The Survivors hit the road for a 3rd straight year into Hong Kong. Yes, last weekend we went to Hong Kong and played the Pot Bellied Pigs. As organization of the tour progressed with several emails, it became apparent that the participants had a tendency to repeat themselves, several times, often over and over again. It appeared a theme might be emerging, sort of like déjà vu all over again.
An important decision was reached at the last team meeting prior to departure at the 3 Alley Pub. With one of the largest touring contingents ever, certainly twice as large as the Phuket tour party of 5, a decision was made that the Tour would be an Official Sanctioned Club Tour and a significant contribution would be forthcoming from the Sock. This decision also meant that The Captain was once again absent from an official tour, the ramifications of which would be felt upon the tours conclusion, at the end of the trip.
The tour started in the usual way, with a little confusion at the airport, but all made it onto the plane and the plane actually got everyone into Hong Kong at the same time.
There were a few firsts on this tour, meaning that it had never been done before. This was the first time that we brought along a maternal supervisor with the Survivors. Pianoman took his Mum On Tour and as if that was not enough, had the Wife On Tour as well. However this potential impediment didn't stop the boys. The second first, yes there were two, was that two sons from the same father came to play rugby with Puma.
With the help of Subic Survivor, Hong Kong hosted us tremendously. There has been many write-ups about Subic, but trust me, they never say enough about what he does for the Survivors. Not to mention they had an actual rugby pitch to play on, or was it a small drained pond?. Nonetheless, it was better then any ROK pitch that we have. Did I mention the great job that Subic did for us in Hong Kong, the place that we traveled to?
After the Survivors landed on Friday night they headed straight down to the bars. Since the game wasn't until 6pm on Saturday evening they decided to go ahead and piss it up, not that the early games have stopped them in the past. I would have to say that some pissed it up more than others. There seemed to be a Serge-ant of the Arms running loose through most of the bars, or was it down the stairs. He was rallying the boys with all his might but was told several times (and failing to listen it caused for much repetition) to pull it in and save it for the game on Saturday. He fully understood the next morning.
On Saturday the boys were a little slow getting to the rally point for a follow up discussion of the said night before. With little sleep and low blood content in the alcohol they were getting ready to head to the pitch to take on the Pigs. One note here, there was a certain Argentinean who shall remain nameless who was repetitiously late for all meeting times, sometimes dragging two pups down with him.
At the pitch the Survivors fielded the largest traveling road show in many a tour. At the start of the game, there were actually 11 alive Survivors in the starting line-up at the start of the game. To make up the numbers we got a little help from some Kowloon RFC extras and one first timer.
The Survivors walked on the pitch and looked as fit as ever (well in a Survivor sort of way). They donned their Barbarian shirts and threw on their boots; they were ready for battle. The Serge-ant of the Arms must have prepared them well the night before, as they seemed extremely alert to their surroundings. This team played like an Impenetrable Rok, like A Wall - something with a hulking presence - like a Gossamer of Steel. With The Sock and Subic Survivor holding the center, and Smokin' Bong holding on at fullback it was a tough line. But even so, the opposition didn't dare steer it back inside towards Cuddles and Pianoman. The Frog was leaping about the pitch, Serge-ant and his forwards were either sprinting or cuddling and sometimes both. The Cubs tamed any outside runs on the wings. They couldn't go through us, they couldn't go over us, they couldn't go around us, well ok there was that one time, but that doesn't count for much.
The first 15 minutes of the game was a run up and down the field with no scores, and then suddenly out of the open-side flanker came Cuddles charging through the middle and out sprinting the Pigs to the try line. The Survivors never looked back. The final score this year favored the Survivors 39-5. Did I mention that they couldn't go through us, they couldn't go over us, they couldn't go around us?
Off to PJ Murphy's we went to watch the Tri-Nations and hand out the prestigious awards. We gave out the Barbarian shirt to the organizer and players of the match. Of course we also treated them to some fine wine as well.
A few mentions; Cuddles undoubtedly the Player of the Match. Well-done Cuddles, and another Survivor weekend under your belt (not much sleeping done). One of the Hong Kong boys did try to find Cuddles a doctor for his sleeping problem, but was only able to come up with a nurse; but she really wasn't any help and it turned out to be amnesia and not a sleeping problem. Don Won played strong but was arguably the most repetitious of the tourists. The Sock saw his first live action in 10 years in the first quarter then refereed the second half.
Choosing the Tour Fool was a long, and hard fought democratic process - it lasted around 1-1½ hours, or maybe it was only 10 minutes, either way there was a vote taken and a decision reached. Was it to be Cathay Pacific counter Dickhead that forgot the definition of the word "together" or the entire airline for some last minute stuff ups on the return home or someone completely unexpected? The Tour Fool was chosen, and this will close out the Tour Fool medallion, which will be retired and hung in 3 Alley Pub. In a Survivor first, we decided that the entire team had been overly and equally foolish and that no individual really stood out as clear winners. So, it was decided that we would all accept the award collectively as "Survivors". However, we couldn't possibly engrave such a generic and empty title on the sacred medallion and therefore, our illustrious Captain, Ted "Fonzie" Gray was chosen as the most worthy representative of our team and our consequent collective foolishness. As it was an officially sanctioned tour that was convincingly victorious, there was no other Survivor who better represented the teams efforts and his name will be emblazoned on this hallowed award upon which it will be retired and riveted to the wall in 3 Alley Pub for all to admire. What goes on tour stays on tour and sometimes what doesn't go on tour should.
Not to repeat ourselves too much here, but it was a great weekend on and off the pitch. The boys played a great game of rugby and lived through the nightlife of Hong Kong while upholding the great name of the Seoul Survivors. Some might even say that the boys played a great game of rugby and lived through the nightlife of Hong Kong while upholding the great name of the Seoul Survivors.
