I posted last week about a Golf Day that I attended – BattleBack versus Rugby’s Golf Club.
Once the golf had finished, we repaired to Tedworth House, a Help 4 Heroes Recovery Centre, for a spot of dinner and a charity auction.
I bought the print above. The original (complete with signatures of many famous sports and media folk) was presented to Welsh Rugby legend Cliff Morgan on the occasion of his retirement.
One hundred prints were countersigned by the man himself to be used for charitable purposes.
Now I have one in my house. This makes me feel inordinately pleased with myself. My wife is, for the moment, reserving judgement.
Rugby’s Golf Club relates to the game of Rugby, not the place. It binds people with interests in Rugby, Golf and doing good. Jason Leonard is the club President.
After dinner – one of our number stood up and spoke about The Rugby Business Network. His name was Colm Hannon.
Colm, like me, played prop. Unlike me, he was good at it.
Colm played professional rugby in Ireland, England and South Africa. I daresay that he made a pretty decent living.
Post Rugby – he identified a need for something like The Rugby Business Network and went out and set it up. Good on him.
He presented to us what it is and what it is for.
I may get a word or two wrong, but I’m sure that he will forgive me;
“Essentially there is one criterion for membership. Officially we say that at any RBN event you must say “How can I help you?” – but unofficially, it is much simpler.”
“No Dickheads.”
If you played Rugby, then I suspect that you understand the nuance.
Certainly many in the room nodded their understanding, although of course, this may have just been people nodding off as the wine took effect.
I have a feeling that Jason Leonard knows exactly what it means and I am sure that Cliff Morgan would have too.
No Dickheads means team first.
Your teammates come before all else. No ego. No bullshit – not on the field, not off the field.
If there is anything that anyone takes away from the game of rugby – then it is this. (And a lot of very imaginative and graphic song lyrics)
In many ways, it is a good maxim to live by – in business, in sport, in everything.
