Banger Banter Newsletter Jan - June 2013

7/28/2019 Banger Banter Newsletter Jan - June 2013

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You Will Always be A Banger

ger Banter J anuary - June 2013 5

36 3832

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30 31 35

Extra Time

Old Bangkok Banger Rugby Club Sponsors 2012 -13


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ou Will Always be A Banger

J anuary - June 2013 Banger Banter.

eally late with the Banter this year. Sincestarting the J une newsletter, back in February,we have been taken on additional work. The

Bangkok International Rugby Tens and the BangersOn Bikes Charity Ride, both club related projects thatdeserve our support.

We are now back on track.

In the Banter this quarter, we have broaden thecontent to include some intriguing rugby featurestories. With the British and Irish Lions in currentlytouring Australia, including stories with a global

perspective was timely. The piece on the growth of theglobal rugby game is interesting. Not to be missed

Some hot news. We are losing another club coach.J eff Francois Klentzi. He has threatened to movea few times but this time it is for sure. J eff is off toSingapore. The contribution he has made to the clubhas been enormous over the years. Our best wishesJ eff.

The Colts win against the Selangor Dog in theSEA Challenge Cup three week ago, was special.One of the great wins in the clubs history. Twentyve Bangers turned up for the game on the day. A

selectors dilemma.

Still looking for contributors to the Banger Banter, Itsnot a big ask. Its your newsletter.

Editor

EDITORIAL

Roberto Guolo

Andrew Tatam

Andrew Raming

J eff Klentzi

Tom Kerr

Grahame Fox

Hamish Watters

Mike Gilbert

Stewart GormanAndrew Hjelmeland

PHOTOGRAPHYMike Laloli

PROOF READER

Roger Fitzgerald,

Mike Laloli

WEBMASTERMike Laloli

GUEST WRITERSPeter J ohannson

The BANGER BANTER is published quarterly formembers, sponsors and friends of the rugby club. TheBanger Banter can be downloaded from the club web

site. Members contribute all editorial and photography.The layout and design is provided by Ruck Graphics, amember of the Old Bangkok Banger Rugby Club.

Banger Banter J anuary - J une 2013

www.oldbangkokbangers.com

PUBLISHER : Old Bangkok Bangers Rugby Club


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elighted to be writing my column in this, my second year as Chairmanof the Old Bangkok Bangers Rugby Club.

As I said a number of times, it is time for the Bangers to become a more

professional and modern rugby club both on and off the pitch. Duringthe season ahead we will witness a number of changes and face somechallenges.

We welcome a number of new members, coach and a committee. Whilstnew players and a fresh approach can inject vigour and ambition, theycannot guarantee success. To me, this comes down to the attitude of theplayers, the coach, the supporters and the committee.

We must accept that in an amateur rugby club, family and workcommitments of our players and volunteers must come rst, however, I do

believe that if our attitude both on and off the pitch is right, then success will follow.

We aim to embrace all that is good about rugby. Camaraderie and fun are as equally important as success.

Make sure we celebrate and promote the game of rugby that is so much a part of our lives.We need yoursupport throughout the club at all levels and I encourage you to play or watch our games, attend all of ourfunctions. Not a big ask.

Finally, I would like to thank all the members who give up time to support the club and work towards it future,without loyal members we would not have a future.

Enjoy the season ahead.

Ciao

Roberto


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A drunken man staggers into a catholic church and sits downin a confession box but says nothing. The bewildered priestcoughs to attract his attention, but still the man says nothing.The priest then knocks on the wall three times in a nal at -

empt to get the man to speak. Finally the drunk replies - Nouse knockin mate - theres no paper in this one either.

One night a man walks into a bar looking sad. The bartenderasks the man what he wants.

The man says "Oh just a beer". The bartender asked the man"Whats wrong,why are you so down today?".The man said "My wife and I got into a ght,and she said

she would'nt talk to me for a month". The bartender said "Sowhats wrong with that"?The man said "Well the month is up tonight".

A man was in a terrible accident, and his manhood wasmangled and torn from his body. His doctor assured him thatmodern medicine could give him back his manhood, but thathis insurance wouldnt cover the surgery, since it was consid-ered cosmetic. The doctor said that the cost would be $3500for small, $6500 for medium, and $14,000 for large. The manwas sure he wanted a large, but the doctor urged him to talkit over with his wife before he made any decision. The mancalled his wife on the phone and explained their options. The

doctor came back into the room, and found the man lookingquite dejected. Well, what have the two of you decided?asked the doctor. The man answered, Shed rather remodelthe kitchen.

While walking along a beach, a man nds a lamp and rubs it

off.A genie appears and offers to grant the man one wish.The man replies, "What about three?" The genie retorts "Look pal, I'm in a hurry, I've been cooped up in that damnlamp for. . ." "OK, alright" the guy responds. "Tell you what,I'm tired of paying for airplane tickets to Hawaii. I'd like you to

build a bridge from California to Hawaii."This pisses the genie off. He screams, "Hey, this isn't themovies. Your wish has to be practical.""Do you know the engineering it would take to design that,the materials it would take, you'd have to compensate forplate techtonics, the continental shelf. . .""Geez" the guyresponds, "Well, I'd really like to understand women."The genie responds "Did you want two lanes or four? "

A 77 year old had just nished his morning jog and wasn't

even short of breath. His friend who was 70 years old wasamazed at the guy's stamina and asked him what he did tohave so much energy.The 77-year-old said, "Well, I eat rye bread every day. Itkeeps your energy level high and you'll have great stamina

with the ladies.." On the way home the 70-year-old stoppedat the bakery. He asked the sales girl "Do you have any ryebread?" She said, "Yes, there's a whole shelf of it. Would youlike some?" He said, "I want 5 loaves." She said, "Five loavesBy the time you get to the third loaf, it'll be hard." He replied,"I can't believe everybody knows about this except me."

An elderly man goes into his doctors ofce for an annual

physical. After a while, the doctor comes out and says, "I'msorry Bill, but we have discovered you have a condition whichonly allows you another 6 weeks to live.""But Doctor," Bill replied, "I feel great. I haven't felt better in

years. This just can't be true. Isn't there anything I can do?"After a moment the doctor said, "Well, you might start goingdown the street to that new health spa and take a mud bathevery day." Excitedly Bill asked, "And that will cure me?""No," replied the doctor, "but it will get you used to the dirt."

Two married buddies are out drinking one night when oneturns to the other and says, "You know, I dont know what elseto do. Whenever I go home after weve been out drinking,I turn the headlights off before I get to the driveway. I shutoff the engine and coast into the garage. I take my shoesoff before I go into the house, I sneak up the stairs, I getundressed in the bathroom. I ease into bed and my wife

STILL wakes up and yells at me for staying out so late!"His buddy looks at him and says, "Well, youre obviouslytaking the wrong approach. I screech into the driveway, slamthe door, storm up the steps, throw my shoes into the closet,jump into bed, rub my hands on my wifes bum and say, How

about sex?... and shes always sound asleep."

A cowboy walked into a barber shop, sat on the barbers chairand said, Ill have a shave and a shoe shine. The barberbegan to lather his face and sharpen the old straight edgewhile a woman with the biggest, rmest, most beautiful boobs

that he had ever seen knelt down and began to shine his

shoes. The cowboy said, Young lady, you and I should goand spend some time in a hotel room.She replied, Im married and my husband wouldnt like that.The cowboy said, Tell him youre working overtime and Illpay you the difference. She said, You tell him. He is the oneshaving you.

Bridge Building

No Taking For 30 Days

Only 6 Weeks To Live

The Cowboy In The Barber Shop

Staying Out So Late

In A Confession Box

Mangled Manhood

77 Years Young

Jokeofthe

Quarter


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AdMock


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BANTER : Peter, can you please give us a little background on

Tellus Systems ThailandPETER : Tellus Systems Limited was formed in J anuary 2001,as a result of a management buyout from the Australian DexionGroup. The management team has been the same since 1999,thus a lot of local experience and stability is retained in thecompany.We have a factory in Bangplee where we produce Mobilux - ourMobile Space Saving ofce storage systems, which is being

exported in the Asia/Pacic region, as well as the Middle East.

BANTER: Tellus has a range of design, distribution and supportservices from industrial storage to service vehicle interiors?

