Corinthian's Heineken Cup Weekend Report

Report by Andy Bryce

Just this past Bank Holiday weekend, over forty rugby players from over twenty different clubs descended upon Edinburgh for the Christians in Sport festivities surrounding the Heineken Cup. This is the fourth year that it has been organised although it is the first time that the Scots hosted from the bedrock of Edinburgh. The weekend began with a competitive game played on Saturday morning at Stewart Melville's ground between the select teams of Scotland / Northern Ireland vs Wales / England. A hard fought battle pursued with both teams cheered on by some local support. The game displayed good, expansive rugby although an edge was eventually found by the Scottish and Irish over the visitors for the honour of "the Thimble".

However, this was only the beginning of the weekend, as over lunch the teams heard from Chris Hutton about the up and coming 2010 Corinthians Tour to Romania, from Graham Ellis about how he recently became a Christian, finishing with a challenge from Nick Cox.

Not to slow proceedings down, the teams shot off to Murrayfield to watch the Heineken Cup Final between Leicester and Leinster. Like the game in the morning, there were crunching tackles, break away tries, and a really enjoyable atmosphere. There was a good choir of Irish supporters and this may have made the difference as Leinster went on to be crowned European Champions.

The Christians in Sport celebrations continued to a BBQ near Murrayfield where we enjoyed the company of fellow rugby players from the four corners of the UK, as well as fine burgers, sausages and pork chops without much salad on show at all - typical rugby!

To top off the whole weekend on the Sunday, we attended St Paul's & St George's Church and enjoyed a final meal of all-you-can-eat Chinese and ice-cream. Even with the aches still in our bones, plans are already on way for next year...there are rumours of Paris...