This weeks new thing to try was 'Go to a Rugby World Cup game'. I've had this in my calendar for ages, and wondered if I was cheating by including something I had booked months ago. However, it is something I have never done before, and if I didn't include a few things that I had already booked and paid for in advance, I'd be broke before 2 months are done. So now I have convinced myself it counts as a 'New thing', let me tell you all about it.
For this I had invited my brother Allan up to join me. He is more of a rugby fan than I am, so I thought this would be more of a treat for him than me. As it turns out I had a bloody fantastic time, and I think rugby is up there as the top sport to watch! But let me start from the beginning. We had tickets to the opening match of the Rugby World Cup, 2015 on Friday 18th September. It was the Fiji v England game at Twickenham Stadium. I had taken a half day from work and met Allan in London for a quick lunch. As this was the opening match of the tournament our tickets included entrance to the opening ceremony which was due to start at 7pm. As we had a few hours before this we decided to head to the fan zone in Old Deer Park, near Richmond first.
The fan zone is free to enter, and has a range of entertainment to check out, including fair ground rides, beer tents, and sponsors tents with different challenges or games. On top of this all the matches are played on big screens in the field. We were some of the first people to get there, and waited for it to open at 4pm (they opened a little late, but I'll forgive them). We checked out all the different tents, but I think it is definitely worth going during a match as it was pretty quiet and laid back whilst we were there. I think they'll be more of an atmosphere during a game!
Laden down with a few freebies and a new shirt for Allan we decided to walk on to Twickenham. It is about a 30 minute walk from Deer Park to the stadium, in pretty much a straight line, so we didn't get lost. When we arrived the place was buzzing. Everyone was in a good mood.
We went straight in to find out where we were sitting. We were right at the top and the view was spectacular. I know the highest tiers tend to be the cheaper seats, but I don't know why as we had a fantastic panoramic view of the pitch.
After a couple of trips to the bar, a few selfies and a boasting facebook update it was almost time for the opening ceremony.
To get us all warmed up Will Greenwood led the crowd in a beautiful rendition of 'Sweet Caroline'. I'm not sure why they picked that song, but it definitely got everyone fired up and excited for the opening ceremony. And with that it began!
When we arrived at the stadium the sun was shining, it was still light and there was a smattering of people in their seats. By the end of the opening ceremony the place was packed to the rafters and it was dark enough for the fireworks to begin! During that time we were treated to singing, acrobatics, a speech by Prince Harry, and then, with a final smattering of fireworks it was time for the pitch to be cleared ready for my first ever Rugby World Cup game!
The teams entered with a burst of flames, and after Fiji had performed their haka it was time for the match to start.
Now, I'm not going to give you a breakdown of the match, because if you were interested then you should have been watching it. Also, I don't know enough about rugby to give a full report but in my opinion it was a great match. England were in possession a lot for the first half, and Fiji really upped their game at the beginning of the second half. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, and unlike football matches I've been to, no one cared who you were supporting. Everyone just wanted to watch a good, exciting match, and if the guy in front was waving a Fijian flag then good for him!
I thought the whole evening was fantastic, after being a part time rugby fan (if even that) I am definitely going to be following the whole tournament, I might even drag Stuart down to the fan zone in Deer Park to watch some games on the big screen. Walking home after the match I even considered whether I should join a rugby team, but that could be due to the copious amounts of beer I'd consumed blurring my thinking! Whether I do take up rugby or not it's going to take quite something to beat week 2 of my 52 New Things in 52 Weeks.
For this I had invited my brother Allan up to join me. He is more of a rugby fan than I am, so I thought this would be more of a treat for him than me. As it turns out I had a bloody fantastic time, and I think rugby is up there as the top sport to watch! But let me start from the beginning. We had tickets to the opening match of the Rugby World Cup, 2015 on Friday 18th September. It was the Fiji v England game at Twickenham Stadium. I had taken a half day from work and met Allan in London for a quick lunch. As this was the opening match of the tournament our tickets included entrance to the opening ceremony which was due to start at 7pm. As we had a few hours before this we decided to head to the fan zone in Old Deer Park, near Richmond first.
The fan zone is free to enter, and has a range of entertainment to check out, including fair ground rides, beer tents, and sponsors tents with different challenges or games. On top of this all the matches are played on big screens in the field. We were some of the first people to get there, and waited for it to open at 4pm (they opened a little late, but I'll forgive them). We checked out all the different tents, but I think it is definitely worth going during a match as it was pretty quiet and laid back whilst we were there. I think they'll be more of an atmosphere during a game!
Laden down with a few freebies and a new shirt for Allan we decided to walk on to Twickenham. It is about a 30 minute walk from Deer Park to the stadium, in pretty much a straight line, so we didn't get lost. When we arrived the place was buzzing. Everyone was in a good mood.
We went straight in to find out where we were sitting. We were right at the top and the view was spectacular. I know the highest tiers tend to be the cheaper seats, but I don't know why as we had a fantastic panoramic view of the pitch.
To get us all warmed up Will Greenwood led the crowd in a beautiful rendition of 'Sweet Caroline'. I'm not sure why they picked that song, but it definitely got everyone fired up and excited for the opening ceremony. And with that it began!
When we arrived at the stadium the sun was shining, it was still light and there was a smattering of people in their seats. By the end of the opening ceremony the place was packed to the rafters and it was dark enough for the fireworks to begin! During that time we were treated to singing, acrobatics, a speech by Prince Harry, and then, with a final smattering of fireworks it was time for the pitch to be cleared ready for my first ever Rugby World Cup game!
The teams entered with a burst of flames, and after Fiji had performed their haka it was time for the match to start.
Now, I'm not going to give you a breakdown of the match, because if you were interested then you should have been watching it. Also, I don't know enough about rugby to give a full report but in my opinion it was a great match. England were in possession a lot for the first half, and Fiji really upped their game at the beginning of the second half. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, and unlike football matches I've been to, no one cared who you were supporting. Everyone just wanted to watch a good, exciting match, and if the guy in front was waving a Fijian flag then good for him!
I thought the whole evening was fantastic, after being a part time rugby fan (if even that) I am definitely going to be following the whole tournament, I might even drag Stuart down to the fan zone in Deer Park to watch some games on the big screen. Walking home after the match I even considered whether I should join a rugby team, but that could be due to the copious amounts of beer I'd consumed blurring my thinking! Whether I do take up rugby or not it's going to take quite something to beat week 2 of my 52 New Things in 52 Weeks.
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