Coming down to earth

It's not all Canada tours and watching National One games in junior rugby. There's training to be done too.

Specifically, last night, there's a 20 mile drive in the dark for the Nottinghamshire U16 county squad. And even more specifically, it wasn't so much training as waiting round in the car park for a keyholder to open the clubhouse at Newark.

Eventually one of the dedicated band of people who makes amateur rugby possible was dragged from his plate to open the club for us. He must have cursed, but you wouldn't guess it as he arrived an switched on the floodlights. I don't know his name, but I'd like to record my thanks.

It's not all Twickenham and OBEs in the world of rugby, it's mainly hard work and cold weather. Volunteers run the clubs, volunteers do the coaching, volunteers do the catering and sometimes, though not often, the RFU gives some support.

A couple of years ago we were told that kick off had been rearranged for an Under 11s match because Francis Baron and one of his RFU sidekicks wanted to come and watch grassroots rugby.

The day was wet and cold to an extent that we discussed whether it was suitable for the kids to be outside in it. The mud was ankle deep and one of our players was rooted to the spot by cold, but they gave us everything they had.

The RFU delegation watched from a distance. To be accurate, they watched from behind the shelter of a window in a heated room.

I will say no more.