FOR AULD LANG SYNE

Interestingly Robert Burns did not write the music for this song which dates back to an older Scottish Folk Melody but he did pen the lyrics which we all know and love.

It is sung to bid farewell to the old year and welcomes the new one and I have no doubt it will be sung lustily as the clocks strike midnight on New Year’s Eve.

2022 will not go down in history as a great year. Covid, the invasion of Ukraine, the oil crisis and rampant inflation have all had their mucky fingerprints on turning 2022 into a hard slog and we all hope and pray for a better 2023 not just on the rugby front.

In rugby circles, the loss of the much loved Doddie Weir has had a profound impact on many of us. Seeing him at Murrayfield shortly before he died was an extraordinarily emotional moment which bought a tear to the eye of many - only matched perhaps by Rob Burrows at the Sports Personality of the Year. Another truly positive individual in the face of overwhelming adversity. I do hope that the raised awareness of MND leads to a cure for this dreadful disease.

The Rugby World lost some much-loved stars in 2022, Doddie, Tom Smith, Eddie Butler and Phil Bennett to name a few. Next year is the 50th anniversary of the 1973 match between the Barbarians and the All Blacks featuring “the Try”.

I vividly remember as a young boy watching the game with my father and jumping up and down in excitement as Phil Bennett sidestepped the entire All Blacks back row a few yards from his try line before unleashing JPR, John Pullin, John Dawes, Tom David, Derek Quinnell and finally the truly great Gareth Edwards. Cliff Morgan, the wonderful commentator could not have summed it up better “What a score”!

Would the try stand if played today, probably not, for the last possibly forward pass never mind the numerous high tackles but If there is anyone out there who has not seen it, I urge you to go on YouTube. An extraordinary try in an incredible match which still brings a tear to my eye fifty years on. As does the Haka by the All Blacks at the start of the game which looks like a bunch of dads at the disco!

On the Currie front, 2022 will be remembered for losing the final against Marr, a very depressing end to what had been a fantastic season but our boys are going well this year with the First team lying 2nd, the A’s third and the “mighty Shrees” top of their respective divisions. Let us hope that 2023 brings the rewards which this Club deserves.

A happy new year to you all.

Charles Mullins
President

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