, I’ve seen the real Bulls and the real Stormers and until I see the real Cheetahs, [...]