Which of these, is the strongest sectorPETER : Industrial Storage and Ofce Storage Systems are the

two bread & butter business lines, which are showing a constantgrowth over the years. However Material Handling Automation is a

Managing Director, Tellus Systems. Thailand

www.tellus.co.th.Website :

business which is showing increasing interest fromthe Thai market, due to higher wages and shortageof labour. Automating manual processes alsodelivers predictable and consistent quality.

BANTER : Can you give us a snapshot of the

market in Thailand today ?

PETER : Logistics efciency is a growing trend

in Thailand today, and the range of productsand services Tellus offers complements thisdevelopment. Companies are not just looking forproducts that stores goods in warehouses, but forsmarts that improve efciency and accuracy within

the distribution chain. They are looking for waysto gain a competitive edge and thats what Tellusprovides.

BANTER : Presumably your target market are both

Thai and Western companies?PETER : Absolutely, there are many major Thaicompanies as well as foreign that are expandingtheir operations, not only in Thailand but also withinthe Indochina region.

BANTER : How has Tellus developed its presencein the market over the past few years?

PETER : At Tellus we have a work practice foundedupon the philosophy of a constantly listening andlearning organization, in order to always be able toprovide whats right for our customers.We have therefore over the last three years addedcompanies we represent in Thailand/Indochinain order to complement our previous portfolio ofproducts and services to t with the present and

future market requirements.Its just as important to know what isnt right, as it isto know what is right, and Tellus has worked hard

to develop that in-house expertise. In addition, wealso have the resources from our principals when


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J anuary - June 2013 Banger Banter.2

required.BANTER : Are you active engaged in neighboringcountries to Thailand ?

PETER : Yes very much so, with representativesin both Vietnam and Cambodia. Sales into Laosand Myanmar has until now been on a direct salesbasis.

BANTER : How do you evaluate and measure the

success of your efforts?PETER : That we are able to grow Tellus businessby offering the market what it is looking for, also bythe number of repeat customers. Additionally, Tellus

export sales of Mobilux - our Mobile Ofce Filing Systems which we produce in Bangkok, demonstrates that

it is a highly respected product wherever it is sold.An example of this is that Apple Computer Australia now exclusively uses Mobilux mobile and static storagesystems by Tellus in its new Apple Stores in Sydney, Melbourne Adelaide and Perth.

BANTER :Finally as you look two to three years down the track what are you most focused on to make surethe strength of the company continues?

PETER : To make sure that the products and services offered by Tellus meets the needs and wants of

our existing and potential customers. We are also introducing new technologies for more efcient storageand distribution of palletized goods. At the same time we want to guarantee a stimulating and rewardingenvironment for our employees, many of whom have been with us right from the start in J anuary 2001.

Training Twice A Week -J ust Be There


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Championship. It was a tough closelyfought match with the J apanese winningthe contest. They taught us an early seasonrugby lesson.

The game was followed by a Banger familyBBQ with our J apanese friends as ourguests. A great late afternoon early eveningfollowed.

And nally, a couple of weeks ago, we

played our rst game in the SEA Challenge

Cup this season against the Selangor Dogand recorded a mavellous win. Our rst win

ever in this competition.

Lets build on this for the rest of the season.We have a lot of new members this year.

Make them feel welcome in our great club.

elcome to all those who share ourcommon values of Fun, Friendshipand Fraternity as a member of theOld Bangkok Bangers Rugby Club.

Since the last Banter six months ago, a lothas happened in our rugby world.

We had a great run in the Thai Rugby Union

competition last season culminating in a seminal win over our old foes the Southerners.

Unfortunately we lost in close nal against

Luk Pradu, the Thai Navy side. It was ourbest nish ever in the Thai Rugby Union

competition.

Our nal SEA Challenge Cup match took us

to Kuala Lumpur to face the mighty SelangorDogs. We had crowd and referee issues inthe nal ten minutes, taking away our well

earnt lead to that point. We lost control of the

game got from then on.The Club has committed to another seasonin this prestigious tournament. with homextures against Saigon and Kuala Lumpur

and away xtures against Manila and Jakarta.

We will need commitment from all our players

Get out and support your

to full these xtures with our best possible team on the eld to

continue to spread the gospel of Bangers Rugby.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the club to participate in thistournament please get in touch. It is an expensive tournament.

Our Bangkok International Rugby Tens 2013 was again asuccessful event. We are indeed fortunate for the club to bepart of this. All three club teams were involved with the Vetswinning their division.

Then there was the club tour to the Philippines for the ManilaTens. Great tournament and tour. We did not do so well thisyear. The competition was stiffer. Off the pitch though we werea real success. The Bangers know how to enjoy a tour rugbyparty that for sure.

Last month we played the Bangkok J apanese in a friendly.This was in their preparation for the J apanese Asian Rugby


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Interim Coach, Cyclist, Triathlete, Parachuist etc

he Bangkok International Tens 2013 has come and gone.

Particularly proud of the Banger Vets winning their division inthe tournament. They deserved it playing inspiring rugby allweekend.

Two weeks ago, the Colts played their rst game in this years SEA

Challenge Cup against Selangor and recorded a win.

Last season was hard one for the club in both the SEA Cup and the ThaiRugby Union competition, but we must learn from our experiences. Ameasure of us as a team will be how we respond to those experiencesand turn them into our strengths.

There are areas we need to work on and last season will give us asound spring board. Many of the games we played were won and lost

on small margins.This season will not be about margins - it will be about control, deter-mination, understanding, application and focus. This will only come if

we are willing to work together as a team with a clear understanding that we are accountable both on and offthe pitch. In order for the Old Bangkok Bangers to be a great club, we must be aspirational with our goals anddare to be great. Not a big ask.

This will be no less a challenging season than the last. What we do know and have proven, is that we can com-pete in the Bangkok Sports Club Tournament, the Thai Rugby Union competition and the SEA Challenge Cup

We have nothing to fear, but make no mistake anything less a one hundred percent commitment to training,preparation and playing will see us fall short of our potential.

We will continue to move forward as a club and rise to the challenges ahead. I am looking forward to the newseason and working with all Bangers players. See you at training.


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Banger Ancients aka Whippersnappers

t is most encouraging to seethatthe GREY POWER of the Ancientsis growing in stature and volume.

The turnout at the recent BangkokSevens Tournament was very encour-aging. At least 25 players donned thehoops for our so-called exhibitionmatch on the Sunday. I dont under-stand why it was called an Exhibitionas all Ancients played with full spirit

and purpose, in keeping with the Rulesof Ancient Rugby.

We had a vigorous, bloody, spiteful,encounter, but then the Vodka ran

out and we had to make our way down to the pitch. An even more confusing battle then ensued as our clubphotographer tried to sort us out for team photos

Was the action controlled ? Sure was, by a professional referee. He had own in from Spain for the tour-nament, and had never heard of Ancients Rugby but, once we explained the rules he got into the spirit ofthings and really added to the spirit and excitement of the game.

Following our traditional prance onto the pitch, and the Wai, we moved to our positions on the eld of

dreams. To everyones surprise the Referee was wheeled out in a Medical bath chair ,wearing an oxygenmask and looking like he was at deaths door. The chair was pushed by a giant penguin!

Once we extricated the referee from the chair, and chased the penguin off the pitch, the game got underway. For those who have not reached the age where they qualify for Ancients level rugby, certain rules needto be explained.

THE TACKLE -This is a catch and release move. The defender must have two rm hands on the ballcarrier, but cannot take him to ground. The ball carrier must cease to resist.

THE BREAKDOWN - The ball carrier must roll the ball through his legs, as you would do if on the groundThe dummy half cannot be caught with the ball, so should quickly (ha ha) pass.

THE LONG SCRUM - Scrums are uncontested, and usually 3-man. However, we sometimes need abreather after a furious minute or two of excitement. Any player who feels like a rest will join their side inthe scrum. The Half puts the ball in then everyone leans together and rolls the ball back and forth untilrefreshed, then the ball comes out.

THE BLUE CARD - In keeping with the Ancients Spirit, no player shall excel in their endeavors. If anindividual is scoring too many tries, or running too fast, the referee will issue him with a Blue Card. Thecard tells the player, Leave the pitch, scull one beer then return. You may recall that there were morethan six cards shown during the match.

THE RESULT - The objective of Ancients Rugby is to revive the old spirit of the game in our old hearts,and enjoy the Fun, Friendship and Fraternity we all have known throughout our rugby lives. To this end,we have paraphrased the old SAS motto Who dares wins with our creed Who cares who wins. Withthis in mind, it is a rule of Ancient Rugby that every game will end in a draw.

