Page 29 - zebra_proof

I
INTERNATIONAL DAYS
Although this is a book about amateur rugby, there would be a glaring abyss in it if there was not a section dedicated to ‘International Days’.
Barring injuries or suspensions, an amateur rugby player – a committed one at least – will not get a weekend off playing rugby from August (if you factor in the pre-season friendlies) to the beginning of May – aside from on international weekends.
Of course, I should highlight here that foul weather puts paid to a fair few games every winter, but it would be a stretch to call these Saturdays, when the games are postponed, as Saturdays ‘off’. No. Usually, these postponements are eleventh hour affairs. Most games kick off at 2pm, and usually, you’ll get notified of a postponement around 11am (if you’re lucky). That leaves all of Friday night and Saturday morning to think, stress, and obsess about the upcoming game – only for it to be taken away just before kick-off. Once the decision has been made, the Saturday might be yours, but it’s not as if you can make grand plans at such short notice. No. Most will have to make do with being dragged around the shops by the wife or taking the kids to the park in the driving rain.
And that is why International Days - both in the November for the Autumn Internationals and during February to March for the Six Nations - are such special occasions and held in such high regard.
ALL SHAPES & ZEBRAS FROM TREORCHY 29