Rugby World Cup

The 2003 Rugby World Cup

NOTE
This page covers four days during November/December 2003 and January 2004
The events covered are the Semi and Grand Final of The World Cup
plus two other fixture games
The reason they are all together is that "THE CUP" is mentioned and/or photographed
on each of these days

(there are lots of photos below and simply click on the thumbnail image
......and there is a shot of "Australia's #1 Supporter" on this page!!!)

Semi-Final - Saturday 15th November 2003

Australia v New Zealand

"Saturday morning I got up at about 7.30am cause I had to be ready to go to the pub at 8.30am!
Anyway...went down with Lesley, a girl from the hostel who is a Kiwi girl...she is on her own too
She is really nice and was very gracious in defeat
We were going to go to the Walkabout Pub
but when we got there just before kick-off there was a lineup to get in
so we went to the pub next door which is called O'Neills and watched it there
Heaps of room and heaps of Ausralians and Kiwis and lot of ribbing going on!
I was still thinking that NZ would come back right ot the end but they couldn't
The place erupted when the hooter went with cheers of "Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi" etc
and then someone broke out with Waltzing Matilda!
It was good fun"

Supporters with their eyes glued to the big screen!!!

Grand-Final - Saturday 22nd November 2003

Australia v England

"Saturday morning up bright and early to go to watch the Rugby Union final
Went to Walkabout Leicester Square to meet friends from work
and some guy picked me up on the tube cause he was in his Wallabies jersey the same as me
He was on his own - He asked if he could come with me and I said yes
- He turned out to be very annoying!
Anyway, got to Leicester Square and couldn't find the people from work
so I rang them and it turned out they changed their mind and went to the Walkabout
in Shepherds Bush but didn't have my number to call me
It didn't matter because the place was packed - but this guy would stop talking
I kept saying to him - "sorry no talking, game on trying to concentrate" etc etc
I really had no desire to listen to his opinion
I was standing near an Aussie guy, his American girlfriend and their two Pommy mates
They were very cool and there was a bit of banter back and forward
and the Aussie guy knew what he was talking about - not like the dude from the train
After the game 'train dude' asked what I was doing
and I said meeting girlfriends for coffee so he wouldn't want to come and he left!
Anyway...there was about half Aussies and half Pommies at the pub and it was really good fun
Everytime Elton Flatley took a kick the Pommy crowd would chant "Boring"!!!
The National Anthems went off - every one was signing really loudly,
and when Elton Flatley made the kick to tie the game Waltzing Matilda was sung so loud
I rang Mum then!
It wasn't the greatest game ever cause of the mistakes but because the score was tight it was fun
The Poms seriously went off when they won
I watched the presentation and then left
I walked to Traflagar Square and I could hear singing
and when I got there all the Poms were all over Nelson's Column singing and chanting!"

The Australian and English fans packed into the Walkabout Pub (five photos)

Another shot of the supporters - with the game being televised on the 'big screen'

The English supporters celebrate!!! - at Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square (two photos)

"It's England's Cup" - click here for a full game report

A 'true-blue' Aussie fan!!! - in her Wallabies' jersey

Saturday 13th December 2003

The World Cup - "Webb Ellis Cup"

"Had to be at the football in Twickenham by 1.00pm and so I left at about 11.00am
Caught the tube to Waterloo and had to then catch an overland train to Tickenham
and then walk to the field
Had to walk past a field of little kids playing their Saturday morning sport
- little kids playing rugby union in muddy fields - they were very, very cute
Got to The Stoop (the name of the field) and watched the Harlequins play a Spanish team
I met Duncan there who is a friend of my boss from MacDonnells
Got a beer and lined up to have our photo taken with the World Cup!
Took about an hour
Duncan is on the supporters committee of the Quins
so I got introduced to a lot of people who made lots of comments about me being Australian
and that I wasn't to try and steal the cup
I wouldn't have had much chance anyway...the four security guards were huge!
Saw one of the England players - Will Greenwood - but only knew who he was
because Duncan pointed him out!
Anyway hung around after the game and met some of the players from both teams
Mum, wait till you see the photo of me and the Spanish No 15 - HOTTY!
- and he talked pretty good English but with a great Spanish accent!"

......and here is the Cup

The Cup - and a security guard!!!---

Showing the Cup to the crowd of spectators

"The Stoop"

The Spanish team take the field, followed by the Harlequins

Tanya with Ferres, the Spanish #15 player

Saturday 24th January 2004

"After re-dectorating on Saturday morning I went to another game at the Stoop
It was fun but I was a bit tired
I picked up my photo of me and Duncan with the World Cup and it turned out great
At half time they sang a send up of Waltzing Matilda that was really clever....
I am going to send the words home but try this to the tune...
"And they cried as they watched and waited 'til our plane took off
You'll never see Bill again said we!"
It was really funny
All the people I met from last time were there and they all remembered me
and we had a laugh as usual"

Entrance "Welcome to The Stoop"---

The teams take the field - Harlequins v Brive

Duncan Tanya - AND THE WORLD CUP!!!