ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

Hi John,

As ever a good article. However you mention that the first International was played at "Inverleith" (home of Stewarts Melville FP). You are wrong as the 1st international was played at Raeburn Place home of Edinburgh Accies not far from Inverleith but different. You obviously never graced that venue.

The best rugby pitch? Surely you mean the best rugby venue? The pitch at the Millenium stadium has never been good, with the surface frequently coming in for criticism from those who play on it. Having said that, I couldn't agree more with you about Jed - it's a fabulous wee ground.

Best pitch? - definitely Grangemeouth...

I suppose everyone will nominate their own club's pitch and I am no different. The hallowed turf of Station Park in St Andrews, the home of Madras RFC is flat and has a great covering of grass; is very rarely frosted; is good enough for Andy McRobinson and the lads. It's so good that other clubs in the area often phone up to borrow a pitch as their own pitches are unplayable.

Up the road, the University pitch is a fantastic surface too.

Millenium is the best stadium, but the playing surface is diabolical.

Parc y Scarlets is the best all round venue and pitch.

I'm not biased.

Only played at Grangemouth a couple of times but the six inches of mud round your ankles slowed everyone else down to my pace.

John,

Only played in Orkney once, it was January and I stood on the wing in a howling gale watching for the most part - not one of my fondest rugby memories. The night out after the game, however, that was another story. They certainly know how to host a drinking session in Orkney.

I've played at the Madras pitches a few times (once after we were frosted over and the opposition were too so we played it on the neutral park). Great place to play. Two overriding memories, getting taken to the cleaners for 70 mins by a Scotland u17 winger and another on a sunny day when the Leuchars Air Show was on (probably shoud've been more focussed on the game).

Never played at Grangemouth but did play at Hughenden once with Grangemouth playing on another pitch. One of the Grangemouth players lived back in Edinburgh so we gave him a lift on the bus. As was standard we stopped off in Great Western Road for a beer stop. Everyone got back on and after a quick head count we headed off. Of course we only checked that we had the same number of people that we came with but the Grangemouth player should have made it one more... we drove off with one of our own players running down the street after the bus (not that we noticed!) Needless to say when we got to back to Edinburgh there he was in the pub waiting on us having got the (much faster) train back instead! I'd actually pick Hughenden as my top ground that I've played at (although not because of that incident!)

John you've given a couple of places in the Borders a mention but I have to say that surely the Borders as an area, is a pretty special place to play in any case. The Grrenyards and Riverside are rightly mentioned a they are very picturesque places for a game of rugby but even in the towns of Hawick or Selkirk's Philiphaugh is worthy of mention. On a smaller scale, playing at a sunny Haugh at Earlston or even at Walkerburn on the banks of the Tweed; Caberston Haugh is a setting that I'd argue is as picturesque and emotional as a typical Southern Welsh park.

One of the Borders strong points is the culture and history of rugby there, which can even make playing at holes such as Netherdale or Poynder Park quite pleasing. However, this is something that Wales has in abundance as well. I've been lucky enough to play at the ground of Treherbert in Rhondda, South Wales and where the rugby ground is cut halfway up the side of the valley itself. A stunning setting and the villagers are wonderful as well.

Anyway, I am ridiculously biased as a Borderer and not that well travelled in rugby. However, I echo your comments on watching rugby at Cardiff but personally, there's not much that beats watching a match at home in Murrayfield.

John, you mention Balgray. I have played there a couple of times playing Kelvinside Academy. What a beautiful pitch. No pitch at school rugby ever competed with Balgray.

Obviously, the best pitch will go with the best Rugby party memories, sorry to be long and maybe boring.

Lansdowne Road:
A five Nations game at Lansdowne Road in February 20 years ago, my friend broke his car before the trip.
So, no choice, we went to Cherbourg on my motorbike Honda Transalp, we felt a bit weird, only one bike on the Irish ferry boat!
Arrived in Ireland, we spend more time at customs that other visitors, the police checked identity and everything in our wee luggage.
We paid 3 quid to be behind the posts, it was a terrace, what an atmosphere, and a bit afraid when we felt the pressure of bodies when the game was close.
A great fun in Dublin, beers in Ireland were so cheap at this time, good chats with people admiring my lovely 600 Transalp front of pubs.

