Mini Rugby: Welcome to the year of the Rat
Mini Rugby: Welcome to the year of the Rat
10 Jan 2020
For those who enjoy the festivities but not necessarily understand the lunar horoscope (e.g. me), the Rat is the first of all zodiac animals. Fable tells us that the Jade Emperor said precedence would be decided by the order in which they arrived to his party. The Rat tricked the Ox into giving him a ride. Then, just as they arrived at the finish line, Rat jumped down and landed ahead of Ox, becoming first. That’s pretty cunning! Or as Blackadder said of Baldrick’s plan: “As cunning as a fox who’s just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University?” Rats are clever, quick thinkers; successful, but content with living a quiet and peaceful life. As 2008 was the last year of the Rat, we may have Rats among the U12s. “These Rats are good speakers. They’re the mood makers of a group, but can be slightly possessive”: does that ring any bells among the U12G / U12?
Festivals
During December we had Flying Kukris Festivals (1st and 8th Dec); contact hosted at King’s Park and non-contact at the Education University of Hong Kong, in Tai Po.
Our U10 and U12 girls also headed off to the Singlife Girls Rugby TRC Cup Tournament in Singapore on 7th and 8th Dec.
Behaviour at Festivals
There have been incidents of poor behaviour at recent Festivals, by adults, directed towards the referees I have to remind everyone that at these Festivals:
“These are kids, this is a game, the coaches are volunteers, the referees are human.”
As a Club we will adopt a zero tolerance attitude towards referee abuse, or abuse of any kind. This is necessary, not the least because this conduct is resulting in volunteer referees quitting being referees. Without referees, we cannot have Festivals. And such conduct sets the tone for our young athletes’ behaviour.
What does zero tolerance mean? Adults being banned from attending Festivals, or, in the worst case, expulsion from HKFC Mini-Rugby. So think very carefully before you “mouth off” at a referee, a coach, another parent, or anyone else at a Festival.
Denis Brock, Chairman, HKFC Mini-Rugby