There are More Important Things in Life than Rugby

It is not until it is taken away that you realise how big a part sport plays in your life. Yes, rugby is top of the bill but golf, cricket and even football aren’t far behind. Not to mention all the other sports - as long as they involve a ball. I have never been keen on horseracing and even less so on show jumping so it has been a pretty barren weekend. It isn’t just the weekend of course but for the foreseeable future. Huge gaps have suddenly appeared in my timeline and the challenge is how to fill them.

There are more important things in life than sport as the life-threatening coronavirus is clearly demonstrating. It has brought with it a fear and uncertainty that we are not used to dealing with on a day to day basis. Lack of sport has been the first thing that has impacted upon my life but the reality is that this is just the beginning. On Friday, I agonised over whether I should go to Cardiff for the Wales v. Scotland match and I was actually glad when it was called off as it took the onus off me. The postponement was managed pretty badly but I am sure in my own mind that it was the right one.

Next came the decision that really impacts on me - the suspension of all rugby in Wales. "Bah! No Pooler games", was my immediate reaction. In the bigger picture, the decision to suspend surely is the right one but still…. So, the next question is what bearing will this have on Pooler’s promotion prospects? Again, a pretty small issue in the wider context, but for a club that has worked so hard to try and achieve this burning ambition very important. The answer is, of course, that we don’t know. The decision will obviously need to be made further down the road by the WRU.

If I were in charge “and thank the Lord I’m not sir” to quote the old song, I would advocate the following. Promote the two top sides from the Championship whenever the season is deemed to have ended. I would increase the size of the Premiership to fourteen clubs so there would be no need for relegation. The extra games in the Premiership next season would help to counteract the revenue for the lost matches this season. This action would work its way through the league pyramid but with a positive effect. Sadly, I expect the decision to be that the season will be, in effect, written off with the status quo retained. Yet again Pooler would miss out on promotion due to outside influences.

Whatever happens, it will be a disappointing end to the season as the battle between Pooler and Bargoed for promotion was set to be a real humdinger. It is not life and death though and we need to remember that.

I guess I won’t have much to write about in the coming weeks. It's box sets and jigsaws for me I fear. Then there's that novel I keep meaning to finish.

I wish you and your families well and please stay safe.