The real spirit of Ancient Rugby was shown after the match. By happy coincidence, we had set up campalongside the Tiger Beer Bar. The Tiger ladies were very friendly and keen to keep lling up our jugs. Songs

were sung and teams were cheered. The Thai Navy team got special attention. We then moved back to ourclub house at Tenderloins where Andrew Lamont, our very generous Heineken sponsor, left a heap of cashon the bar for us to continue to imbibe his great beer.


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Yuji Kitahara


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withBangkok J apanese Rugby Club

BANTER : Where are you from in Japan ?

KITAH : My home town, Kitsuki city in Oita in KyushuIsland is located at western J apan. It is local townand my mother and younger sister are living there.My wife and two sons are living near Tokyo.

BANTER : Growing up what sports did you use toplay?

KITAH : I used play various sports like softball,dodge ball, football and sumo wrestling till end ofprimary school depend on the season. At high schoolI played baseball. Unfortunately, there was no rugbyclub or team till high school.

BANTER : Who were some sporting heroes of youras a kid ?

KITAH : Mr. Sadaharu Oh and Mr. Shigeo Nagashi-ma were heroes who played as Tokyo Yomiuri Gi-ants, one of the famous professional baseball team

in J apan.

BANTER : Do you have fond memories of thoseearly days in Japan?

KITAH : When I cooked by myself during summercamps at the beach or on the mountains in gradethree and four in primary school. I was happy to wasable to be cook on the bonre for my class mates.

They were very happy too I suspect. The girls madestir-fried vegetables etc. I still remember the beauti-ful starlit night at it end of summer.

BANTER : You were transferred to Bangkok with atravel company. ?

KITAH : Yes, my company planned to establish andopen new branch ofce in Bangkok, so I moved to

Bangkok from Singapore where i was located inJ une, 2005.

BANTER : You took up rugby late in life?KITAH : Yes, I started when I was 37 years old atSingapore. I played with both the Singapore J apa-nese and and Bedok Kings there.

BANTER : You seem to be enjoying your rugby withboth clubs the Old Bangkok Bangers and the Bang-

kok Japanese

KITAH : Yes, I enjoying being to involved and play-ing with both clubs. Unfortunately on Sunday both

clubs train at same place around the same time, soI cannot make it too both - always. But I am trying. I

itah, as he is known to his friends, is perhapsBangkoks most well known expat rugby player.

Trains and plays rugby not only for his own club, theBangkok J apanese but also with the Old BangkokBangers and the Southerners. A man that just lovesthe game and cannot get enough of it. Read on..........


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also attend the Bangers Wednes-day session at NIST.

BANTER : You play multipleroles in the forwards. What posi-

tion do you prefer ?

KITAH : I prefer loose head propthan tight head prop now.

BANTER : Tell us about the

Bangkok Japanese Rugby Club.?KITAH : The Bangkok J apaneseRugby Club was establishedin 1964. It will be 50th yearsanniversary in next year. Whilstwe are called the BangkokJ apanese, we have a numbermultinational players fromEngland, Argentina, Cameroonand Thailand as members. Wehave more than 40 registered

members and around twenty veare players, ranging in from 26and 50. Our motto is We enjoyour life through rugby.

BANTER : The Bangers matchesagainst the Bangkok Japanese

are always tough games ?

KITAH : Yes, for the last two -three years, our matches havebeen tough close encounters.I think that the Old Bangkok

Bangers and BangkokJ apanese are two of the leadinginternational rugby club teams inBangkok. We are competitors butremain the best of friends.

BANTER : The BangkokJapanese place a strong

emphasis on a developing junior

team ?

KITAH : Correct. We establishedthe junior team in 2006. The

numbers of junior playershave increased over the yearshowever, this year the numberare down. I am very proud ofthem. They play hard clean rugbybut always within the spirit of thegame. I hope that some of themwill continue playing rugby andsome day go on to representJ apan.

BANTER : I understand you are

the president of the club this year?

KITAH : No, I am the clubcaptain. until the end of February2013.

BANTER : Last year The Bangkok

Japanese were ASEAN Japanese club champion.

KITAH : Yes, we were the champion in year 2011. I get to that later inthe interview

BANTER : You always seem to be training or playing rugby. Its a bigpart of your life?

KITAH : Yes, thats right. Nobody believes me, when I say my rst

priority is work and the second is rugby.BANTER : What do think makes a good club rugby player ?KITAH : Believe in your rmates, Respect your teammate, your opposi-tion and the referee, Dont blame the errors. Good spirit and heart.

BANTER : I see you Guinness is your favourite beer ?

KITAH : Yes, its my energy drink. I may not survive without it!

BANTER : What motivates you during a game?KITAH : Hard tackles by your mates.

BANTER : Who are people that been the big inuence on your rugbycareer?

KITAH : Mr. Hitoshi Ohno (Toshiba Brave Lupus), J onah Lomu, NewZealand and J ohn Smit. South Africa.

BANTER : What is has been one of your best sporting moment on theeld?

KITAH : When the Bangkok J apanese became the Asian J apaneseclub champion last year. The semi nal against Shanghai I remember,

was a especially tough game. All the Asian rugby cups were in ourhand last year. The Sawadee Cup, the Andaman Cup, the Oriental Cupand the Asian J apanese Cup in a tri-nations competition with Singa-pore and Malaysia.

BANTER : What is some of the best advice you have ever received ?

KITAH : No pain no gain! No retirement in rugby life! I totally agreedthe following comment by J ean-Pierre Rives. Rugby football trans-gures a boy into an adult early most, and makes a boys soul bear

against an adult forever.BANTER : What are some of your interests outside of rugby ?KITAH : Travelling, Drinking.......

BANTER : Japan is going to get the Rugby World Cup. You wouldhave to be happy about that ?

KITAH : Personally, very happy. More importantly however, to makethe Rugby World Cup 2019 a real success. We would like to cooperatewith the J apan Rugby Football Union and be part of their long term

plan to make this World Cup event successful for everybody.BANTER : Thanks for your timeKITAH: You are welcome, thank you very much for asking me.


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hen I was shipped out from the UK to Thailand (hardtimes!), one of the last things on my mind was takingpart in any excessive exercise after having let rowing

control my life for the previous 18 months. Rugby was just aboutas far as I was going to go!

Unfortunately, a combination of dirty triathlon/tness chat with

Jeff the Banger rugby coach and enjoying the ner parts of

Bangkok, I felt the urge to take on the challenge of Ironman 70.3Phuket and join J eff on the start line.

For those who dont know (so most sane people), this race com-prises of a 1.9km swim, 90km bike and nally a 21.1km run. As

if this isnt hard enough, the course in Phuket throws up its ownparticular challenges. The swim is in the sea for 1.3km beforehaving to run over a sand-dune and into a freshwater lagoon.

At two points of the bike, you have to dismount to cross over amotorway bridge (I believe the only race in the world to have this)and in the last 30km,a series of hills andsteep ascents results

in many people walking up. Finally the run switches fromcross-country, gravel and concrete on multiple occasions justto throw you off your rhythm.

Id been training for three months. This combined with thegames in Bangers cup run in the Thai Rugby Union competi-tion, I felt I was t enough, The race itself did not disappoint

and Thailand decided to throw everything it had at us. Thenormally at sea decided to be rough and full of big swells

making it a tough start to the race.

The 3 hours on the bike were incredible, cycling throughamazing landscapes only for the heavens toopen in typical thai fashion caus-

ing ooding on some of

the roads. You tend to

get worried when thewater reaches yourankles when cycling!Finally, the race couldnot be complete with-out the sun coming out on therun and proceeding to bake all the competitors.

For me, getting through the race in one piece and enjoying almostevery minute of it (having to dive into the bushes near the end withstomach issues was not such a highlight) and having some of theBangers on the nish line waiting with beers was an incredible

experience and hopefully one I will get to repeat sometime in thefuture.

Im also looking forward to seeing more Bangers doing it nextyear as rumours circulate of people hitting the pool and thebike.


