The best Saturday ... ever?

Wednesday March 24 2004
There has been much discussion of the Six Nations schedule, which culminates in the Saturday night game between France and England. Jules Parfitt, not one for positive thoughts, says he cannot wait.

I'm lovin' it.

And so should ever other rugby fan in the UK and Ireland!

And I am not talking about captain Dallaglio's performance in the latest television marketing effort to get the Wayne, Jane and Shane even fatter than they are now.

No, I'm talking about Saturday, March 27, 2004, the upcoming Super Six Nations Saturday with three Tests in eight hours.

Add in the Sharks v Gloucester on Friday evening and Chiefs v Waratahs on Saturday morning and what a 24 hours of rugby on TV you have if you are in the UK.

Much was made of the 2004 Six Nations schedule when it was announced last year.

"More Sunday games, pah," said Sunday newspaper hacks robbed of the copy opportunities and fans rich enough to trapse all around Europe.

"Saturday night kick-offs, bah, what next?" said the old duffers and rugger bugger tourists.

"France v England finale, all too presumptious and offensive to the Celtic nations," said some. People who clearly failed to appreciate Les Bleus and the Poms have won eight of the nine titles since the game went professional.

It was a fairly safe bet 2004 would see France and England battling it out for the title (and yes, I know Ireland have a chance) so it was clearly a sensible decision to opt for a Grand finale.

Rugby is slowly working out that now the sport has sold its soul to the fiscal devil, worrying about a tiny percentage of people who like to enjoy their 3pm Saturday kick-offs over the many millions of people, like me, wedged into their armchair at home or perched on a pub stool, was never going to be a sensible option.

Frankly, if the whole of the USA's adult population suddenly saw the light and found Six Nations rugby the most compelling thing ever, well more compelling than fat people in helmets, don't be surprised to see games kick off at 8pm, 9pm or even 10pm.

Rugby dances to the television tune so to pretend that rugby is still rooted in the days of meeting your Welsh mate Dai and his mates for the 10th year in sucession at the Cabbage Patch on Saturday morning for a few hours beering it up, is illogical as it is naive.

If you are lucky enough to be able to go to a game, enjoy the experience for what it is as well as take in the games on TV.

If you aren't heading off to a game, sit back, make the excuses to the wife and family and enjoy the rugby feast in front of you.

Oh, and you wake up the next morning and summer has officially arrived.

Has there ever been a better Saturday?