Last weekend I had the opportunity to take some time away from the books and witness a true spectacle. Rugby is a big deal in Scotland and S. Africa was in town for a match. This is significant because S. Africa is the reigning world champion. Here is a taste of my first National Rugby afternoon:
- Met 20 or so fellow MBA'ers for a pint in a local pub
- Sang 'Flower of Scotland' with tipsy crowd in jam packed pub
- Walked to new pub and bantered with visiting S. African expats up from London
- Enjoyed another pint in a very crowed pub
- Sang 'Flower of Scotland' with another crowd, this one a wee bit more tipsy
- Headed off to Murray Field for the match, popped into another crowded pub for one last pint
- Sang 'Flower of Scotland' with extra tipsy crowd (sociology note: increasing alcohol consumption = thicker Scottish accent)
- Bantered with more S.African fans on the way to Murray Field
- Harassed some Scotland fans for wearing wrong pattern of tartan kilt (only Scottish Rugby tartan allowed on National Rugby day...everyone knows that!)
- Arrived at Murray Field just in time to hear bag pipers and drummers finish 'Flower of Scotland'
- Asked British friends roughly 300 questions about rugby during match
- Was forced to drink several more pints during match
- Enjoyed Scotland's finest export (whisky) after each point scored (when in Scotland...do as the Scot's)
Overall my first rugby match was a smashing success. Scotland lost but put up a very respectable effort against the world champs. I enjoyed being part of the crowd and feeling the excitement rise in the stadium as Scotland marched down the field. I even figured out when to yell 'heave!!!!' at the appropriate time (trust me, if you mess this up you look like an idiot). By the end of the match I was critiquing the refs by yelling 'that call was rubish' and supporting the players with phrases such as 'that chaps a right good fellar'.
I'll certainly be attending another match.
-Kyle
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