While walking through the old back streets of old puerto (Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz) on a sunny afternoon I suddenly gained a thirst as you do. I looked down a long narrow street and there was an open old wooden door leading into a big old stone building without many windows, and those that there were being very small. I thought "medival bodega!!" just the job. As I approached sure enough a board outside had a list of six or seven options for breakfast. Clearly a place to refresh the throat I thought even if 3 pm seemed a bit late for brekkie.
Wasn't till I arrived at the door I read "El Puerto Rugby club. Non members welcome".
Inside a bar that had seen centuries of use had walls emblazoned with lots of rugby shirts and shelves crowded with silver and gold trophies, and rugby balls. And of course the compulsory tv with some political debate, you know the ones where they all talk at the same time, that no one was taking any notice of.
Ordered a glass of cold white wine to which the guy trudged off to the fridge to place a bottle on the bar. As he carefully extracted the cork I thought I don't think they drink much of this here. Then I was offered either a normal wine glass or a sherry flute. Well I like the shape of the flutes. What was poured for sure was nearer a dry sherry than a crisp white but it sild down rather well quickly followed by a second and then a coffee.
Two young guys, one on crutches, at a small table, three oldens drinking cofee and a barman who looked like he may have handled a rugby ball in the past. So never daunted conversation begins.
Turns out there are 6 teams including Jerez, Cadiz and Gibraltar - a good 2 hours away. I asked about the 6 nations and they offered that it was the perfect place for a bit of atmosphere - not that they seemed to care who might win.
Turns out the young one with the broken leg had sustained the injury in a match. Never slow in offering my spanish I joked with the injured player that the other guy was presumably dead. This rather tame joke (if you could call it that) went down rather well with all 6 of them.
So no more laptop rugby for me.
And they told me where the ground was so I may even go and cheer them on
Anyone else found their local club?
Rugby in Spain
-
- Resident
- Posts: 287
- Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:07 pm
- Location: Puerto de Santa Maria (and Asturias)
- Contact:
Rugby in Spain
El raton de watford
Re: Rugby in Spain
Marbella has a long established one.
-
- Andalucia Guru
- Posts: 16073
- Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:42 pm
- Location: La Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada
Re: Rugby in Spain
So does Velez-Malaga.
Sid
Sid
-
- Andalucia Guru
- Posts: 7785
- Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:02 am
- Location: Bilbao Spain
Re: Rugby in Spain
Up here there are many of clubs. In fact, some of The French Basque teams play European cup matches in San Sebastian.
-
- Resident
- Posts: 287
- Joined: Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:07 pm
- Location: Puerto de Santa Maria (and Asturias)
- Contact:
Re: Rugby in Spain
Guess no one who passes here has got involved with their local club. C'est la vie
By chance turns out my plumber was the first homegrown player of the club. Filled me in on all the history while he fitted two taps. Probably the most expensive taps I'll ever have fitted as I couldn't stop him talking (he was front row ).
Then turns out he is a fanatical gardener and now brings us plants each time we need him.
And when my local bar discovered my interest in rugby they organised a tv to show the 6 naciones.
Not bad chaps these spaniards you know , or maybe just rugby fans, or both
By chance turns out my plumber was the first homegrown player of the club. Filled me in on all the history while he fitted two taps. Probably the most expensive taps I'll ever have fitted as I couldn't stop him talking (he was front row ).
Then turns out he is a fanatical gardener and now brings us plants each time we need him.
And when my local bar discovered my interest in rugby they organised a tv to show the 6 naciones.
Not bad chaps these spaniards you know , or maybe just rugby fans, or both
El raton de watford
-
- Resident
- Posts: 1968
- Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2014 11:48 pm
Re: Rugby in Spain
I played Rugby union frome the age of 7 through to 40 when I Could no longer take the beatings Spain has a great tradition of Rugby and some top class players!
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 24 guests