Room 101: Peter Swatkins – Sheffield player/coach
The recent events at the World Cup in Brazil have once again confirmed my hatred for over-paid footballers. While I respect their abilities as sportsmen, I have watched the recent summer internationals in conjunction with the World Cup and the effort and passion these rugby boys put into their anthems and the game itself are worlds apart. Spain didn’t look interested and England were atrocious, AT A WORLD CUP!! Seeing them mime their anthem when they are doing something others would pay to do really riles me! Having been lucky to sing an anthem as a schoolboy international, I remember to this day the pride I felt when I banged it out as loud as I could, even if it wasn’t in tune. You won’t see any miming at Twickenham in RWC 2015.
TRP verdict: We only sing when we’re winning – i.e. never. You’re out.
2. Incorrectly tied ties
As the son of an RAF officer, my own personal standards were drilled into me from an early age. Having been made to iron my own shirts from the age of 12, to not being allowed out the house without a correct ‘double Windsor’ before school, it drives me to the brink when you see people in the media spotlight, especially football managers, news readers and even people at weddings /dinners who have not got their top button done up and their tie is atrociously tied. Every young man should be taught the basic ‘boy scout’ skills in life from an early age instead of gaming, the world of selfies and social media and eating take-outs. Personal standards aren’t difficult…clean up your act!
TRP verdict: Room 101? Knot in your dreams!
3. Overpriced Motorway service stations
The highlight of most away trips for clubs nowadays is the pre-match coffee stop at the motorway services: pre-match fuelling that constitutes a coffee/tea/hot chocolate and the occasional flapjack/donut is now evident in all rugby club pre-match routines, especially mine. However, we are all still subject to the over priced consumables we continue to purchase from these convenient motorway establishments: £3 for a packet of ‘harribo’ for your ‘sugar rush’ and a £20 ‘I’ll buy the coffee round’. Sort it out MOTO! Bring back the old flask and the Mrs’ flapjack in Tupperware days, circa 2003.
TRP verdict: Indeed. It’s about time Dick Turpin had a Service Station named after him because it’s like being held to ransom every time you go in one. You’re in.
*This article was first published in The Rugby Paper on June 29.
