Rugby Veterans In Festive Mood

Took in a visit to vastly different sport from sailing this weekend with a visit to Farnham Rugby Union Football Club . . . well what could be more appropriate with the Rugby World Cup series getting under way on Friday.
 
Yes, you could watch the weekend World Cup games on big screen in a specially erected marquee . . . or was it a big top, but the real purpose at Farnham was a rugby festival fielding the European Veterans Rugby Association.
 
And quite a weekend it was, spread over three days, with 20 teams from 12 different countries, and when the rugby was over for the day there was music and entertainment in the festival marquee. Sorry, big top.
 
The Coyotes Rugby veterans team were there from Cernusco, Italy to defend their honour of holding the Jeff Butterfield Cup awarded to the team with the most European Festival spirit.
 
In truth, that was the reason I was there, with son-in-law Rosario figuring in the team. The family were with him, so at least when competition and playing on the rugby field was over we could grab a spot of lunch together in nearby Farnham town centre. They are off back home tomorrow so it was a fleeting visit.
 

But worth making the effort of a visit to Farnham. Almost a nostalgic visit for me too. Many years ago I was a proud lad to land my first job on leaving school as a junior reporter with the weekly newspaper, the Farnham Herald.