Oh when the Saints......

...come marching in, oh when the Saints come marching in....."  

Last Friday night I found myself singing at the top of my lungs, cheering on the local rugby team - the Northampton Saints.  Darren & Clare Ball, along with their three sons, were our hosts for the evening and they tried in vain to explain the rules of the game.  I don't think we ever really understood, but we had a fantastic time!

This is my favorite play.  I forget what it's called (even though the boys told me about a million times) but it involves lifting the player up into the air to catch the ball.  Then they drop him like a stone and keep playing!

 The Nana, Abbie and some rugby fans!

 More of my favorite sports fans.

 Hanging out before the game.

The rugby match was a very family-friendly atmosphere.  For about an hour before the game a very social but orderly crowd chatted outside the stadium, enjoying food and the games that were set up for children.  They had a giant slide and a bounce castle, and Bernie the mascot dog was visiting with everyone.

 Trying on the Saints colors (or "colours", depending on which side of the ocean you're from!

 Sono un gnome

 With Bernie, the Saints mascot.

 Waving the rugby flag!

 At this point in the game I believe there were at least three medics on the field.  And they were STILL playing.  "Just hand me back my arm and I'll get back to the game"   "A mere flesh wound!"

 This is a "scrum".....I think.  It's the part of the game where they push each other until someone gets trampled and someone else takes the ball.

This is Ben, one of the assistant coaches of the Saints.  Part of his job is to go to schools and teach children rugby.  He was working with my students and he has the patience of........well, a saint.

Despite our lack of knowledge of the nuances of rugby we had a fantastic time.  To find out more about The Saints you can click on here:   Saints Home Page