Two of the Best Days of My Life
I've been excited for weeks. When the letter came through to play for the Mixed Ability Rugby Invitational Side (MARIS / MA Barbarians) I was excited. When I was told we were training at Cardiff Arms Park as I was bouncing. When I heard we'd have a unique number, kit and be trained by professional coaches I was gob smacked. When I heard we would be playing at The Principality Stadium.... Cloud 9 time.
Heading into Cardiff on the train I was nervous but soon bumped into the coaches walking to the hotel and the day began. It was great to meet players from across the UK & Ireland all summoned by the call to play for the MARIS. We ate together, got our stash of hoodies, tees and polos together... We trained on the 4G at Cardiff together and laughed together at the prospect of taking on one of the best Mixed Ability sides in the world with 90mins preparation. We proceeded to eat and drink together some more, Kangaroo Courted and slinked off home at various times of night and morning to sleep or dance off those nerves.
Match Day came and it was team naming and shirt presentation time with former Wales international and Scarlet James 'Cubby Boi' Davies. I was honoured to start at 9 and we had some wise words from Cubby as well as some great photos! Head shots done there was spare time to shop and coffee before a nervous lunch and tour of the greatest rugby stadium in the world!
It didn't seem real until we walked back over later that day with all our kit and made ourselves at home in the AWAY dressing rooms where Ronaldo, Hartley, Robsaw, Sexton, Hogg, DuPont and the like had all sat, showered and prepped! It was only when we stepped into the tunnel did it start to hit me. We were directed by a man with clipboard and headset - There will be lights and noise and cameras... Walk don't run, there's a dip and a rise, we don't want you to trip before you even start.... DONT DO THAT TOM! Don't. Do. That. Mum's watching... ONLINE... and there's COMMENTARY. This was crazy.
The game was a blur but was bonkers. Fast and loose, filled with courageous bravery in last ditch tackles again and again, interspersed with 2 cheeky MARI tries and the lead at the break, 10-7.
But back roared Swansea, we knew it'd come. The MARI squad held firm and the subs flew on and off, bodies replacing tired, aching, battered bodies. I came back on after 55/60mins.. .different shirt, different number... same job. Scrum half. Organise, pass, pass well, communicate, press, run, sprint, tackle, go forward, LISTEN.
And we scored and again... and they did and we did... I've lost all order of it now but up 31-24 and 'LAST PLAY' called they went wide, really wide. Body sprinting, body aching, best they can do is draw.... They're running out of space so try the grubber, a kick into space.... It's there, get rid, as HARD as you can! BOOM, gone... turn, look at the ref.... arm raised... job done.
The biggest rugby game of my life, over. A squad of strangers, jumping, hugging.... smiling... for weeks. The best two days of my rugby life. I'll remember it forever. Thank you MARIS.
