Rugby and banter.

 
Not Melrose but some roofs in Falkland.

It was appropriate being in Melrose for the last weekend of the Six Nations Rugby. Melrose is very much a rugby town and it was marvellous to return there and join some of the locals to watch one of the games.

When I was a university student I had occasion to visit all of the border rugby towns. They had a tournament called the rugby sevens. I had a part time job with the Edinburgh Evening News. I was given the task of taking a number of paper sellers down to the rugby sevens each Saturday with a van load of sports papers that we sold as the supporters left the various grounds.

I remember some pretty rough stories about the supporters of those days, the banter and chat has not changed but some of the pranks no longer happen. 

I remember being in a local inn with a number of supporters watching the results and such come through on television. One old man got up to go to the toilet . Before leaving his drink he wrote on a beer mat, "I have spat in this pint," which he had not in fact done, but this was to ensure it would still be there on his return. 

On coming back from the toilet he went to lift the beer mat from the top of his glass to read, "So have I."

I later watched in horror as an old man in the same predicament took out of his mouth his bottom set of false teeth and dropping them into his beer. They were still there on his return.

 Cliff Morgan, the rugby maestro who later became a commentator and eventually head of BBC TV sport, vividly recalls his first broadcasting experience. Wales had just beaten Ireland 14-3 in Dublin on their way to the Triple Crown and Grand Slam when BBC radio commentator Sammy Walker asked the great man what he remembered about the match.

‘’My father losing his teeth,’’ said Cliff. ‘’When Ken Jones scored our second try, dad was so excited that his dentures flew out of his mouth into the crowd and he hasn’t seen them since.’’ 

Some years later, Morgan was recounting the tale to Tony O’Reilly, who played 29 times for his country before becoming a mega-rich international businessman and head of the Heinz empire. 

O’Reilly, who was renowned for his great wit, feigned surprise at the news. ‘’Your father’s, were they?’’ he said. Cliff Morgan, the rugby maestro who later became a commentator and eventually head of BBC TV sport, vividly recalls his first broadcasting experience. Wales had just beaten Ireland 14-3 in Dublin on their way to the Triple Crown and Grand Slam when BBC radio commentator Sammy Walker asked the great man what he remembered about the match.

‘’Your father’s, were they?’’ he said."I know a lad in county Cork who is still wearing them."

There really is nothing better than good down to earth honest folk seeking a little laugh.

Have a good day and as my friend Jim would say, "Have a good wee chuckle."