The Dew Drop Inn Virtual Rugby Pub, Amaile

First topic message reminder :

Hello and welcome to the Virtual Rugby Pub, a place where you can come in for a sly beverage and discuss whatever's on your mind, or just eavesdrop on the regulars if you fancy a break from all the rugby chat.

The pub has made its way to Amaile on the eastern-most tip of Upolu Island in Samoa - the first place on Earth to usher in the New Year.

So hop on a hammock and let one of the locals pour a kava down your throat as you are trying to read Tusiata Avia's famous poem: "Wild Dogs Under My Skirt" to the sounds of the Yandell Sister's "Sweet Inspiration" blaring in the background.

The only rule in this pub is one of mutual respect for everyone in it, oh and no tampering with the pictures of George Pisi, Census Johnston, Paul Williams, Tony Greig, Christopher Martin Jenkins, Mike Nicholls, Babsy and Jeremy Su'a above the bar.




Previous Pub: https://www.606v2.com/t38437p950-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-edinburgh

Yep. Snowing here with a vengeance. Ever the optimist, I picked up my train tickets this morning.

Prop, you're on the list for a ska theme. I'll put some photos together so if you pm me your email I'll se.d you a selection of ideas.

GUIDE

Off to a funeral now

Lola's tearing around the back garden now. I think she's a convert!

PenfroPete wrote:GUIDE

Off to a funeral now

That's grand cheers PJ.

Penfro...I think this is going to be a massive turnout even with the snow....and a good few beers to toast babsy.

PJHolybloke wrote:Yep. Snowing here with a vengeance. Ever the optimist, I picked up my train tickets this morning.

Prop, you're on the list for a ska theme. I'll put some photos together so if you pm me your email I'll se.d you a selection of ideas.

Just had an e mail from my sister who is supposed to be looking after my kids for the weekend which says her village is snowed in. Her husband has had to abandon his car and walk into work in Bath and has taken a bag with 4 days clothes in it. If I can't get into the village to drop the kids off I am going to have a problem for the weekend down in Exeter!!!!! Not happy right this minute!

Oh dear Ozzy.

That's not good.

Although, what are your chances of making it yourself if things are that bad?

Have you got a pair of cross-country skis and one of those helmets with a built-in torch, Pete? The kids can peel off the trail at Bath and continue to your sister's.

If you leave just before lunch you should be approaching Exeter just in time for kick-off? You better get going though....

Woah - a 'double post'.

Oz, I hope everything works out and you can make it down to Asbo's place; the same for everyone who's going.

My route would be M4 then M5 MrsP, so main roads which are unlikely to be massively affected. Obviously would be a slower journey, but would still make I would think.

Trip to ilford cancelled due to their pitch not being playable. Sometime I hate this snow!!

For those travelling about anywhere, keep checking the travel updates. It's pretty dire at most places in the South-West and it's spreading Eastwards.
Just seen on Facebook that one of the regs flights has been cancelled

Penfro - hope today goes smoothly for you.

MrsP - oh I'm sure that there's people who take full advantage. However, there are some who won't make a decision either. My sister works for Royal Mail and is currently stuck on her own in an office. No one else is working, the postal service has been stopped altogether, but the manager wouldn't make the decision to close the office so left my sister there as she only lives up the road. I thought that was a bit mean. Considering where they are and that area being covered extensively on the news, you'd think they'd understand.

Ozzy3213 wrote:My route would be M4 then M5 MrsP, so main roads which are unlikely to be massively affected. Obviously would be a slower journey, but would still make I would think.

Don't be so sure Pete...keep an eye out as the weather is moving West-East. The M4 has been closed in two places this morning in South Wales already. You know yourself it's not so much the weather, but also accidents and things like that which can severely disrupt motorways. I guess it's one of things that you'll have to look into when you're leaving. Are you driving tomorrow or this evening?

I dunno what's going on with this site. My post about the snow went in twice. I edited the second post, and now the first one's disappeared.



Prop - there won't be much club rugby on in London this weekend as the ground is frozen. We have had sub zero temperatures every night since Sunday, and only about 1-2C during the day, so not enough to thaw it out.

Sorry Hound. That was me.

I noticed the duplication so deleted the first one to save any embarrassment.

