Fellow Quintins,
The summer is almost over (yes only 2 months of good old British sunshine) and soon it will get colder, darker and wetter and the time will have come for another season. For Quintin it will be our 126th season and I have the pleasure of leading the 1st team in what promises to be a very exciting season indeed.
It is almost time to put those cricket whites away and smell that familiar whiff of Deep Heat and last season’s crusty kit which most probably has not been washed for months. I even have a new set of special pants for this season which are even more offensive than the last ones!
The Aussies and Kiwis will not doubt have now seen the whole of Europe in 2 weeks and are now impoverished and in need of a run out and as for us Brits it gives us 80 minutes of freedom from the stresses of work and for some of us; babies. I cannot wait!
We are in a lower league this season but let’s not be fooled, it is still a very good standard of rugby and the teams we play will be keen to prove to us that we are not better than them and worthy of a place in the league above. We will put that right from the first whistle of the first game until we are promoted once again at the end. That I am certain of! We have the talent, we have the aggression and we have the skill and above all we play as always as proud Quintins. We are part of a Club with incredible history and unrivalled camaraderie and whether we win or lose one thing I know is we will always remain united as a close, friendly and welcoming family Club.
Here’s to our 126th season of Quintin Rugby…
James
From the bottom of a bottle of Russian Vodka with Love....
Gentlemen,
Welcome to the second team, home of the aged, infirm and reckless. This season we will be attempting to gather 15 or so hungover souls early most Saturday afternoons. I am looking forward to leading out the famed quintin second team. We will be playing hard for 80 minutes then drinking harder and for longer. Unlike our brethren professionals we will have our priorities straight. In the term social rugby, Social comes before rugby although generally it will happen afterwards. The point is we are a social team and we will do Social things like drink and... Drink. We are a team that shares responsibility Which does not just mean that I will be delegating all my responsibility, it also means that other people will take responsibility for the things that must be taken responsibly.
This year we will be having a strict uniform policy. Uniform must be worn on all match days, except when changing or when you have gone home or before you arrive or are playing and will be wearing kit. All players must be wearing the same as the captain to show their team spirit. This will include a quintin shirt and tie unless you are new then for this there will be an exception. On your 4th game you will be awarded the tie you will need. You will all receive a shirt on paying your subs for the year. And with such joy you will have uniform and will be able to wear it on match days or on other days if you wish although only on match days will you have to wear it except when changing or when you have gone home or before you arrive or are playing and will be wearing kit or you will be fined a small amount to be used as a drinking kitty for tour unless you really don't want to then that's kind of ok as well.
There will be many vice captains this year. If you have not been told that you are not a vice captain then you are a vice captain unless I haven't got round to not telling you you are not a vice captain in which case you are not a vice captain but may think you are a vice captain.
All second team players will make every effort to play every week and to bring friends, regardless of ability, to play as well unless you can't play every week or don't have any friends. In which case you should play exactly when you can or want to and bring who you like including nobody if you so wish.
All players in my team will play to the best of their ability especially those with no ability who will just play when they can or want to, bringing who they like including nobody should they so wish.
Our playing philosophy will be to get the ball to the backs who will Run forward in various different parts of the pitch so that the forwards can run from side to side in a marginally forward direction before someone screws up and we all stand in a straight line across the pitch except one person who will hang back a bit.
And it is in this way and with this spirit the team shall prosper, win games and flourish.
Major Major May