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First published in 2007 by HarperSport an imprint of HarperCollins London
© Gregor Townsend 2007
Gregor Townsend asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Source ISBN 9780007251131
Ebook Edition © MARCH 2015 ISBN: 9780008140663
Version: 2015-03-13
Dedicated to rugby in the Borders, and the hope that it can rise again.
Have you ever stopped and wondered why
Border rugby is so strong
I’ll tell you how it started, just listen to my song
How the Reivers wrought disorder
And the rule of law was lame
And the Bonnie Scottish Borders became
The Kingdom of the Game
Frae Gala, Hawick and Melrose
The Gospel quickly spread
The magic of its spell rose
Frae Selkirk don tae Jed
Frae Kelsae doon on Tweedside
Tae the muckle toon they came
And they fought tae find the best toon
In the Kingdom of the Game
Their features carved in granite
Their hearts as stout as stone
They won the ball and ran it
They made the game their own
Now many Border Callants
Bring honour and great fame
Tae the heartbeat of the Nation
Tae the Kingdom of the Game
‘The Kingdom of the game’ (Henry Douglas)
Contents
3. Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina
6. Last Orders and First Steps
13. Spirits Lifted: Rugby World Cup 2003 Diary Part 1
14. Breaking Point: Rugby World Cup 2003 Diary Part 2
Happiness isn’t something you experience; it’s something you remember.
Oscar Levant
15 September 2006
I suppose we are never angrier than when we feel ourselves to be at fault. In only the third game of this season – my final season – I played as badly as I’ve ever done in my career. I was playing for the Border Reivers down in Wales, and we succumbed to another defeat – this time against the Ospreys. However, my own disappointment was much greater than that of my team-mates. This wasn’t entirely