Now I'm embarrassed!

Cari, my situation was similar to your sister's. I'm the only one of the four in our office who lives in Newport and none of the others were going to come in today. Add to that the fact that none of the gangs are working today and Fridays are always dead, I had a feeling I'd be sent home. Would I have been miffed if the boss (who's at home) had asked me to work a full day? I don't know. I'd be more worried about getting snowed in.

- maybe someone else spotted it and removed it at the same time?

Oz - apparently trains down to the Westcountry are OK. Is that an option for you if driving's rubbish?

Lucky - she won't get snowed in because she is literally just down the road. I just thought it was a bit mean and something of a cop out from the manager who was flapping this morning about what to do.

Roysh. Just got back from Schiphol. Bristol Airport closed till 12:00 UK time. My 10:40 flight now leaves at 15:45. I hope that remains the case.

The bro Georgie(& Shelle) have just had their flight from Dublin cancelled. Gutted. As there are so many flying from Dublin, it wont be easy to get on another one. I pray they get out today or tomorrow. They were so looking forward to this gig.

Pub prayer for Seorse agus Shelle.

I used get so wound up at times like this. Not any more, no point in stressing and its better to come away from the frustration of the airport, have a cuppa tae and wait for instructions.

I hope the railways are ok from Bristol to Asbos. Man, I could do without that going arseways too.

The trials and tribulations of being a Leinster fan. Betcha BOD never has to put up with this craic.

The Ulster Ravens match due to played in Bridgend tomorrow has been postponed until a later date.

Gibbo tell them check the flight that me, Rava and Hoogies parents are on. £70 return.

Gibbo! I've put a link on Faceache to National Rail website which they're updating regularly to cover all routes. Keep an eye on that

Hope G & M make it over here.

Ah! They're on a flight to Gatwick apparently.

Hell I am bored out of my skull.

Worked hard this week and now being in the mood to talk sport there is nothing to get my teeth stuck into.

Can someone please just post an interesting article.


Pleeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssseeeeeee!

Biltong, here's a discussion for you. What is the biggest rugby hotbed in the world.

I dont mean nation. More specific that that.

- Southern France?
- Western Wales?
- East Midlands of England?
- That little area of England with Gloucester, Bristol, Bath etc?

What about Southern Hemisphere?

That little area is called the West Country

Western Wales? Why Western Wales?

red_stag wrote:Biltong, here's a discussion for you. What is the biggest rugby hotbed in the world.

I dont mean nation. More specific that that.

- Southern France?
- Western Wales?
- East Midlands of England?
- That little area of England with Gloucester, Bristol, Bath etc?

What about Southern Hemisphere?

Eastern Cape, South Africa.

I read this article a few days ago that says more than 50% of School rugby is represented by non white south Africans, yet it is spread where in the Cape Provinces as much as 70% of some schools teams are made of non whites, but when you go north the reverse is true (at some places as little as 10%).

Now we need some english, Irish, Welsh, French and Scottish billionaires to come dump some money into our province here so that we can get these players into the system.

Know anyone?

red_stag wrote:Biltong, here's a discussion for you. What is the biggest rugby hotbed in the world.

I dont mean nation. More specific that that.

- Southern France?
- Western Wales?
- East Midlands of England?
- That little area of England with Gloucester, Bristol, Bath etc?

What about Southern Hemisphere?

How would you measure that?

Average attendance?
Percentage of population attending games?

It must be tough to get most out of Eastern Cape Biltong. Western Cape has all the vineyards. Up North you've got all the old money businesses.

Hound_of_Harrow wrote:

red_stag wrote:Biltong, here's a discussion for you. What is the biggest rugby hotbed in the world.

I dont mean nation. More specific that that.

- Southern France?
- Western Wales?
- East Midlands of England?
- That little area of England with Gloucester, Bristol, Bath etc?

What about Southern Hemisphere?

How would you measure that?

Average attendance?
Percentage of population attending games?

How idea. Just chucking out suggestions. Its hard to gauge a good metric. 20 years ago in Ireland you'd be saying Limerick was the place where all the rugby happened. Even 10 year ago. But realistically that was based on the old club (Shannon, Young Munster, Garryowen etc) now you've got a bigger rugby scene in Dublin due to 1) The success of Leinster and 2) bigger population.

