Summer Sporting Specials and now the Olympics

I am inevitably influenced by the oval ball even when the summer sun is at its strongest. So it gives every English rugby supporter a huge lift to see the U20's carry off the World Championship trophy after an eight year absence when there was a sustained period of dominance in 2013/14 and 2016. The skipper called them a ' brotherhood' and I love that. Rugby players rarely get the chance to tour these days and the bond you create is no better evidenced than in the game of rugby. Apart from this great team triumph, how do we now ensure they are not a lost generation. A perennial English problem which club rugby simply has to fix. The new agreement between RFU and Premiership Rugby will now be put to the test as will the efforts to secure a meaningful and viable second tier. If you are good enough you are old enough - Tim Horan played in the winning Wallabies World Cup team in 1991 as a 19 year old. Apparently we have no props in the immediate pipeline but we destroyed the French props at will in the final in Cape Town ( at least that is what it looked like). Bring our boys in - Jason Leonard played for England in Grand Slams at the age of 21. Need we say more? No time to waste with the 2027 World Cup only 35 tests away.

Meantime, whether it be Schauffele or Scheffler, they are striding across the top of? the game of golf like twin colossi. So humble in their greatness and a mark of true sporting prowess. The Troon weather reduced many to mere mortal status, resembling us mid-handicappers at times, but it also extracted genuine brilliance. Take a bow, Justin Rose who had to qualify to participate and finished second.?

Another humble great and one of our first wine relationships, Jimmy Anderson, brought the curtain down on his glorious career but not before he bewitched some of the West Indian batsmen with some more unplayable deliveries. His typical modesty and reference to family and other support through his career- when he could spend 50% of his year in a hotel room- sets him apart as one of the best in the world at his chosen sport while never losing sight of his priorities. Having said that, make no mistake this has been 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration. The work ethic is second to none.

Lastly, as the 'Wide Open' Olympics gets going in a soon to be sweltering Paris, we remind ourselves of some great sporting themes. Citius (Swifter), Altius(Higher), Fortius ( Stronger) are the traditional Olympic mottos, enhanced now by 'excellence, respect and friendship' and rounded off with the Paralympic 'spirit in motion'. As Ellie Simmonds famously said, 'Never?let your disability define you, let it inspire you to achieve greatness.'

The original and historic ethos behind the Olympic games holds true today -' The important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight; the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well.' Let us add in the joy?of effort, fair play, practicing respect, pursuit of excellence, balance between body, will and mind.

Lest we forget the best rugby player in the world, Antoine Dupont, goes for Gold in the Olympic sevens and this has attracted a capacity French audience. He really does have it all......

To all the participants, may this be the experience of a lifetime, win or lose.