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rugby scholarships are now on offer. Several SouthAfricans have already packed their bags; yoususpect one or two British teenagers may also fancythe frat pack experience. A souped-up Americannational side really would make multi-national

sponsors sit upIf they prefer, they could head for Medelln,Colombia. Weve had incredible stories coming outof Colombia, says Mark Egan, the InternationalRugby Boards head of development andperformance. Theyve got 10,000 registered playersand the government are now investing heavily inrugby. They see it as a fantastic sport for youngchildren and theyve brought it into young offendersinstitutions. In Medelln theyve builta rugby centre with two articial

pitches, changing rooms, the lot.All a long way from home? Not really.One rung below the Six Nations,a hugely competitive EuropeanNations Cup has just nished. While

Wales were stampeding to their title,Georgia conrmed their rising status

by securing the second-tier crown

Their New Zealand coach, MiltonHaig, believes good progress isbeing made: Im condent that in the

next six to 12 months we could, if weget an opportunity, put the frightenersup a tier-one nation.

The word if is the crucial one.Exciting new markets or not, the

long with many other traditionalpursuits,rugby is hurtling towards a future itcan barely comprehend.

At the Hong Kong Sevens, Kenya are always agenuine threat and Brazil appeared for the rst time.

A 40,000 crowd watched Madagascar beat Namibialast year, with 15-a-side interest also rising inThailand, the Philippines, Moldova and Venezuela.

Afghanistan now has a national team.

And on it goes. Welcome to a sport explodingin myriad different directions. In Russia there issuch a well-established, professional league thatplayers relocating to the English Premiership haveto take a pay cut. In the United States the sporthas obtained varsity status which means college

Six Nations still clings to its old upstairs-downstairsstructure, which means Georgia can only hope toplay the grandees above them every four years at aWorld Cup. Imagine if this years wooden spooners,France, had to go to Tbilisi for a mandatory play-off

next month to retain their championship status?The commercial implications of defeat might scarethe daylights out of the major unions but imagine thefrenzy of interest elsewhere.

We know Georgia is a union which can perform ifit gets the right investment, says Egan, who visitedTbilisi last autumn with the ex-All Black captainGraham Mourie to meet the new Georgian primeminister, who has overseen a 20m investment in


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eleven new high performance centres around hisrugby mad country. In 20 years time we may allbe wondering how the closed-shop arrangementsendured for so long.

This, however, is not a vision shared by the SixNations chief executive, J ohn Feehan. As he tots upthe championships soaring global viewing gures,

he nds it hard to believe anyone would wish totinker with such a winning formula. You change it atyour peril. Well never say never but at the momentI think there is a big gap between the bottom SixNations side and the next-best team.

The evidence, however, is less conclusive thanit was. Georgia lost only 15-6 to Scotland at the2011 World Cup and, by common consent, theyand their rivals are improving. Last week Georgia

and Romania shared a 9-9 draw in Bucharestand the Lelos only sneaked home 17-13 againsta competitive Belgium side in Brussels. The latterwere a lowly 58th in the world a decade ago, whileRomania are now coached by Welshman LynHowells.

More encouraging, at least, is the xture schedule

for the 2015 World Cup which, thank goodness, willbe fairer than any of its predecessors. The leadingnations and broadcasters have nally agreed

to midweek dates for the top sides, ensuring theminnows will have similar rest periods to everyoneelse.

For countries like Russia, it is something to cling to.We are ambitious to be a major rugby nation butthere is no pathway for us to go up, says Russias

chief executive, Howard Thomas. Im a hugeSix Nations fan, but the world has got to ask:

Is it good for the global game for it to stay asit is? We need to have that debate. At somestage an established side will be beaten andpeople will say: This tournament doesntrepresent the best six teams in Europe anymore.

Super Rugby may look to expand itshorizons in 2015 and the Asian market is onits doorstep, predicts Egan. Theres alreadya professional league in J apan and there areopportunities in Hong Kong or Singapore to

put franchises in. There are plenty of options.Over the next ve years thats where thegame is going to have to look at itself.

Of course there are still pitfalls, however, thefuture may arrive sooner than we think.


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Proud Supporters Of TheBangkok International

Rugby Tens


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The Bangkok Lions Rugby Football Club was founded and established by the old playersof rugby in Bangkok. The main motive was to spread and promote the game to the younggeneration especially the children between the ages of 4 to 10 of Thailand.

They have established a rugby training clinic which organizes some formal coaching for thegame as well as a tournament during summer months. The rugby clinic is managed by somerenowned rugby players of their times. Their job is to encourage the parents to make their kidsparticipate in the tournaments.

Regular matches are arranged by the Bangkok Lions on weekends to boost the kids for thenext time. The coaching center have expert rugby players as guides who can tell the kids whatit takes to be a master of the game.

The Bangkok Lions have done a lot to assist and gradually develop the interest of rugbyamong the young kids of Bangkok. The venture has soon become so popular among of theThailand that some renowned companies now sponsor the events.

It will not be wrong to say that the Bangkok Lions, have been able to create a unique platform

for the kids to exhibit their talents as far as rugby is concerned. It is indeed a great initiative.

The Southerners Sports Club is an informal, non-commercial club based in Bangkok withexpat and Thai members drawn together to enjoy a game of sport in a friendly environment.The feature of our club is a strong, but relaxed social atmosphere that we take with us on thesporting elds, or out for the night. Our sections include Rugby Union, Netball, Touch Football,

Cricket & Social

In October 1994, New Zealand Rugby side Taradale planned to tour Thailand and play ina rugby sevens tournament alongside teams from Thailand, Guam and Taiwan. A group ofAustralians and New Zealanders agreed to help organize the tournament, entering a Thailandteam they decided to call The Southerners. Former New Zealand All Black Zinzan Brooke

was a member of that inaugural side.While started out over 15 years ago, our has grown into a club of over 500 social and sportingmembers originating from every corner of the globe.

The Bangkok Japanese Rugby Club was established in 1964, Next year It will be the clubs50th years anniversary

Whilst the name of the club is the Bangkok J apanese, they have a number of players from theinternational community like England, Argentine, Cameroon and Thai. The club have morethan forty registered members and around twenty ve players, ranging in ages from 26 and 50.

Last year the Bangkok J apanese became the Asian J apanese club champions. They alsowon other silverware last year the Sawadee Cup the Anderman Cup and the Oriental Cup incompetitions against J apanese sides in ASEAN countries

The Bangkok J apanese also have established a junior team in 2006. which plays in the localinternational school competition and the Bangkok International Tens

The Pattaya Panthers Rugby Football Club came into being some three months after theirrst game. The rst time a team was assembled in Pattaya was for the Bangkok International

Tens in April 1998. The debut was notable for the fact that Pattaya became the rst team in the

history of the Tournament to stretcher people on to the eld.

Pattaya lost in the semi nal by more points that one has ngers, and in what was a trend set -ting move, handed the 3rd and 4th place playoff to our opponents on the grounds that the beerhad nearly run out!! The name Pattaya Panthers was adopted in J uly 1998

The club has gone from strength to strength since those early days, however this said nothingwill diminish the reason why we still grace rugby pitches all over Asia.to work up a thirst!!

Annually, the Pattaya Panthers organize the Chris Kays Memorial Tens, a popular tournamentwith teams entering grom around SE Asia and Australia. Chris Kays was a popular Pantherwho tragically lost to rugby in the Bali bombings in 2002. The tournament was named after him


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Never try anything new on a match day. Use thisopportunity to restore liver glycogen stores and also tohydrate. Choose foods and drinks that do not cause anygastrointestinal discomfort and that will stave off hungerpangs. Eat a main meal at least three hours prior to kick-off,focusing on carbohydrate rich foods with a small amountof protein. This meal is an important opportunity to add tothe bodys glycogen stores and should be light and easy todigest. Avoid very high protein and fat intake

Examples of pre-match meals

BREAKFAST :z Fruit/fruit salad/fruit juices and low-fat yoghurt and cereal;z Mufns/crumpets/pancakes/toast with jam and low-fat cheesez Boiled eggs and toast with jam/honey/Marmite.

