Rugby and Relocation

Rugby Sevens at Ibrox 

A very early start today as we all had appointments at various venues around the games. We had received tickets to the Rugby Sevens along with some 40,000 others from all over the World. We also had to pack our bags as we were leaving Scotland immediately after the rugby. It was a little sad to say goodbye to Sandy and Cathy (our hosts at the BandB) and Ruth, a young volunteer from Wembley, who hugged us as we left.

It was quite a contrast traveling into the city without the peak hour rush of the working week. Nor did we in anyway get lost as we transferred to the little subway trains for the trip from the city to the stadium.

Following the line of people up to the stadium we joined the queue to pass through security again performed by the military. And again despite our best efforts, the handsome young guardsman, bashfully declined to frisk Poss. We proceeded to our designated turnstile which was unmanned and locked. A queue had already begun to form and eventually an embarrassed steward allowed us to enter through his turnstile (this we were to later find out would lead to trouble). We then started to ascend the steep and seeming!y endless stairs to the uppermost level of the Ibrox. After showing our tickets to two further stewards we eventually made it to our seats.

Home of Rangers F.C.

Aust. V Sri Lanka

Sevens is a fantastically fast game played on a full sized pitch in two seven minute halves. Games follow each other almost immediately and so there was continuous entertainment. The preliminary rounds that we had come to see were very one sided with the powerhouse sides like NZ and Aus having little trouble.

Kiwis V. Canada

It was after the first Australia game that our trouble started! People arrived to sit in the seats we now had occupied for some hours. After the obligatory checking of numbers and rows, we discovered we were in the wrong area. Off to find the stewards who appeared to already be aware of this confusion. "Follow me!"  and off we went into the bowels of the members stand, down narrow tunnels and pokey little doorways. It was rather like something out of The Hobbit!!! We did eventually emerge on ground level and found our proper seats amongst other Aussies and Kiwis. We had gone from the top to the bottom of the stand all due to the fact that the initial steward had allowed us to enter through the wrong turnstiles. In the process we missed the whole of one game but now had a different view and experience of the game. Much closer to the action.

Wales (52) V Malaysia (0)

The Welsh were merciless and our team dominant despite the roar of "Uu Gan Da!!!" from all but a few of the 40,000. We left to get back to our car as soon as the Aussie game finished and ran into the players moving back to their marshaling area. Pop got  to high five every payer and trainer as our paths crossed. What a terrific encounter.

Eventually we drove out of Scotland and the Games with a hope that we may one day return and see much more of the land of the kilt, bagpipes and haggis. Not forgetting the whiskey!!!

Victors over the mob!