.......well, well, well - here we are then - the beginning of a sparkling new year, and may I first say to all our rugby playing nations:- Gelukkige Nuwejaar! Bonne Année!
Gilotsavt Aral Tsels! Ath Bhliain Faoi
Mhaise! Felice Anno Nuovo, Buon Anno!
Kia Hari Te Tau Hou! Un An Nou Fericit /
La Mulţi Ani! С Новым Годом!, Ia Manuia Le
Tausaga Fou! Bliadhna Mhath Ur! Feliz
Año Nuevo! Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! …and of course a Happy New Year to you all!!!
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 | I trust you all had a delicious and spectacular Christmas, Santa granted you all your wishes [if you were good girls of course!] and have finally recovered from the first hangover of the year…
Now, with so many exciting things happening this year, I think it would only fitting to round up the highlights of 2005. And we all have to hail to the team of the year - New Zealand. The Almighty All Blacks had a most triumphant year, by not only winning every match they played, but by fielding some of the most scrumptious totty for our delectation, with Dan Carter being voted both the IRB and International Rugby Players' Association Player of The Year.
And how can we forget the Grand Slam winning Welsh team of 2005? For the first time since 1978, Welsh rugby returned to its glory days and kicked the other five nations into touch. In deference to their prowess, the coach Mike Ruddock was awarded an OBE. And as for the players, well, we'll get onto Henson in a moment...
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I think it best that I gloss over the summer months, and that slight hiccup that was the British and Irish Lapdogs - oops - Lions Tour to New Zealand, but may we give thanks for the Lions supporter in Christchurch who finally showed us what really happened when Umaga & Mealamu spear-tackled the oh so cute Brian O'Driscoll [previously voted Ireland's sexiest man!] which took him out until last week. The Watergate award for the year's best cover-up has to go to coach, Graham Henry and the New Zealand press team and the smoke screen they tried to create after that tackle; masterly in its own perverse way.
On the international scene, we have said farewell to Scotland coach Matt Williams, Australian coach Eddie Jones, England stars Jason Robinson and Trevor Woodman, and Sir Clive and rugby. On a more positive note, we have seen the return of the colossal Jonah Lomu, and hopefully that GQ pin-up Mr Wilkinson will make it back onto the global field at some time this year, but most surprisingly, we may be reacquainted with the enchanting Lawrence Dallaglio if the England selectors have any sense.
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In November, the Rugby Hall of Fame hosted a spectacular black tie evening at The Brewery in London. Since 1997, bi-annually, the Trust recognises those players, coaches and administrators who had a significant impact on the game in their era. Previous inductees include JPR Williams, Philippe Sella, Gareth Edwards, Sean Fitzpatrick and Bill Beaumont, and 2005 was no less illustrious. Inductees included Martin Johnson, John Eales, Francois Pienaar, Phil Bennett, Ian McGeechan and Keith Wood. |  |
 | But enough reminiscing...I can but apologise for my constant referrals to Charlotte Church's loverboy, Gavin Henson, but he's done it again. Not content with grabbing rugby headlines and receiving a 10 week ban which sees him out of the Wales team for almost the entire Six Nations campaign, he's back in the celebrity gossip pages. Heat Magazine voted him "Torso of the Week", [please note - this accolade was also awarded to Tony Blair!], but the cream of the crop was Henson's barnet. He's been voted Best Male Celebrity Hair of 2005, beating Jose Mourinho, Daniel Radcliffe, Jack Osbourne, Freddie Flintoff, David Beckham and Robbie Williams. Now I don't really know if this is a fair vote since it was commissioned by Brylcreem and only a 1,000 people were questioned, so it maybe not too representative, but putting my country loyalties aside, what a torso..... |
And now moving across the pond, I bring to you a little known fact. George W Bush, yes, the president of the free world apparently, was once a rugby player! Whilst an undergraduate at Yale studying for a BA in history in the late 60s, George W played a year of rugby for his university, but there appear to be no written comments that I can find as to whether he was actually any good or not. However, what we can tell is that he definitely got his hands dirty, and was not averse to illegal moves even then! |
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| Finally my little munchkins, it's over to the west coast and Hollywood again...but an altogether different spin on rugby as we know and love it. Featuring fierce rivlary, stopwatch suspense, and larger-than-life personalities, "Murderball" is a documentary flim about tough, highly competitive rugy players...quadriplegic rugby players. The film has won numerous awards including two at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, and centres on the USA team overcoming unimaginable obstacles to compete in the Paralympic Games in Athens. Just because they're in wheelchairs, don't for one moment believe it doesn't display all the passion of any great international. Unfortunately it was gone from UK cinemas in a blink, but thankfully this highly acclaimed movie is winging its way to us in the UK on DVD from 27th February 2006, so make sure you catch it. |
And on that exhilarating note, I shall leave you with baited breath until the next time...Adieu!
xxRubyxx |  |
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