LUNCHESz Spaghetti or other noodles with lean mince and/or vegetable or tomato-based topping (no cream)z Grilled chicken breast with mashed potato/sweet potato or stir-fry ricez Baked potato with tuna or chicken or vegetable-based toppingz Extra bread, fruit and fruit salads and low-fat yoghurt/low fat desserts

PRE-MATCH TOP UPS

z

One hour before kick-off: top up fuel stores with a small snack such as:z Sandwiches with low-fat cheese/ham/chicken/boiled egg/tuna/jam and peanut butterz Mufns or pancakes or crumpets with honey/syrup or sugar and cinnamonz Fresh fruit and low-fat yoghurtz Fruit smoothiesz Sports bars or cereal/breakfast bars and sports drinks

n the modern game players more than ever need to focus on nutrition. Adhering to eating plansduring the training week will ensure adequate carbohydrate stores during the game. In the last24-36 hours, when training may be tapered prior to a match, it is especially important to increase

carbohydrate, keeping fat intake low. This means that, as far as possible, players should plan aheadand be prepared for all situations.


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esthetically, rugby is unwatchable. But all sport is a tribal rite,and Wales v England provides an unbeatable clash of cultures

In the depths of this grim winter weve all needed something

to keep us going, and for me its been rugby unions Six Nationschampionship, which comes to a crunching conclusion tomorrowwith three matches, including what promises to be an epic encounterbetween Wales and England in Cardiff.Now, rugby is not to everybodys taste. Its dull, plodding and the lawsare unfathomable, say the cynics, who contrast it unfavorably withthe owing, relatively straightforward game of football. But they are

missing the point that rugby is sport at its purest because, in reality, allsport is boring. Its a tribal rite, not an aesthetic exercise, and no sportdoes tribalism better than rugby.

An England-Wales match is a titanic clash of cultures, histories

and identities that no other sport can match. Football might claimEngland v Germany has the same resonance. The emotional chargeof Wales v England at Cardiff beats anything, and much of the powerof Six Nations encounters is derived from the way the fans imposethemselves on the occasion. This is so much more than a game.

The anthems often seem to last as long as the matches, especially inScotland and Ireland, where they set popular anthems alongside theofcial ones. And the singing during games is fantastic. Whenever you

hear the Irish sing The Fields of Athenry, you feel like crying, especiallyif they are beating the Welsh at the time, as has too frequently beenthe case in recent years.

Set beside all this emotion, whether the sport is a great spectacleis irrelevant. Which is fortunate because, if you treat it purely as anaesthetic form, rugby is unwatchable. The ball disappears under aheap of bodies for long periods; the scrums are endlessly set andreset as referees struggle to impose discipline; and no one really

understands the rules, whichmakes the giving of penalties alottery. A game lasts 80 minutes,and if 5% of that is made up ofrunning rugby youre doing well.The rest will be scrums, mauls,punch-ups and a small mansquatting over the ball for minuteson end as he lines up a kick atgoal which has resulted from

some alleged offence no one canunderstand in the rst place.

Sports like to pretend theyare interesting for the casualwatcher, but on the whole theyarent. No one in their right mindwould sit through a four-day golftournament unless they wererelated to one of the players;cricket is best dipped into onlineor on the radio, or used as an

excuse to sleep in a deck chair;a ve-set tennis match betweenFederer and Nadal is a supremeathletic confrontation, yet eventhat starts to pall by about thethird hour and I usually try to timeit so I get back to the telly for thetie-breaks; as for football, it isentirely beyond the pale all thatdiving, play-acting and moaningto the referee after the match.

Rugby commentator Brian Moorefrequently says, Its not football,when he is berating a player forindulging in soccer-style antics complaining to the referee,say, or rolling around theatricallyafter being head-butted andlets hope that will always bethe case. Rugby is the Eton wallgame but with fewer points ofspectatorial interest and a muchless comprehensible set of rules

Therein lies its greatness. Thegame is so awful to watch thatthe crowd, the nation willing theirrepresentatives on to victory,have to create the drama.


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Tom Watters - First Bangers Captain 2007- 8

s I write this article for what has become a great rugby club magazine, I am preparing to leaveThailand after 16 years in the Kingdom. Having played rugby in many countries and representedScotland and Malawi, I was probably a bit past my prime when I rst came to Bangkok to live and

work.

I had actually played here against the British Club of Bangkok when I was part of the Bermuda NationalTeams tour to the Far East in 1994, I think it was.

J ohn Pritchard and J oe Grunwell will remember that tour as they were stalwarts of the BBC at that time.They received a rather hefty thumping from a well drilled Bermuda side. We went on to the Hong Kong TensTournament and were dfeated in a semi-nal by some Kiwi team.

We did however beat theGlasgow Academicals in a warmup game at Mongkok Stadium onthe Friday before what was calledthe Northern Hemisphere v theSouthern Hemisphere

This was a match which included

current and past internationalsbut unfortunately that year wasthe last year it was held as thefollowing year the HK 7s wasextended to include the Fridaynight games.

However I digress. Having cometo Bangkok I wasnt really intorugby too much as it was noteasy to nd out who was playing

or where.

At that time I think the mainexpat clubs were the British Club,the Southerners, the BangkokJ apanese and a Froggy sidewhose name I cannot remember.

I did venture to the British Club a couple of times but have to admitthere was a bit of a cliquey atmosphere. Then one day I read in theBangkok Post of three new bars that had opened in Soi 33. At that timeRenoirs was the place to go.

It was always mobbed, great looking girls but you had to keep an eyeon your bill. The three new bars were the Blue BBQ, the Ofce and

one called Wall Street which had this novel concept of drinks pricesuctuating depending on demand.

So one Friday night I was returning from Hong Kong and decided I

would try out this new bar rather than Renoirs.

If it was no good then I could go back down the Soi. Wall Street wasfairly busy when I got there and not knowing anyone I sat at the barwhere I was joined by a nice young lass.

I ordered a Heineken at a price of about 90 Baht. She chatted awayin her limited English, I told her I was Scottish and she said I was veryhandsome. Anyway she then pointed out that Heineken was now 70Baht a bottle.Obviously no one was drinking it. I asked how many I could buy andshe said as many as you like but you must drink them tonight.

Being a veryhandsomeScotsman I ordered6 bottles.

At that this guycame over tointroduce himself asmine host and saidI looked like a rugbyplayer.

When I said I had

played a bit heasked me to joinhim and his friends.And so the storybegan. Here wasBeardy, J ake, Geoff


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the Chef and of course mine host, Rick the PrickOShea.

A great night was had and it was followed by a greatweekend because that weekend was David Dufalls

Bangkok Sevens and was well and truly introducedto some great guys and a new rugby scene.

That was when the Old Bangkok Bangers werebeing formed and the concept was to play in theWorld Golden Oldies Tournament in Brisbane,mainly I think because Beardy came from Brisbaneand the boys thought we could get a decent teamout.

A bit of momentum was gained and we startedlimited training at a Chinese Temple near Sathornfollowed by full on drinking at Wall Street.

Numbers grew and all of a sudden we had a realmix of guys and the tour to Brisbane was realised.

The team and the tourists were a real mix of youngand old but the main thing in common was to havesome good fun which we certainly did.

The Old Bangkok Bangers soon gained a reputationfor being a truly social club who played a bit ofrugby whenever they could. Games were limitedbut we did get some visiting sides. However it was

inevitable that the club would change over time andthis did begin to happen as new blood arrived andmore competitiveness in the playing side began toemerge.

This coincided with a decline in the support thatthe British Club had and the numbers at the OldBangkok Bangers began to grow such that a Coltsside was now felt appropriate.

Some of the older Bangers were not so supportiveof this change in direction as it looked like the social

part would decline.

Fortunately this worry was unfounded and the club

remained and remains the best social rugby club inBangkok. We now have three sides that play when-ever they can and this is a tremendous reection

on the members, committees and supporters. Nextstep a womens side that may be a bridge to far.

So as I say farewell to Thailand for a couple ofyears,

I leave knowing the Old Bangkok Bangers is in greathealth. Keep up the good work folks.

ACCELERATION

You dont get many chances on a rugby eld to sprint a full 100 meters so theres not much point in working

on that. Instead focus on the 0-5m or 0-10m acceleration to burst through gaps in defence.

For this you need strong glutes. Theyre your engine, where you get your power from. We do what I call

single-leg sit-backs. Hold on to something in front of you while standing on one leg and bend that leg tolower yourself slowly before pushing back up. Single-leg bridges are also great for the strengthening theglutes.


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nder unusually cloudy skies in Bangkokthe inaugural touch rugby test between theOld Bangkok Bangers and the Shanghai

Shaggers was played at the ISB ground.

The late arrival of two stalwarts in our team, CaptainKangaroo and Tom Watters, - someone teachthem how to read maps please - put immediatepressure on the Bangers.

