My way – the rugby way

As I sat to write my column for the week I heard the Voice of Sinatra and it was “My Way”. I could not help but start to rethink of some of the Lyrics in the song. Regrets? I've had a few. But then again, too few to mention, I did what I had to do, and saw it through without exemption.

I could not help but remember the words of Frank Sinatra. The above stuck into my head. I was happy that Rugby has received support by an amount of almost Rupees Fifty million. The thought that the highest in the country was committed to help is what was encouraging to me. The development for the improvement of the game should be heartening. To the followers of this great sport it is good news. It is not only funds that have been promised. It is land too. The development of the game is somewhat threatened due to the non availability of grounds. The promise of grounds will be a most welcome shower to rugby. Are you a proud part of the rugby community? If not are you going to be? Do not be left out. The leaders of the sport can and will do much for the game. Yet it has to be the participants of the game who have to get unstuck. They must make the best use of the opportunity. It will be then that the game will reap the maximum. The steps taken to develop will be meaningful. To borrow a term from an oft quoted slogan of the past “there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Seeing light is not enough. Neither will it be enough to sit and watch the light you see at the end of the tunnel; you have to get in under the sun to get all the benefit from it. You don’t get a tan sitting inside.

It is for you in the rugby fraternity to begin to enjoy the fruits of the development efforts. This together with sponsorship money and the IRB grant can take rugby to the next level. It is what we aim and has been planned for. The centermost need for the development of the game will be your thirst to drink. A leader can take you to the water but if you do not drink; the water will continue to be there. Then it will be making value neither for your self nor to the others.

Prerequisite to winning in the modern game of Rugby is the scoring of more and more tries. Scoring a try is points on the board for the team on the field. For the management it is case of “try” and you may find your reward. For the player it is a matter of try harder and work harder to achieve what your have set your sights on. What has always helped the All Blacks to win has been their ability to handle the ball. As a consequence there have been more passes in the game. This handling and passing while holding on where necessary has been the corner stone for managing the affairs. What the management of rugby has to do is no different to what has been done on the field. That what was done during the playing days? Not forgetting that you need the team to perform in all parts for success on the field. Same goes with the administration and management of the game. It does not seem to be a giant leap for mankind to understand and change. It seems just a switch of sides. Switching sides is as common as a cold these days. What the game needs is not a switch of that nature. What the game needs is for all to pool their experience of the field to take it to management. Then work as team to go ahead as team. Can this be any different to the way on the field.

While we sharpen our swords for battle; the game opens for more debate and contest next week with the Radella “Sevens”. The stage is set and the funds are in the right places. What is now left is for all other players, of the game, to dance on the floor. It seems their will be lot of fun in terms of Rugby Football. To the thinking of Sinatra I go back; I planned each chartered course, each careful step along the by way, and much more than this, I did it my way. Each and every one has his “My Way”. For the common good of the game let it should be our way.