Parc des Princes(Stade de France too big and not in the Centre)
What a cauldron! in the City!
I remember A FAMOUS game, France V Scotland 21 – 23 in 1995.
My wife (Glaswegian) did not have a β€œclue” about Rugby, but she was so proud this time after the Toony chistera giving Hasting try in the 77’.

The Greenyards and Netherdale
A trip with my wife (sorry to mention my β€œprivate life” again) in the Borders, years ago, the visit was about β€œa promenade” in the area, enjoy the scenery, visit some castles, towns, and the famous Border abbeys, something cultural.
At this time no GPS; arrived in Galashiels I followed the sign for Netherdale, stopped the car front of the Rugby club (my wife: What are we doing here????, I’m staying in the car)
I said, I’ll have a quick tour, insisting Rugby is a big part of the culture in the Borders.
I was lucky enough, welcomed by a friendly club member, visited the clubhouse and facilities, saw the caps of the International Borderers, etc…
The guy offered me a Red Triangle tie, the club of Toony, I was so excited.
A good memory some years afterwards, after a game between the Borders V Glasgow, by chance I met John Jeffreys in the toilets, and saw Telfer, so easy to approach people here compare to France.

The same cultural artifice when arrived in Melrose, this is where the 7’s was born (my wife: oh really…), the Greenyards (you feel something special there).

Murrayfield
Amazing atmosphere against Australia 2 years ago

Hughenden
I enjoyed games at this place on the terrace, it was quite funny to listen to the jokes and talks from the Glaswegians folks there, especially a game against Edinburgh, Blackadder, Nicol, and snowy were still playing.

John,

My recollection of Mull includes clearing some, but not all, of the cowpats off the pitch before the game, changing in the Hotel (a bit of a luxury compared to the home team changing) and thinking I had damaged my kidneys (eaten too much beetroot actually).

Murrayfield's old terracing holds some great memories, in particular the volume of bodies, usually against Wales, which meant you moved considerable distances around without touching the ground much.

I think the central location of the Millennium Stadium adds massively to the aura.

The best small pitches around, though, are where you have to decide whether to use the hill or the wind in the first half...

John
I know you shouldnt be biased, but our very own New Anniesland is the greatest playing surface in Scotland, having played all over Scotland and at some great places, coming back to the wide expansed of The hallowed turf is unbeatable, just sorry the annual boxing day game is off, could have been a belter this year!!!

I agree with Jagsman, the groundstaff there manage to make it playable (and amazing to play on) even during the weekends in December and January when most other pitches have been ruled out (albeit not this winter......)

Fletcher's Fields Toronto is a good place to watch and play rugby in the summer months also....

Wade Academy in Anstruther in the East Neuk of Fife brings back memories of a great surface to play on and a smashing fish supper after it.

The worst...well there are lots but generally if there was a hot pie and a cold beer to be had after the game I quickly forgot about things like cow pats, dog poo and broken glass etc on the pitch. In fact most of my rugby memories seem to revolve around post match hospitality and drunken bus trips!

As for top flight grounds I've got to agree that the old Arms Park and the new Milleniun stadium are a class apart although I've not been to Croke Park which does look quite a place to play on the TV.

The best rugby (sevens) ground is of course So Kon Poo - also know as the Hong Kong Stadium which holds the IRB sevens tournament. The new stadium was constructed in just a year so that the annual tournament didn't miss a beat!!
Aw ra bess

so what is the conclusion... grangemouth?

A Rome international is always a great experience. Cardiff is just a special place to enjoy rugby union. It is always a wonderful atmosphere. For sheer scenic splendour, though, sitting at the side of the pitch in Rarotonga, sipping from a coconut and watching finals day of the Cook Islands Sevens will take a bit of beating for me!