The Bangers held on valiantly and opened thescoring after a set of improvised moves bringing atry to test debutante and rookie rugby player Steve

Rieger who a week earlier had vowed never to puton a rugby jersey.

After 8 minutes of the rst quarter, lack of match

practice and tness started to show and the

Shaggers managed to pull of a try through continual pressure from the 22 yard line.

The second quarter was a rugged affair, with Hamish on board and J ohn Beard in the thick of things. Greatrunning form Dave Kennedy, J acko and Steve Donnelly, saw the Bangers edging forward however, wereunable the break through the Shaggers line.

The tide turned and the Shaggers were on the attack. Wave after wave of forward breaks, saw Captain Billeventually get into a gap and score a ne try. At the restart, the Shaggers kept up the relentless pressure.

However, a Shaggers passing misjudgment saw the Bangers new recruit Lindsay Birley, intercept a pass andrun the full length of the eld - with some difculty - to score a ne individual effort.

It was decided that it was about time the Bangers have their rst ever strategy and tactics meeting. It seem

to work. The third quarter saw Graeme, Geoff, Brad and Rick combining well in the centres. Norman on thewing, preferred to avoid the ball altogether. When he did get the ball, he managed to gain a few yards beforehis pacemaker cut out. Fortunately, it cut straight back in again once he had played the ball. J im on the otherwing got a few touches before twitching his hammy and left the eld.

Colin Robin, an Aussie Rules convert adapted well and managed to hold onto the ball a couple of timesthough his passing was suss. He obviously preferred to handball. To break the deadlock, Hamish gravitated

to professional mode icking a series of deft passes

to his team mates. One spectacular unrehearsed passbetween his legs was dropped by his receivers.

This quarter saw the tide turing in the Bangers favour.It was obvious the Shaggers were getting frustrated.Continual back chat to referee Scotty J ackson, saw himthreaten the yellow card to several Shaggers. Commonsense prevailed. It was a tight third quarter with nochange in the score.

The fourth quarter saw two Banger players on thesideline - Brad and J im both with done hammies -. The

Banger reserve bench was depleted, putting pressure onthe remaining players. Sterling defence by the Bangerssaw them hold the Shaggers until the dying minutes. Two Shagger tries in the last stanza saw them pull away

for a well deserved win.

Old Bangkok Bangers v Old Shanghai Shaggers 2002

HALF TIME - Shaggers 2, Bangers 2

FINAL SCORE - Shaggers 4. Bangers 2

First Ever Match Report


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Ive been given a seven-year stretch. Full of sympathy fortheir new companion, who they nicknamed Rooster, Blairand Bunner returned that night with a pair of bolt cutters and

some spare clothes. They sprung Rooster, and set him free.When he was caught the next day, it turned out the jackethe was wearing still had Maynes name stitched inside thecollar.

In desperation, the management decided to make Mayneshare a room with the y-half George Cromey, who also

happened to be a Presbyterian minister. Even Cromeycouldnt stop Mayne sneaking off from an ofcial dinner to

go on a late-night hunting trip with a group of men hed metwho were carrying ries and lamplights. Cromey waited up

for his room-mate till 3am, and then, just as he was nod-

ding off, Mayne broke down the door and announced Ivejust shot a springbok.

Mayne decided to deposit it outside the room of the SouthAfrica manager, with a note saying: A gift of fresh meatfrom the British Isles touring team.

Well, that did it. Even though the captain, Sammy Walker,was a great friend of his, Mayne knew that the manage-ment were going to tan his hide for that. So he scarpered.The team didnt see him for three days, till he turned up,still in his suit, to meet them on board the ship they weresailing

home on.

And ifthose sto-ries sounda little far-fetched,as though,like all thebest tales,they havegained

a little inthe tell-ing, well,theyvenothing onwhat he did next. Mayne became one of the founding mem-bers of the SAS in the second world war. He was recruitedout of a prison cell, where he had been sent after striking asenior ofcer because he bored me. His bravery won him

the Distinguished Service Order with three bars, the Lgiondhonneur, and the Croix de Guerre.

Rugby has gained a lot from professionalism but it has alost a little something too. On the pitch the 2013 Lions mayplay better rugby than most of their predecessors managed harder, faster, and tougher, but off it, theyre not a patchon the ones who came before them.

he BritishLions hada reputa-

tion for makingtrouble on toursin the earlyyears .

On their veryrst tour, in

1888, the localpapers in Aus-tralia carried re-ports complain-ing about their

Rowdyism onthe Railway between Newcastle and Armi-dale, The 1968 Lions were accused of beingthe worst-behaved team ever to tour SouthAfrica by the J ohannesburg Sunday Times.

They have left a trail of havoc and stunnedincredulity after three days in East London,thundered the Sunday Times. Marked bysevere drinking bouts, riotous behaviour athotels and nightclubs. They left broken hoteldoors, broken glasses by the dozen, unpaid

liquor debts and girls in tears because of out-right rudeness.

The king of them all, though, was Blair PaddyMayne, a man who has every claim to beingthe hardest-drinking, free-est-swinging re-brand in the long history of the Lions. Maynewas an Irish lock, and one-time universityheavyweight boxing champion. He toured in1938, when his great running gag, the cen-tre Harry McKibbin said, was to burst into histeam-mates rooms in the middle of the night,

knocking the doors off the hinges, and thensystematically smash up all furniture, KeithMoon-style.

The management despaired of Mayne, whoused to run around with the Welsh hooker(what is it about Welsh hookers?) BunnerTravers. The two of them dressed up as sailorsand snuck off to the Durban docks just so theycould pick ghts with the local longshoremen.

When they got to Ellis Park, they found thatthe stands were being erected by a team of

convicts from the local prison who were sleep-ing in a compound underneath the scaffolding.

Blair and Bunner befriended one of them, andasked him what he had done to merit a prisonsentence. Stealing chickens, he said. And

Blair Paddy Mayne


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Mike Gilbert - NZRFU Registered Referee

DRUGS USED IN SPORTith Lance Armstrong outing himself as adrugs cheat it does make you wonder ifthere is drug use in rugby and if so how

wide spread it may be. I remember legendary rugbycommentator Keith Quinn speaking about anexperience he had while commentating in SouthAfrica soon after they were reintroduced tointernational rugby. He was unfamiliar with most ofthe players he was about to commentate on and

asked if he could enter the dressing room of theSouth African team that was playing that day so hecould put faces to names.

He couldnt nd some of the players and was

told they were in another room. When he waslead to that room he was surprised to nd several

players receiving injections of something that wasunspecied. I am not saying that drug use was rife

at the time in South Africa but it does seem a bit oddin any case that players were receiving injections soclose to the start of a game.

One can only hope that with increased testing ofprofessional sports people in all codes that rugby

GROWTH OF SEVENS RUGBYWith the Olympics only three years away it is interesting to see what approach countries will take withregards to Sevens rugby. You can be sure that developing rugby nations as well as the usual powers will betaking this form of the game a lot more seriously from now on. I have heard that China now has somethingin the order of 1000 women players contracted to develop sevens rugby skills. New Zealand have statedthat players leading into the Olympics will be contracted sevens players only and will not be able to playnormal 15 a side rugby.

I can only see rugby being back in the Olympics as being a positive thing and will help globalise the sport

even more than has been achieved by Rugby World Cups and the IRB Sevens World Series.A question to ponder over your beer while you read this: Who is the current Olympics rugby champion andwhere was that feat achieved?? If you ask J eff he should have an insight into this right J eff??

POOR OLD FINLANDPreviously there were 95 national teams ranked by the IRB and in last place for many a year has beenFinland. Recently ve new teams have been introduced as fully IRB member nations. Without seemingly

doing anything wrong Finland has dropped ve places to be ranked 100 and still dead last in the rankings. If

any of you Bangers have any spare time get yourself over to Helsinki and run a coaching clinic or two. Theclimate might be a bit brisk this time of year but allegedly the Finnish Vodka is excellent.

I remember years ago one of the top Finnish rally drivers being asked why the country produced so manygood rally drivers. The answer was as follows In Finland you can only do two things drive and make love and in winter you cant drive!!!

is in fact a clean sport and that great team andindividual performances of the past are based on

pure skill and ability rather than being enhanced byillegal substances.


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By 1906 he had been treasurer of the RFU for 12years and was to remain in ofce till 1924.

