Legend in anyone's langua

By RossM
November 5 2012

Latest new contributor to the "Keep It Coming" brigade is RossM, with his memories of a legendary Kiwi who had a brief but memorable stay in the Black and Gold.  Remember, contributions welcome from anyone who sits on the Message Board and argues all day long (you know who you are!)

Unlike many supporters, I really enjoyed going to Loftus Road – not surprisingly as I lived (still do) in Hammersmith. I wasn’t a regular at Sudbury but I visited both as a player around 1970, London Scottish junior XVs (we usually lost) and as an infrequent spectator (I did go to other grounds as well). Always had a good time after whichever game it was – either as a player or a spectator. However, with the advent of professionalism and Wasps’ move to Shepherds Bush, I became a season ticket holder. My seat was in the Ellerslie Road stand about half way up, close to half way line. Despite the visual intrusion by the occasional pillar, I thought the view was excellent – really close to the action. Also sufficiently close to an exit which was also adjacent to a bar for a quick pint.

In the recent poll of the best Wasps’ XV ever, I voted for Ian Jones as one of the second rows (the inevitable Shawsie was my other choice). I still believe ‘corp’ was one of our most inspired signings – ever. Wasps were in deep trouble and I think Jones’ arrival and sorting out our line out was the very beginning of our march to success. He was quite simply the best line out jumper (I rate Marco as a close second) I have ever seen. He was graceful – not an adjective normally associated with lock forwards. He was terrific in the loose as well. He was as lithe and powerful as a big cat on the hunt; I still remember clearly a running, one handed pickup he made from the ground of an awkward rolling, bouncing ball following one of our kickoffs.

However, the outstanding memory I have of him was after his final game when, long after the crowd had left Loftus Road, I went for a pee in the loo above the bar at the East end of the ground. It was just starting to get dark and I saw him come out of the tunnel and walk onto the pitch, still dressed in his muddy game kit. He had a rugby ball under his right arm and he was hand in hand with a small boy, also in Wasps kit. They got out to the centre and started passing the ball back and forth, with the occasional kick. I watched for a few minutes then nature took over. When I came out of the loo, they were gone and the pitch and stadium was deserted. That, for me, was a moment of real magic.

RossM