Dodging A Locust And Keeping An Eye On The Ball As Well

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6841, 23 April 1932, Page 13

Dodging A Locust And Keeping An Eye On The Ball As Well

HOW RUGBY IS PLAYED IN SUDAN

BRICKET has been claimed to he the game that is played wherever the British flag is unfurled, hut Rugby football is now running a close second to it in that respect, Even in tropical countries is Rugby played in what is called—sometimes only in courtesy—the cool weather. Here is an interesting description of Rugby in Sudan, written by a former Manchester player for the “Manchester Guardian.” Rtighy football is played in Khartoum by British men who live there, and who take every opportunity of giving travellers a game. There is one civilian club, styled “The Arabians,” and there are three Service sides—the R.A.F., and the Middlesex and Royal Welch Regiments. Two games arc .played weekly during the season, which extends from September to April. A pleasant surprise awaits those used to playing Rugby’in the tropics when they arrive at the ground of the Arabians in Khartoum North. Instead of tlie hard hare surface usually found ir\ hot countries here is a soft grass patch that “makes falling a pleasure.” This excellent state of affairs is achieved by irrigation, the ground being flooded with Nile water once each week. The grass is coarse and about six inches high, hut it covers the whole grouud. The setting is thoroughly tropical, there being dale and dom palms on three sides of the playing pitch and a cotton patch along the fourth. No “glue-pot” at Home could equal in stickiness the black cotton soil that is the constituent of this ground when an unexpected rainfall follows the weekly irrigation. After two or three minutes’ play it is impossible to raise more than a mere jog-trot owing to tlie cake of sticky black cotton soil that becomes attached to the soles of the boots. It has to be kicked off periodically, or a stage would lie reached when both teams would remain stationary, “glued” to Hie ground by the weight and stickiness' of (lie mud altachcd to their hoots. At first, until

the unusual timing of a kick with the extra weight attached to the foot is mastered, some ludicrous efforts at punting arc to lie seen, and it is a most tantalising and hopeless moment when one. finds it impossible to swing a foot in time to punt after releasing tlie ball from one’s hands for that purpose. The forwards, of course, have a marvellous time, and leave the ground with a considerable portion of Khartoum North attached to them. Normally the game is played in almost ideal conditions. The kick-off is usually at 4.45 p.m., and 25 minutes each way is lhe usual length of the games. There is iced lemonade at halftime, and a little longer rest is taken than is customary at home. The standard of play is about equal to good A team football, and it is thoroughly enjoyable. There is great keenness, but accidents are few owing to the soft state of the ground. Sometimes there arc incidents which strike the visitor as curious, but which are taken by the resident members quite as a matter of course. On one occasion wc found the ground occupied by a mixed and vast assemblage of black and white heron and egret. There were hundreds of these birds dotted all over the ground, and when they were disturbed what a flutter of wings there was as they took off to find a more peaceful spot. On another occasion there was.a swarm of locusts in occupancy. Wc drove them off and played on what little grass they had left. During the game that followed various odd members of the swarm that had refused to budge on tlie first drive, or were too full to move, kept on getting up at odd moments. It was not a little disconcerting to find oneself having to dodge an oncoming locust and keep an eye on the ball or an opponent as well. It is all very good fun and excellent sport, and anyone who wants can get a game of Rugby, however short his stay in Khartoum may he. The “Arabians” have made this possible. They have worked very hard to make it possible to play their favourite game, and they play it in the very best Rugby spirit.