Murrayfield Mascots and other rugby stuff!!!

I know its been a while since my last post (again!!!!). I feel I should be standing up when I say that. However life has been a tad busy of late, but nothing new there either. Both boys have settled into their new school routine, with Ronan going off before I get home from work and Robert going off once I get home. Ronan seems to be enjoying the new challenges that the High School is giving him and Robert is getting used to being at school without his big bro!

All the boys after school clubs have started up again, so this means a new schedule for me too!!! Swimming for both on a Monday, school rugby for Ronan and basketball for Bob on a Tuesday, swimming for Bob and club rugby for Ronan on Wednesday, swimming with pals after school for Ronan and school basketball for Bob on a Thursday, swimming for both on a Friday night and then lastly club rugby for both on Sunday, Ronan in am and Bob in pm! Somewhere in all that lot they have to fit in doing homework and I have to fit in housework (not done very often)and working full time in round ferrying them around the various events! But, hay we are trying to promote a healthier lifestyle and all that sport is good for them. Means I don't mind them spending some time on their play stations etc without them turning into "couch potatoes" like so many children today.

Don't think I've mentioned it, but the rugby season has started, so we will be spending lots of time between the rugby club and Murrayfield watching games. We went along to Murrayfield for the friendly against London Wasps on the 23rd August and the kids had a chance to play a game or 2 on the pitch before the main game.

Here are the boys with some of their team mates warming up. They really enjoyed being allowed to actually play on the "sacred" pitch!

Ronan was well pleased as he managed to score 2 tries.




Here are some of the team with "Big" Jim Hamilton who transferred to us in the summer from Leicester Tigers. Unfortunately he has not been able to play yet as he has a shoulder injury.



Last Friday saw the start of the Magners League with Edinburgh playing at home V Munster. Unfortunately Edinburgh were beat 15:20. However despite the score line and the fact that it was raining 17 kids from the rugby club have special memories of the night. 15 of them had been chosen to be the mascots for the Edinburgh team. This meant they got to meet the players before the game then run out onto the pitch with them.

Here are the lucky 15 waiting in the tunnel to meet the players. Robert is at the front and Ronan is bringing up the rear! They were really excited about the whole prospect of running out onto Murrayfield and facing the 5.5 thousand crowd.




Robert, being the youngest was first out so he had the honour of running out with team captain, Mike Blair, who just happens to be his hero! Here he his teaming up with Mike before being piped onto the pitch by the 1st Scots pipers. They ran out amid lots of smoke so unfortunately Ronan was "lost" to the crowd when he was running out. I tried to take some pix in the tunnel but they didn't come out.




Here are some of the boys running back off the pitch.





During the game all 17 kids were involved in carrying placards, advertising the next home game, from one end of the stadium to the other and back. They really enjoyed this as they got to wave to the crowd.

After the game they got to meet the players and get autographs and pix taken with them.


The boys with Mike Blair.

and with Chris Paterson, who returned to Edinburgh over the summer and played his 150th game for them on Friday night.

Ronan with the Munster and Ireland player, Ronan O'Gara.





We are now looking forward to the next sojourn to Murrayfield to see Llanelli Scarlets on the 19th