Cari wrote: - maybe someone else spotted it and removed it at the same time?

Oz - apparently trains down to the Westcountry are OK. Is that an option for you if driving's rubbish?

Not really, as as the plan was to drive to my sisters tomorrow morning and drop the kids off with her, which I can't do on the train.

We are nearing the end of another Pub - so please post any suggestions for location and pictures.

Where is the epicentre of rugby this weekend?

Moreton Morell? (I once heard that was the geographical centre of England or GB??)

In Oz there is no such thing as a rugby heartland per se.

Just 2 main areas. Northern Sydney mainly (St Joseph's College) and a tiny enclave in the Eastern Suburbs and in North Brisbane (St Joseph's Nugee College). That's about it.
Everywhere else is rugby league, Australian Rules and football.
A small rugby community in Canberra but that is more of a league heartland.
Melbourne didn't know what rugby was until about the year 2000.

Can we join the regs @ sandy park/at asbo's please?

Sandy Park for the new Pub location, Prop?

Can't we have a pub on the moon for a change? Or Mars, have you seen the new Total Recall movie.

They do say a change is as good as a holiday, and there isn't much happening on planet earth at the moment anyway.

Yep!

Annoying that the match was cancelled so late, could have gone to Asbo's if was told a bit earlier.

Right time to close things down for work and go to the funeral with penfro, a good few to celebrate his life this evening.

prop_lyd wrote:Can we join the regs @ sandy park/at asbo's please?

Jaaaa! Nice one Prop. Its billed to be the meet of the year (till the Big One in May) and people are having so much trouble getting there.

Delighted George an Michelle are on their way via Gatwick. But I just checked the train fare. 80 feicin quid each, ONE way!

Leinster had better qualify after this lot. They OWE us big time.

prop_lyd wrote:Yep!

Annoying that the match was cancelled so late, could have gone to Asbo's if was told a bit earlier.

Right time to close things down for work and go to the funeral with penfro, a good few to celebrate his life this evening.

Ah that´s your playing mate who passed away Prop? May God Rest his Soul. Celebrate his Life rightly pal.

Hi Gibbo,
How about a quick list of the regs going down to Sandy Park and I'll put them up as the pictures?

Cheers bud.

Is your lad in Sydney still? Hope all is fine with him.

I'm planning on doing so Gibbo.

Have a tricky for me fella and watch out for them auld women!!

Linebreaker wrote:Hi Gibbo,
How about a quick list of the regs going down to Sandy Park and I'll put them up as the pictures?

Cheers bud.

Is your lad in Sydney still? Hope all is fine with him.

Hi Breaker mate. Long time no talk. Ive gone quiet (TF for that, says ye lot) on here recently.

People I know going are:

Puma & sister
Asbo
Hugs
George & Michelle (My bro ans sis-in+law)
Dave & Anne (Hugs folks)
Rava
Stag
Aonghus
Robbie
DcPete
Peeeejaaaaaaaaaay!

Dont know if Ive missed anyone. Oh yeah Gibbo.

My son got a sponsored job as a project leader. He was ready to leave in Spring, but this came through and he is over the Moon about it. He loves Sydney and its surrounds. Well happy for him. So I will be having pints with you in July/August, for sure mo chara.

Cant wait to dive the Barrier Reef. One of my top 10 things to do in Life.

Thanks mate. You'll have a ball here! (now where did I put those bloody chains....?)

Is Kiwi Pete going?

I put him in anyway....

OK, folks.

Last drinks... and does anybody know who owns the dark blue Range Rover? Can you get them to move it? It's blocking the gritter!

https://www.606v2.com/t39588-the-dew-drop-inn-virtual-rugby-pub-sandy-park#1792214

Linebreaker wrote:Thanks mate. You'll have a ball here! (now where did I put those bloody chains....?)

Is Kiwi Pete going?

Hopefully, snow permitting!

Biltong, we had a pub on the Moon last year (after Neil Armstrong passed away).

As far as rugby hotbeds goes, South Auckland is probably the biggest source of international players anywhere

While Tokoroa (popn 13,500) had 5 players at the 2011 RWC, playing for 3 different countries ...