STAGS R.F.C. - Welcome to the home of the Ayios Nikolaos Stags R.F.C., Cyprus!!

 

Wednesday 25 April, 2001
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Sunday 22 Apr. It always seems a good idea to tell yourself you'll just have a couple of pints when you go out. Hence a few groggy heads got up this morning for our first full day in Sophia. We had a packed day of rugby ahead of us with the decider in the Bulgarian Premiership between the National Sports Academy and the current unbeaten champions, the NSA had not been this close to winning in some time. The game was a very passionate one both on the park and amongst the crowd. The speed of the rugby was fast which saw the NSA clinching the match in the last few minutes to take the premiership title.

Then it was our turn to play the Student XVs. This proved to be a harder match than was initially thought. There is a slight difference in the understanding between the students and ourselves, infringements were commonplace and constant off-side play around the ruck prevented the game from flowing as much as it could have done. We had already seen with the premiership match that there are distinct differences between the refereeing standards. After the match it was onto the third half and the celebrations by the victorious home side were well under way. With tour hats on and song books out, we succeeded in taking this half convincingly. Presentations were made to the local side and to whom we thought was man of the match which went to the man with the black eye, (he won't want to mix it so quick next time).

A quick run back to the hotel to drop our kit off and it was off out to Flannigans Irish Bar for another great meal and a touch of the Kilkenny.