O2 No surrender – Send Off Dinner

RFTG team members Debbie and Lucy were lucky enough to be guests at this prestigious event. Here's how it went for them.

Debbies Tale

An Ab Fab night to remember for the rest of my life….This was definitely the best way to get up close and personal with the England Guys.The first excitement was at the drinks reception upstairs checking out the table we were on and seeing how close to which players. 

After awhile we were able to locate table 41 back downstairs which was a in a good position, with views of the stage and virtually every other table and some of the big screens.Ben Shepherd and Kirsty Gallagher came on to start night’s proceedings all the boys arrived via the stage to their respective tables. Ben settled down with Brian Ashton for an interview on the small revolving stage in the middle.

While the meal was being served, we were entertained by a threesome girl group of opera singers called Elysium. In between courses, Ben interviewed Dallaglio and Vickery and then it was Cueto and Perry’s turn.

Once dinner was over and Jools Holland came on we were allowed to mingle. I had the most memorable conversations with Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Catt, Jamie Noon, Tom Rees, Lewis Moody, Brian Ashton, George Chuter, Danny Hipkiss and Jon Callard.

Here’s what some of them said…

Jonny – couldn’t wait to get over to France.

Lewis – raring to go now his calf is sorted.

Jamie and Tom – looking forward to Jools Holland and of course going over.

At Midnight, it was time to say goodbye to them and they left the same way they came in. A huge round of applause and then they were gone….There was an after dinner party…..eventually leaving around 2ish.

I’m still in the clouds somewhere and would like to wish the boys the very best of luck …. simply can’t wait to get over to France myself.

Lucy's Tale

The great and the good of English Rugby assembled at the O2 arena and obviously Rugby for the Girls were in attendance for the O2 “No surrender” send-off dinner.  A highlight was obviously getting up close to the rugby players and they are a lot taller in the flesh than they seem on the TV.  The main highlight was that I met Jonny Wilkinson and didn’t make a complete plonker of myself.  I managed to ask for his autograph and get it personalised. I was annoyed at myself that I didn’t get a photo with him but the flash on my camera is quite bright and didn’t want to blind the poor lad. However, he has got a rival in Tom Rees who managed to be a sweetheart to me even when I was grinning like an idiot for no apparent reason and walking around with no shoes on as my posh shoes had rubbed the skin off my little toe on my left foot. (such a good look – not)

It has to be said that the biggest cheer went up when Rob Andrew said that we would win the World Cup.  Actually, it was only really matched by the fact that the highlights from the final in 2003 were shown.  There were some useful insights into the team, such as: who knew that Lawrence Dallaglio was a big Phil Collins fan??? (definitely something disturbing about that)

All in all, it was a cracking night with some good memories, and all I can say is bring on the World Cup!!!