Programme Notes 2006/7

Montpellier

I saw John Kingston smile! I can sense your disbelief. Are you sure it wasn’t wind or the start of a sneeze, you’re asking. No, he definitely did, and so did every supporter, player and coach last Friday evening in balmy Galway. Victory never tasted better…. even better than the Guinness we consumed aplenty as we greeted our old friend, “a win”, who had been away for far too long.

It clarified one thing in my mind. A victory is a victory, no matter what the competition it is, and how important the result is in terms of league placing. Those emotive words “ring fencing” throw up a number of arguments. One view is that without relegation or promotion, there would be meaningless matches at the end of the season, particularly if all hope of Heineken Cup qualification had been extinguished? Don’t forget that from the perspective of the future of professional Rugby Union, how we respond is the main driver for those who invest in the game. Sponsors are here because we are. If we were to vote with our feet, they would be fast behind. Sky Sports are not a charitable institution and only pump money into the GP clubs, via the RFU, because of the growth of attendances and, no doubt, the representative Socio-Economic Groups of the supporters; particularly at the Stoop, where most of us bring along staff to pre-warm our seats and slice fruit for the Pimms. So if we’re not here, nor will the “money” be.

In any case, what actually is a “meaningless” game? Can matches against London Irish or Leicester or Wasps ever be described as such? After all, were we disinterested in whether that stoppage time conversion went over against Sale, even though it was clear that our interest in the Anglo-Welsh Cup was already over? Did those who said that the Connacht game wasn’t a priority shrug their shoulders when, this time, Adrian Jarvis’s kick sailed straight through the posts, also in stoppage time? The answer to both is clearly no. The only thing a lack of “meaning” gives us is the ability to share an “it didn’t matter anyway” as we trudge homewards, knowing that none of us believe it.

As long as the lads in the multicoloured shirts are playing their hearts out, the supporters will continue to do their bit. The relationship between supporters and players is a pact. You play for use and we’ll support you through thick and thin, whether it is rugby or an “egg and spoon” race at half time. Matches will only be meaningless if the coaches and players treat them in that way, and the minute they do, the contract is broken.

At the recent Quinssa “Meet The Players” Evening, Tom Williams was very passionate when he explained how important support and noise was to the team on the pitch. So if you feel self-conscious about singing, chanting or just waving your arms about, don’t. You’re an important part of “Team Quins” and the players are relying on you. Anyway, I want to see JK smile again!!

Cliff Funnell
Cliff@quinssa.org.uk

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