As an eighties kid, weekend lunch times had a sort of method to them, generally influenced by my dad.
During the F1 season, they’d be spent sitting in the front room, usually on the floor, in front of the telly, watching the qualifying session or the race, with doorstep butties provided by my mum.
When the season ended, it was British wrestling, with Big Daddy and Pat Roach throwing each other around on screen – again accompanied by butties, and the occasional mug of soup.
But in February, everything changed, because the Five Nations, which would eventually become the Six Nations would appear on the TV. Lots of shouting, swearing, my dad explaining rules to me, memories of Victor Ubogu (whose shorts ripped on many occasions I recall), Jason Leonard, Jonny Wilkinson, and even Sebastien Chabal, Thomas Castaignede, Gavin Hastings and Keith Wood. I could sit here and list players I’ve admired since all day.
This was the birth of my love of Rugby Union, and the reason why, umpteen years later, I’m now a volunteer for the Rugby World Cup 2015. I’m a member of The Pack.
It’s been a long process to get in. 20000 applications were received. 10000 people went to interviews. Just 6000 of us made it through, and 4000 of us headed to the MK Don Stadium to get together, meet some of those we’d be working with and it turns out, see a few familiar faces.
Like this one, who just happened to wander past my seat.
It took all my concentration not to run over and give Lawrence Dallaglio a cuddle and say thank you. I mean he was so close.
So close. I nearly squealed.
But I didn’t, I maintained my composure. Just.
During the day we danced, we sang, we did vocal exercises with Laura Wright, Will Greenwood popped by to give us a pep talk and John Inverdale interviewed Serge Betsen, Shaun Williams, Jason Leonard and Bill Beaumont, as well as the downright awesome Maggie Alphonsi.
I can’t tell you how brilliant it was. I’m still grinning and it’s nearly a week later and suspect every time I think about it, I’m going to get butterflies in my tummy.
Over the next few months, I’m going to bore you with all the details – my training in Twickenham in July, then the second get together later in the year.
For those curious, the match I’ll be working at England versus Uruguay on 10 October at the City of Manchester Stadium. I can’t wait.
Oh. Did I mention, I’m going to be on the pitch?