Page 41 - MERCIAN Eagle 2021

Rugby Team
Lt George Fossey
With a swift handover from the 5 RIFLES Battlegroup in March, a heavy forecast of events limited the ability for the rugby team to conduct training early during Op CABRIT 8. Coupled with the end of a harsh Baltic winter, it meant that time and weather put unfortunate limitations on sport until the end of May. However, when the time arrived, training got up and running faster than
Lt Woodward at scoff! Evening sessions allowed an escape from the busy day to
day life in Tapa Camp and with impressive numbers attending each week, a competent and well-oiled team began to evolve.
Facilities-wise; we were up against it
with a pitch resembling something out of ‘The Longest Yard;’ topographically similar to Lt Blacker’s midriff and with less grass than the Mojave Desert, yet still the team began to come together. Resources did not deter our spirit and we began to look further afield to find a more suitable training facility. Eventually a pitch in Tallinn was sourced which we were able to use every Thursday. The sight of a well-tended luscious green rugby pitch bought a tear to more than
a few Fijian eyes; in turn, something I will never forget.
Through using the pitch, we established ties with a local Estonian rugby team
who were keen to dance between the sticks. Owing to a limited rugby following
in Estonia, they wanted to do a joint training session before we played a match against each other. The session was great; however, it was clear to see that their ability compared to us could be likened to certain Grenadier Coy officers and their mighty Malta Coy brothers, an unfair pairing!
Nonetheless, the following week we returned, eager to get some match-time
1 MERCIAN and TALLINN train in Estonia
under our belts and put everything we had trained for into practice. With the Estonian summer heat beating down, morale was high, and a sizeable crowd had showed up to support. After a quick four tries from us, the decision was made to play three thirds and mix the teams for the final third. Although the match had turned into a practice game, both teams gained a lot of experience, and the true beauty of rugby came to the fore.
Scrummaging vs TALLINN
Afterwards, a barbecue was put on by our hosts and the Fijian Choir made us proud by singing a beautiful rendition of ‘O Qo Noqu Masu’; a truly wonderful ending to a brilliant few months of rugby. We look forward now to a period back in the UK.
1 MERCIAN rugby is on the rise and the future is ours.
The strong Mercian lineout
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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