So England won the Rugby World Cup, and in 20 years time when someone asks you 'Where were you then', what will you say?

One of the great things about watching the Rugby World Cup in Bangkok has the time factor which has allowed us to watch matches in the afternoon or early evening. The other great thing has been free beer!

For the previous match against France I went to the Sheraton Hotel where they were offering free beer in the first half and 'buy one get one free' in the second, as well as free food. Amazingly it wasn't too packed as with gathered around the screen, but the atmosphere was great, with a mixture of English and French fans. One French fan kept shouting "Zis is rrrugby not ze football" every time Jonny kicked another three points - he was strangely silent by 'ze end'!!

So last Saturday Lisa let me off the leash again and into Bangkok I ventured. At the Sheraton they had set up two large video projectors and numerous television sets, and by 3.30 pm the bar was filling up with both English and Aussies. A number of teachers from Shrewsbury had turned up for the final, still not quite believing that the beer was going to be free. I did my best to assure them, and as the whistle sounded the start of the match out came the waiters and waitresses with trays of lager.

I don't need to go into the details of the match, as anyone who saw it will know full well how tense it was, the atmosphere was absolutely electric, with both sets of fans taking it in turns to cheer and celebrate, and sing 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot' and 'Waltzing Matilda'.

Following the match we decamped to another bar and partied into the night. As I got home it seemed obvious that I would wake up with a hangover, and sure enough I wasn't disappointed.

Posted on 26 November 2003.

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