Non poussée SVP

Warley RFC Tour 2006 – Loudeac, Brittany, France

Day 1 –Thursday 13th April 2006
Thursday afternoon 13th April 2006 30th (?) Warley RFC tour. With all the elections done, no surprises there, and possessions checked, we set out before 4pm, because there was a ‘black spot’ at Bristol.
This was a good idea as it turned out that we hadn’t got enough beer on board, so a detour to Oldbury town centre was arranged. The under 8’s were despatched to SavaCentre and after loading up a few dozen cases of Black Label etc we were back on the road, still on schedule. The beer was drunk, the usual initial spontaneous ‘penalties’ were dealt out and taken, hats were obtained from different sources and friendly insults were generally bandied about.
After stopping at Gordano services and picking up another tourist, we continued on to Plymouth to catch the overnight ferry to Roscoff. 9 hours with the bar open to look forward to.
Queuing up to get through customs, it was noticed that 2 of our contingent were getting a bit nervous. Something to do with passports, apparently. Anyway we were waved through without any checks. Doesn’t that fill you with confidence, eh?
Off the coach, we then boarded the ferry, the Pont L’Abby, as foot passengers, where we queued up for our ‘overnight cabins’, how about that, and were warned to keep the noise down as there were parties of school kids on board. It turned out that they made more noise that anyone else.
After a few drinks in the bars and a wander around, most people went to get a few hours sleep in the cabins. Turns out that they were more like cattle trucks, with gaps between each room, so snoring, coughs, farts etc. were evenly shared out throughout
the night. Still some people clearly needed their shut-eye.

Day 2 – Friday 14th April 2006 (Good Friday)
The early risers get up for a quick shower, passing some of the tour group wandering about with blankets complaining about the smell or something. Then a filling breakfast in the bar. Dock in Roscoff just after 8am and walk off to meet the coach, passing customs official who says that he is supposed to see our passports. At least one person disappears in a flash. Once coach is located and latecomers arrive, it’s off to find Loudeac somewhere in North Brittany.
Found it. After a few more beers, rooms were allocated and located. Not before, however, someone decided to head butt the tiled floor in the entrance. The blood eventually dried up. It was decided to meet in the hotel bar for a lunchtime drink, and some lunch? After the accumulated penalties were seen off (where do they come from?) lunch was taken in the vast dining room. At 11 euros per head, for 3 courses, it was a bargain. Even better for some others, though.
Some of the ‘older’ tourists decided that 40 winks was called for and after waking refreshed a quick drink in the bar and a stroll down to the town, it was discovered that rugby players had been invited to ‘come back’ to one particular bar. This must be a record of some sort.
The rest of the night went as well as can be expected, apparently.

Day 3 – Saturday 15th April 2006
Up for another filling breakfast , this time with red wine. Time for a quick stroll down town, then on to the coach to Redon. Somewhere else in North Brittany, where, by some miracle, we arrived at about 2:30pm. We were welcomed with open arms by our hosts who were very pleased to meet us.
Changed for the game and ready to kick off we were informed that at this level of rugby in France no pushing in the scrums was allowed. What? In one stroke a major part of our game plan was destroyed. Non poussée, sil vous plait, this was what we were to hear time and time again. We did get away with the odd one metre push before “stop” was called, but it didn’t help much. The Redon team were very good in the backs and when we did have the ball, going forward, they were also good at ‘stripping ‘ the ball away before a ruck was formed. As always, however, we did win the after match game of ‘Hubbly-Bubbly’.
Redon proved to be superb hosts after the game and the food and drink, buckets of Ricard, was plentiful. After a few songs were exchanged they bid us ‘Adieu’ and ‘Bon Chance’ for our next game at Concale.
Our trip back to Loudeac took longer than expected, but thanks to our backup navigator, we got there in time for a meal and a drink at the one bar in town that welcomed us. Some other, more experienced, tourists had found other bars as well as the kebab shop, by this time.

Day 4 – Sunday 16th April 2006 (Easter Sunday)
Up for breakfast, this time in a bar in the town centre, arranged by our hotel, some more penalties seen off. Is there a pattern emerging here? Then on the coach for another 2.5hr journey to Concale. This time the driver was given the destination address to load into the SatNav, so we went straight there. The game against Concale went much the same as the previous days game, with ‘Non poussée, sil vous plait’ being heard again. People were getting a bit fed up now. Comments like “If this is how rugby is going, there’s no place for us big blokes anymore.” were overheard. This time, however, we scored 3 tries. Perhaps we were getting used to the ‘French’ style.
A trip in the coach back to our hosts’ clubhouse took us through town to a place set in gardens. After exchanging plaques etc. we were presented with a gift of a small crate of the local delicacy, oysters. Yummy for some, but less so for others, but everyone had a ‘go’ just to be polite.
A request came in from the ‘house’ next door asking if we would like to go and visit them. How could we refuse, but we were a little ‘gob smacked’ to find out that it was a French ‘retirement’ home. They had apparently heard us and wanted us to sing a couple of English songs. We duly complied, and at least some of the old folks were smiling, or grimacing, when we left. This, again, must be a ‘first’ for the club.
As time was now getting on and we would be late getting back to Loudeac, it was decided to accept our hosts suggestion to stop off at St Malo on the way back. What an interesting place, full of bars, restaurants, take-aways etc. At least one person fell in love. Then it was back on the coach, this time with SatNav operating, to Loudeac, where the bars were still open.

Day 5 – Monday 17th April 2006 (Easter Monday)
Most people got up a little later today, (wonder why?), some a little worse for wear than others. Breakfast in the hotel bar, with a couple of glasses of red wine, put things right. Enough time to go into town for prezzies, souvenirs etc, get packed and meet again in the bar. All penalties seen off with more glasses of red wine, plus a couple extra, just in case.
On board the coach, now restocked with beer, for the trip home. First to Roscoff via the harbour and some really narrow streets, very scenic and a tribute to the driving skills of our driver.
On to the customs checkpoint where the coach was stopped and an official came on board to check passports. Gulp!! Somehow, though, he only got halfway down the bus before deciding that he had had enough. Phew! Then it was onto the ferry, by foot again, for a relatively uneventful trip back to Plymouth.
Getting back through customs with another group of rugby tourists proved a bit ‘sticky’ with diversion tactics going on, but it all calmed down when everyone was threatened with being arrested if we “didn’t shut up”. Anyway, it worked, and we all went through to pick up the coach again.
A few more drinks on the coach, the ‘passing out’ ceremony for the ‘under eights’ and the arrival back at Tat Bank Road at 1:00am Tuesday, concluded one of the longest and most enjoyable Warley RFC tours for some years.
Hands up for the next one.