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Touring is always a challenging but extremely enjoyable time with a football team.
Be it your first tour, or your last like mine, something always pops up that challenges the group.
In my case on Saturday it literally popped. And it was embarrassing.
I bent over to pick my game bag up and a disc slipped in my back. It caused a spasm as I collapsed on to the bed unable to move.
My roommate Brett Sheehan's first reaction was to film the episode on his phone.
There I was, slumped and stuck on the bed while my teammate's primary instinct was to capture the incident for everyone else to see.
In hindsight I don't blame him.
It's great for team morale to share humorous moments and unfortunately for me it made for good viewing.
I was impressed as I lay on my hotel bed and watched the boys front up to the Auckland Blues for the first 50 minutes.
We probably had the better of the game until the class of several All Blacks shone through in the last 30 minutes to blow the score out.
I reflected on the plane to New Zealand for my last tour with the Force on the amount of trips I've been on with rugby teams.
It is an experience I will miss.
There are few other industries where you get to perform together on match day, relax and unwind over a meal or a coffee during the down times and also experience the camaraderie between a tight-knit group all trying to accomplish a common goal.
The unification of a rugby team is something to behold, one that is hard to emulate in the corporate environment. Perhaps that is what I will miss the most about travelling in a sporting team.
Will it be watching as the prettier boys arrive at the airport with three suitcases as opposed to Richard Brown, who arrives with the shirt on his back and a pair of boots?
Or will it be that being part of a team is having acceptance of people as individuals?
Some guys like to be loud and dominate the shared team room, seemingly only leaving it when they have to go to sleep. Others stay on their own and enjoy their own space. It takes time to adapt to this and I enjoy watching it evolve over tours.
This tour has been no different. The excitement of the first timers was palpable as they got off the plane, wide eyes wondering if they have cleaned their boots well enough to get through NZ customs without a fine.
The old timers just yawn, until they arrive at the hotel, dump their bags and hit their favourite coffee shop without missing a beat.
One of the biggest legacies I will leave with the team is handing over the back seat of the bus to Sam Wykes, who is unfortunately injured and will miss the official ceremony.
I have written enough of the emotional journey this year has taken me on and the Crusaders was always going to be the toughest.
The last time I get to pull on the blue strip signals the end of a time in my life where the only thing more I could have asked for is a few more wins along the way.
It is fitting that we play the Crusaders, who have been the best team I have played against in my 15 years of the competition.
My back feels better already and I will be fit to take the field in my last game with the Emirates Western Force. Thank you everyone for all you have done for me. It has been a helluva ride
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...st-force-game/
“Everyone knows whether it’s rugby, politics or whatever, front-rowers should rule the world, so to have a hooker at the helm makes sense,” Nathan Charles Western Force & Wallabies Hooker.
Jeeze I'm gonna miss the big fella.
Thanks again Sharpie. For....................... well, for being you.
Exile
Sydney
"Pain heels. Chicks dig scars and Glory lasts forever." Shane Falco
I'm holding out hope that he'll still be aruond in some capacity. FIFO line out consultant?
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
LOVE this guy....and ditto GAFFA...just thanks a million Sharpie for just being you....where are those tissues..?????![]()
Sharpie = simply awesome. Great article.
coz Stone Cold says so
Onya Sharpie!
You will be truely missed
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You're a champion Sharpie - thanks mate.
great player, its a shame for all Australian Rugby
Wednesday in the rugby season with out Sharpies column is going to be hard to take.
Going to miss that dry wit!
May the FORCE be with you!
agree with all of the above
Is now a good time to follow through someone's previous idea of naming the Sharpe End at nib
Presumably the shed end,so it can be announced when we win the toss( do we even win that?) that we are" kicking to the sharpe end-" then it gets a mention each game
Thanks for everything Sharpie, you really are going to be missed buddy.
Thanks for the memories captain
Captain my Captain![]()
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
I do hope I can get him to sign my car...![]()
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...I'll do ALMOST anything....
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Bullshit Hertryk, you WOULD do anything![]()
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.