Shut the FUCK up!!!!

First let's set out my stall a little, I am a Rugby man, I played at School and then as an adult, my boys played and still do and I am a supporter of Wasps and England and used to be one at London Irish when they used to be in London and have Irish players (Hint!).  So I am speaking from a prejudiced experience.

I watched the England v Scotland match, known also as the Calcutta Cup, and part of the Six Nations last week and I found the actual game quite enthralling as what should have been the underdogs, a young, naive English squad took on a more seasoned Scots team on their home turf.

The game progressed well until the penalties and the conversions and then, at the stage when most folk with a Rugby background of any sort would become deathly silent, the Booing started.  That and the counter-cheering became tumultuous,

Well, I know this will come as a surprise to all of you Johnny or Jenny-come-latelys to Rugby BUT that is something that you just DO NOT DO!!!!!

Instead, whilst the ball is being placed, you quieten down, you do not even talk, you sit there quiet and watch with bated breath and then, once the ball has been kicked and is on it's way towards the posts you can yell your heads off and cheer if it goes in your favour.
HOWEVER, even if the kick goes against you, you still clap the kicker if he scores.

Even worse, you have to politely applaud the opposition if they make a successful move against you and even worser, if they score a TRY!

Yes, I know, fucking strange isn't it?  However, it's the way that we have played Rugby for generations and it is the way that it is played today at Amateur level all round the world and at professional level at the Clubs.

Bill Mclaren must have spun in his grave at the sound of Murrayfield and all true Scots and English supporters who were there must have been beetroot red with shame at what occurred.

It isn't because we think we are too "good" to boo or that we are being prissy. It's just part of the traditions of a game that is older than any of us and which we have learned from our fathers as they learned from theirs.  It is part and parcel of the game and as much as we keep those traditions we keep others just as sacred, like the one where whatever hideous carnage and violence goes on during play and on the pitch, the supporters are unsegregated and unafraid to cheer on their own team no matter who is sitting next to them. Indeed, Rugby supporters then, at match end, shake hands and walk back together to the nearest pubs, drink together with NO VIOLENCE and eventually get on trains home together, maybe drunk, normally happy and all wearing their Team's favours.  Compare and contrast this with a soccer crowd.

So, next time you find yourself at a Rugby match and there is a penalty or conversion kick about to take place, imagine that I, Ghenghis, am standing behind you in the crowd with an axe and a good bead on splitting you in two, and SHUT THE FUCK UP!

Shut the fuck up!

Ghenghis - February 2012