Dear Touchline
THREE CHEERS or YAH BOO?

I write to express a personal concern at a serious problem in our game, a problem that is becoming more prevalent each season - behaviour on and off the pitch.

There is, at times, a lack of communication between the senior and junior sections of clubs. An over-worked volunteer club chairman sometimes has the problem of a strong personality leading the junior section, producing good results but sowing ‘mayhem’ with a ‘win at all costs’ philosophy. This leads to cheating, abuse and complete disregard for sportsmanship and enjoyment.

Our Disciplinary Committee deals with a decreasing number of adult players, whilst there is an increasing number of juniors.

The ethos of our game is being eroded and ignored by those who have never played rugby or been connected with the game. There are people who bring the culture (or lack of it) of other sports to our sphere.

The Continuum and its guidelines for introducing the game to young players must be observed and participating parents must become accredited coaches.
On the field the laws must be obeyed, off the field there is a need for the strict application of strong and clear codes of conduct for everyone involved with rugby - at ALL levels - players, administrators, coaches, referees, spectators - especially parents.

I must stress that this is a personal opinion and does not necessarily express the views of my Constituent Body.

Arthur Bowden

Dear Touchline
Once upon a time my son was asked to go along with his friend to Bracknell mini rugby (5 or 6 at the time I think) to keep him company as he was a bit nervous, little did we know that his friend would leave and we would be touchline groupies for the next 20 years.
I can only say that my memories of soggy Sundays in various parts of the Berkshire and surrounding areas rugby pitches was cold wet but most of all great fun. We, along with all the other mums and dads, would transport, feed, clothe, cheer, sometimes mop the tears and most of the time be there to see their smiling faces (usually covered in mud, the more the better as far as they were concerned).

There were some great times keeping warm in the various clubhouses from 9am to 5pm if we were lucky enough to get through to the end in a tournament. One I particularly remember was Lewis’ last game for the club which was the Newbury Tournament when one of the players’ (I think his name was Charlie) parents’ car broke down on the way and we had to borrow a player from another team, he didn’t mind as long as he played rugby and he played brilliantly for us (even against his own team!) until the poor parents eventually made it from the motorway tired, fed up but the little boy was determined he wanted to play. We played a fantastic game for the semi final and then an hour and a half to go before the final. The atmosphere was building, cups of tea, hot food (not too much or you can’t run…) and that’s only the parents!

Then there we were about 50 odd parents running the touch line, cheering each other’s children on, shouting for our teams and then the final whistle blew and hugs and handshakes abound we had won the competition, I think for the first time ever. Then we were all gathered round to cheer both teams for all their efforts and a thoroughly enjoyable day had by all, even those who spent a couple of hours on the motorway waiting for the AA, said it had all been worth it.

If anyone had said all that time ago that our son would be playing for England now I wouldn’t have believed them, we were just pleased he was doing something he enjoyed with a good crowd of friends which also encouraged teamwork, gamesmanship, some great friends and most importantly how to roll over in the mud and not get hurt (occasionally he might lose a tooth (his first game I think and I went looking for it in the grass!! If anyone noticed he’s broken it a couple of times since but its amazing what they can do with super glue) bruised a finger or leg but all great fun and life long friends made, him and us.

All I can say to any parents thinking of letting their children play rugby and wondering if its too dangerous, crossing the road is dangerous but you can’t stop them -just let them learn how to do it properly and they will enjoy a great time, make lots of friends and maybe one or two of them will end up where Lewis is now, if not they will play a sport that is very sociable for a long time at clubs like Bracknell.

As parents we had some great fun making teas, buttering the bacon butties and having the odd pint or two but mainly watching a lot of children thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Heather Moody

Dear Touchline
The University of Durham deeply regrets the failure of its Rugby 2nd XV to fulfil its fixture in the final of the Durham County Second Team’s Cup. We understand the disappointment this has caused members of the Blaydon RFC who were denied the honour and excitement of competing for the cup in the final tie.

Our inability to compete was due to failure of communications among student officers within the University Club. The University has made a fulsome apology to the Durham County RFU, to Blaydon RFC, and to a number of individual followers of Rugby. The University Club itself has been deeply shaken and shamed by this uncharacteristic blemish on its proud reputation.

The University trusts that this letter will set the record straight and remove the temptation for further groundless speculation about the reasons for this exceptional and unprecedented incident.

Yours sincerely

Dr Peter Slee
Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications
University of Durham