National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (No.2) Order 2010 (Relating to Cultural Protection and Rugby Development).

In 2005, in Paris, I wore The Lucky Sling.

This year we have scraped two wins due not to T.G.R. #2*, but to the intervention of The Lucky Vest (see picture)

I love my little daughter SO MUCH it makes my heart hurt.

As with all parents, before she was born, The Wife and I played the ‘I hope she has your…’ game.

Parents out there will understand but, for those of you with regular sleep patterns, I shall elaborate – “Oh, I hope she has your legs and not my back. But what about my dodgy knees? Ah, OK, your legs, my knees but still not my back. “ etc. etc.

Well, it came to pass that it was only my buttocks, earlobes, spine and left ankle that were desirable as genetically passed-on body parts. To be fair, the rest of me is either disintegrating fast or has already done so. So no real arguments there.

But, looking at the picture of My Little Chicken, I wonder where she will play The Great Game?

If she takes after her mother, I fear she will spend her time with her shoulder up against a prop’s arras, closing down the short side and being all Richard Hill (unassuming and efficient). With legs that will make a difference… 6 on her back.

If, bless her, she takes after her illustrious father, she will spend much of her time arguing with refs, reflecting on yellow cards, doing occasionally (self-confessedly) brilliant things at high speed wearing 11, and campaigning for all school-aged children to be taught to grubber kick with both feet following a National Assembly for Wales (Legislative Competence) (No.2) Order 2010 (Relating to Cultural Protection and Rugby Development).

Please, join me all in hoping that she gets her Mother’s temperament but her Father’s fast-twitch muscles.

Amen.

*The Great Redeemer No. 2