When Billy suggested the land at Twickenham manywere against it thinking it too far from London,

liable to ooding and too costly since it would prettymuch take all available funds and not leave anythingto pay for the development needed.

William Cail told the RFU to buy it and arranged a6,000 overdraft at the bank to go with the moneythey had (4,919 by selling their Consuls) and 5%debentures of 50 each).

Although they spent more than 10,000 pounds in

he rugby ground at Twickenham waspurchased by RFU committee memberWilliam Williams. The 10 1/4 acres of market

garden purchased for 5,572 12S 6d. becameknown as "Billy's cabbage patch" since the site, waspreviously used to grow cabbages and othervegetables, along with fruit trees and mushrooms.

Two men were responsible for the purchaseof the ground, rstly Billy Williams who was a

bachelor with a private income who lived in a nehouse in Walpole Road, Twickenham, entertainedhandsomely, and was every bodies friend.

Williams used to play fullback for Harlequins,Middlesex, and London and was an internationalreferee. He was also part of the RFU committee andwent to see the Mann family about purchasing theirOrchard which had been put on the market. Herecommended the land to the RFU as an excellentplace to build a rugby ground.

Secondly there was William Cail who was a hard

headed business man, an alderman of Newcastle,head of an engineering and export business, a dourman of few words who, when he spoke, used hisdeep bass voice in majestic authority.

He has been president of the RFU from 1892 to1894, and it was he who had persuaded the RFU tostand rm against the 22 Yorkshire and Lancashireclubs who wanted to pay players for broken time.

Twickenham 1915

Twickenham 2013

the year after they purchased theland they were in prot.

Cail reported in 1924, the yearBilly became vice-president of theunion, that before Twickenhamthe largest prot they had madefrom an international was 1,940.

At Twickenham they made 5,509against Scotland, 4,465 againstWales, 3,679 against France and2,957 against Ireland.

After Cail had been treasurerfor 30 years he retired and the

year after died at his home inNewcastle at the age of 76.

Billy Williams died in his sleep atHampton Wick on April 14, 1951age 91.


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Tom Kerr - Banger Coach 2006 -9

he famous and much loved Irish comedianFrank Carson had a punch line Its acracker its the way I tell them. Recently

passed away his punch line lives on. How manyrugby matches do we watch and, sparing ourselves(and others) an opinionated rant about how good itwas, we just say that it was a cracker. Englishsupporters would evoke this epithet after beating theAll Blacks in November and deservedly so.

However, a cracker is not always a classic and

neither do they always hit the headlines. As I havebeen stuck in Ireland for these past eight months,and not having Sky or Setanta sports channels, Isaw little or nothing of the Super 15s, the new FourNations, the Currie Cup, Ranfurly Shield, FrenchSuper 14 etc. etc. and, of course, the TRU league.

This would add up to hundreds of games whichwould, undoubtedly, have included some real crack-ers. When you bring up the topic of classic gamesamong rugby mates over a few drinks then nationalbias kicks in with its predictable objective blindness.

I remember after training on a very cold Decembernight in Moscow with a defrosting group of diehardrugby nuts downing vodka to get the blood owing

again and debating the topic. The blood obviouslydid not ow to the brain that quick as our Scottish

number eight declared that the greatest game everplayed was Scotland vs England (who else) in 1971at Twickenham and he went on to describe howhe drank so much that day that he even bought anEnglishman a drink.

When I asked him who won the game he didnt seethe funny side of it. He was able to tell his soon tobe bored out of their brains audience that this winwas during a run of four consecutive wins againstEngland.

When I asked why this one game stands out as acracker from the other three he said I was there.

For me, then, the classicest, crackerist, I-was-there-ist one was with the Bangers in Phuket 2006 whennot only did we win the Cofn Dodgers Cup but we

thrashed the Hong Kong favourites in the nal to get

sweet revenge for the previous year. Dave Burge,Mike Bush, Paul Bawden, Trevor Day (yes he wasthere) etc. etc.

Check out the Banger Banter archives for all thephotos and, while you are doing that, just be thank-ful we have a fantastic Banter that has recorded somuch of our Banger Crackers.

I just wish I had been there for our rst win over the

Southerners in 2008.


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Stewart Gorman - London. Banger 2007-10

CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK

ASK NANTIDA FOR MEHope the New Year festivities have not taken too much out of you or your pocket.

I recently had one of those Ask Nantida moments. The good lady wife has agreed I can go and watch theBritish Lions in Australia leaving London on 16 June to catch the nal warm up game in Bangkok and then

travel onto Australia. Once approved I then saw that Bruce Springsteen would play Wembley Stadium onSaturday 15 J une.

Now it would be insensitive of me to take in that concert with my mates as well so being clever I invited thegood lady wife to accompany me and at the third time of asking she agreed. My mistake was forgettingto bring my credit card with me to work the rst day Springsteen tickets went on sale because I heard this

devastating sentence when I got home I dont want to got to the Springsteen concert can we go to theopera instead. Nantida what should I do?

THE YEAR AHEADFor us there is plenty to look forward to this year. The good lady wife kicked things off by returning for athree month holiday, I mean a hard working business trip to Thailand. She returns to London in April andthen I am off on the Lions Tour to Australia J une. No sooner do I get back in J uly than we will be packingour backs, and heading to Shanghai for a job out there. So plenty to look forward too.

SIX NATIONSWith the build up to the Six Nations in Europe there is plenty of optimism about Englands chancesespecially after their victory against the All Blacks. What was most pleasing about England was they hadbeen competitive in all the autumn internationals.

I never thought we would win by such a margin against the All Blacks but was condent we would not getwalloped in that game. Wales are suffering through injuries particularly to their pack and probably do nothave the strength in depth to successfully defend their title. Scotland are in transition although probablybetter than recent results suggest. Ireland are a bit of a dark horse this year with a few exciting youngstersin the backs but very reliant on keeping their prop Mike Ross t as he is key to their scrum without him it

creaks alarmingly. All that said I fancyFrance for the title and Italy will get awin, most likely at home to Wales.

LIONS TOURIf any of the Bangers are planning to

be in Australia for the Lions Tour let meknow chaps as it would be good to catchup out there.

I am also on the lookout for matchtickets for all three Tests so if you haveany spare Ill take em off your hands for a price of course!


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How many am I allowed?

Biggest inuence on career ?

My Dad

Best career advice you were given ?

Son, anyone who has ever cooked a make or made a bedwill tell you how to run a hotel. Smile and say thank youand do what I taught you anyway!

Other sports that you played ?Soccer , Aussie Rule ,Tennis, Dwarf Throwing, Two Up

Best rugby memory?

Scoring the winning try in the U-9s Western NSWCatholic Schools Competition Cup

Rugby players you admire most ?

Clive Churchill or Rex Mossop, the short and the tall of it.

Rugby team you like to watch ?

South Sydney Leagues Club

Sporting event you would most like to attend ?

The next Sydney Olympics

Three people you would invite to dinner ? Marilyn Monroe,Nelson Mandela and Bill ClintonComedy or action ? ComedyBooks or lms? BooksWine or spirits? Do I need to choose?Fast food or health eating? Healthy fastNight in or night out? Night OutIndian, Chinese, Pizza or street food? ChineseSmashing Pumpkins or U2 ? U2

Heineken, Tiger or Singha ? Tiger

Best airline ? Ansett International (deceased)Politics ? Wankers and SpivsReligion ?Too much, too often, offering little substanceSex ? WelcomeReality TV? BoringRed Shirts? The Ancients oppositionSoccer ? Short people playing with their balls

QUICK FIRE

FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND:

Where were you born ?

Sydney, Australia

The name of your rst rugby club ?

St Patricks, Brewarrina, Far North Western NSW

What was your club nickname?

Spud

What is your nick name now ?

Murph

Did you ever play rst grade rugby?

South Sydney Leagues Club 1963-5, & Sydney University2nd Division Cotion 1963-4

Where do you call home?Bangkok

Five words that describe you...

Still here, Still loving it!

Whats is a phrase you use often...?

If brains were dynamite, you wouldnt have enough toblow your hat off!

Are you superstitious?

Only occasionally!

What is the most surprising thing that has ever to happen

to you ?

Surviving a charge by a rhinoceros or my rst skydivingincident.

Whats a common misperception people have of you ?

I am quiet and studious

Whats your ideal night out ?

ANY!

In a nutshell, what is philosophy of life ?.

