English breakfast but no win at Rugby Club
DISAPPOINTED England supporters shook hands with South African fans at the end of the Rugby World Cup final, which saw England suffer a 12-32 defeat.
For the past six Saturdays, the Guernsey Rugby Club has hosted breakfasts for rugby fans who could come together to watch England play in the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
While the majority wore England shirts, there were a couple each week supporting their home team of New Zealand, Wales and, most recently, South Africa.
Social secretary of the rugby club and player for the island’s women’s team, Rachel Merrien, said more than 500 breakfasts had been served over the last six weeks.
‘This is the first time the club has gone all out and done something like this for the World Cup. It’s been a great turnout, particularly with England getting to the final. Today alone we’ve served 134 breakfasts.’
Money raised from the breakfast events will go back into the club to help with trips and the day-to-day upkeep.
‘The turnout has been building up every week. There’s island players, youth club players, people who just like the sport and people who have never watched before all coming together – it’s been a really great atmosphere.’
A particularly exciting morning was when England played New Zealand in the semi-final and won 19-7.
However, the success did not last and England had a torrid time against South Africa, despite the Springboks losing to New Zealand in the first round.
12-year-old Erin Jackson and her 10-year-old brother Matthew said the final was the first game of rugby they had watched.
‘We’re big England fans now, especially when they’re winning,’ Erin said.
Matthew added: ‘Being here and watching the game with everyone has made us want to watch more rugby.’
As two of the only islanders donning South Africa shirts, Arthur Evans and his son James had to cheer twice as loud each time their home team scored.
The general consensus appeared to be that South Africa deserved the win, but England had put on some great performances for their fans over the course of the World Cup.
Afterwards, fans on both sides shook hands, congratulated one another and went their separate ways, full of bacon, sausages, eggs and pride for their country.
More than 6,000 miles away, one Guernsey girl who was educated at St Andrew’s Primary School and Ladies’ College watched the match live from the 45,000-seat Toyota Stadium.
Anne Wheeler started playing rugby with the Guernsey Women’s team while at Ladies’ College and played in the Inter-Insulars while at university.
She resigned from her teaching job in order to follow the dream of being at the Japan Rugby World Cup and managed to snag a last-minute ticket to the final.