All things, yes really, but in moderation, mostly!

After a busy day what would be the perfect way to relax ?A busy night?

What motivates you to be focused and driven?

My conscience and my 95 year old motherWhats your favourite food?

ALL, but potatoes are right up there at the top!

What is your greatest talent or party trick?

Position 47 of the Karma Sutra

Book you are currently reading or have just nished?

Karma Sutra

Favourite TV programme:?

Anything with Richard Attenborough, or his sister

Favourite lm ?

Moby Dickor was it Deep Throat?

Most enjoyable holiday location?Queensland

Person(s) you would most like to meet ?

Warren Buffet

Hobbies ?


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hen the Bangers onBikes riders pedalled intoSoi 33 at the completion of

their bike charity ride from Phuketto Bangkok in February it was theperfect end of memorable journeywhich tested most of the cyclists tothere limits.

It was four years ago, the BangersOn Bikes Charity Ride that the was

conceived by Bob Pearson. Bobenlisted the support of like mindedBangers, Pete Burgess & Jean-Francois Klentzi and decided toorganise a sponsored cycle ridefrom Bangkok to Phuket.

In the years that followed, additionalriders have thrown their weight behind the ride Patrick Bernard, MartinHodgson, Richard Folds, Andrew Lamont, Trevor Day and this year RodKerr and J im Beckett. The rest is history.

Fund raising intiatives raised during the ride go to support the Asia

Center Foundation (ACF).providing assistance and educational supportfor underprivileged Thai children in Phuket. The decision was made tosupport the Center in their long term goal to build a school.

Two years ago, the Old Bangkok Bangers decided to assist with anothercharity. This one closer to home. The Nak Suu Warriors Rugby Academy

located in the slums of Klong Toeyin Bangkok. Sopo Fakaua, theBangers likeable Samoan NewZealander and his Canadian wifeNicole run this program. EddieEvans, CEO of Xtreme Sport andthe Bangkok Interational RugbyTens, has got behind Nak Suu,assisting with funding from moneyraised during the tournament.

Their ultimate goal is to havea lasting impact in the livesof young Thais building trust,hope, self-esteem, and courage.

The ride has established asubstantial track record, inThailand cycling charitable fund

raising and not least, friendship,camaraderie and a unique spiritfostered by the event with boththe sponsors and the charities.

All Bangers should be proud ofthese riders and we are.


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ugby Union is a high-intensity sport with playersrequired to have a level of

physical tness to compete on the

stage. Power and endurance arekey skills for any rugby player,with backs and forwards needingto develop a well-built physique,whilst also keeping on top of their

cardio.There are a whole range ofexercises that are great fordeveloping these key areas. Herea list of some top workouts thatyou can easily build into yourexisting regime.

MEDICINE BALL CRUNCH

AND THROW

The medicine ball crunch andthrow is a good way to start

building your core and reningyour abdominal muscles. For thisexercise, assume a regular sit-upposition, whilst also holding a

medium-weight medicine ball - youll need a friend or personal trainer to help you with this one. As you startyour ascent, lift the ball from behind your head and throw it to your partner - hell throw it back to you as youcome to the end of a rep. This will intensify your regular ab-crunches, helping you to bulk up at a faster rate.Start with three sets of 10 reps and build from there.

BARBELL TWIST

The barbell twist is another rugby favourite, helping to strengthen your oblique abdominal and back muscles.Take a lightweight barbell and hold it behind your head, slightly above your shoulders. Then, tense yourabs and twist slowly to the left, return to the middle and turn to the right. Its important to avoid using yourmomentum to make the turns, and to keep your neck straight at all times. As this is relatively low intensity,start with ve sets of 10 reps.

BARBELL SHRUGS

Shoulder and neck muscles are the next port of call, and these crucial areas are especially important forhigh-contact sports such as rugby. Barbell shrugs are one of the most effective exercises for building in thisarea. To get started, take an appropriate weight for your tness level and hold it with your arms hanging

parallel to your body. Then, rotate your shoulders using an exaggerated shrugging motion in a singledirection, and repeat until youve done ve reps. Complete three sets and move on to your next exercise.

CARDIO

Whilst it can be tempting to ll your entire gym routine with muscle building and toning, its important to tryand reserve some time for cardio. Rugby players arent just well-built - theyre also quick and lean, whichhelps them to outpace the competition. Making time in your workout for a quick 20 minute blast on thetreadmill or rowing machine is a great way to get into an effective cardio routine - and get you that sought-after all-round rugby player physique.


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Old Bangkok Banger Rugby Therapist

NantidaMy farang husband is obsessed with all things related tocars, and he spends all of his free time under the bonnetof some old car, covered in grease and muttering aboutpistons and crankshafts. He never takes me to dinner orcuddles up to me and any form of rutting is completely offthe cards. How can I tempt him away from this pointlesshobby and convince him to start ddling with my under-carriage instead?Seeking At tention

Some men like to waste their time doing pointless things,and theres absolutely nothing you can do about it. Thai

girls spend valuable time rehearsing for their future livesas wives and mothers, On the other hand, boys aregenerally to be found frittering away their youth rollingmarbles about the ground, collecting useless rubbish likestamps. What you have to realize is that youll never geta man to join you in a tea party, and if you do then hesprobably planning to smash your teapot and take yourBarbie hostage. You may have ti accept this or plan apermanent departure. Hope that helps!

Nantida

I used to have a loving English boyfriend who treated melike a princess. However, since the last Rugby World Cupmy boyfriend has been spending every single wakinghour either watching rugby on Sentana or talking aboutrugby, and barely acknowledges my presence. Ive eventried to show an interest in the game but as soon as Iopen my mouth to discuss the offside rule and how itmakes me feel, he just sniggers at my observation andturns back to the Sentana rugby channel. Do you think Ishould place an ofcial complaint with the International

Rugby Board?Love Rugby A`Little

The sooner you realize that ladies and rugby dont really

mix, the happier youll be. Girls have lots of other, morefun sports available to them, such as badminton. Yourboyfriend is simply indicating that rugby is far moreimportant than you and that you need to go and play withyour dollies for a while. I would recommend stop worryingand forget all about having a boyfriend. Go our with

your girlfriends. Better still, dont tell you man and join a

womens rugby club. Then you would be a equal terms.If that does not appeal nd a new boyfriend. For yourinformation there are rugby widows around the world notjust in Thailand. Its the nature of this game.

Nantida

I have been married for twelve years and have twodaughters. My Australian wife and I have not got on foryears but the marriage has sort of worked. Now I havemet this This young Thai woman who I know and havebeen having an affair. She wants me to leave my wife. Ithink the children would understand. What should I do?Want Solution

It sounds like you are asking for permission to go oneway or the other here. I am not sure that young childrenwill understand a complicated situation like this. Think thisthrough slowly. My gut feeling is that something that hassort of worked is not 100% bad and may just be worthsort of working a bit more at. I am not being cynical, justlogical.

Nantida

What is wrong with my man? He is basically a good man.However he hardly ever showers, cleans his teeth, orwears deodorant. Has a unkempt appearance. Smokes

like a chimney. Found a whole heap of butts/ash on alittle shelf in toilet recently. Cant even be bothered usingan ashtray. He is untidy. Were so different obviously.He wasnt as slovenly as this when we rst met. What is

wrong with him?Clean Thai

Hes a dirty boy. Tell him you will leave him if he doesntchange. No long answer needed. You are Thai so I canunderstand your issue with his personal cleanliness.

NantidaMy Thai wife has agreed I can go and watch the British

Lions in Australia leaving London on 16th

J une. Onceapproved I then saw that Bruce Springsteen would playWembley Stadium on Saturday 15th J une. So I decidedto take in the concert with my mates and asked my wifealong.She wasnt keen but she decided to come WhenI got home that night she said I dont want to got to theSpringsteen concert can we go to the opera instead.Nantida what should I do? Hate opera like SpringsteenBorn In The UK

Your wife is letting you go with your mates to Australiato follow the British Lions so I think the payback is shecan make the call regarding the concert. I know you

are not happy about. Go the opera. Load an album ofSpringsteens Great Hits to your Iphone and take it alongto the opera with you. No overtures no arias just blisteringSpringsteen through your Stereo headset. Win win foryou both. Springsteen will tour again. One surprise hereis your Thai wife loves opera.


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Banger Banter Newsletter Jan - June 2013

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