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Search forRugby stars meet super troopers
Monday, September 01, 2008, 08:15
But they were absolutely necessary when two Welsh rugby legends spent a humbling 24 hours in Iraq.
Scott Gibbs and Ieuan Evans are used to battling it out on the sports field.
But they joined some true fighting heroes when they travelled out to Basra with a party from Help for Heroes, a charity helping soldiers injured in British conflict areas.
The former Wales and British Lions stars spent 24 hours in the Iraqi city to publicise a fund-raising charity game, and boost morale in the war-torn area by overseeing a sevens match.
The rugby legends braved the heat and the dust to tour the city with troops, clambering aboard tanks, firing weapons and meeting soldiers.
The experience, they said, was humbling.
At a trophy presentation ceremony after the sevens match, Ieuan said: "This has been a fantastic adventure and very humbling. I was so apprehensive about coming because Kate, my partner, was worried, but I am so glad I did."
Scott said: "Everybody we've seen makes sacrifices, missing their loved ones, for our national security. I've endured 24 hours here and it's been fantastic, but could I do another day? Probably not, because I want to go home, see my loved ones and carry on with my life."
Ieuan added: "It made me think how we talk about playing in hostile environments, but in rugby a hostile environment is 40,000 people screaming at us and a rampaging opposition. So what? Those war metaphors sound rather hollow when you compare it to this."
The pair will be taking part in an all-star rugby match on Saturday, September 20, at Twickenham in aid of the charity. Scott will captain an international side managed by Evans against a Help for Heroes English team led by Lawrence Dallaglio.
Speaking shortly after the Twickenham charity match was announced, Scott, who will be pulling on his boots for the first time since his retirement from top-class rugby in 2004, said he'd been getting itchy feet to be back in the game.
"I know it has been a while since I last played, but I have greatly missed the physicality of the game," said the 37-year-old, who played for Wales 53 times.
"So when Ieuan approached me to act as his captain for the International Select XV, my only question was 'can I play?'.
"It really has given me something positive to look forward to, especially as the game is being played for such a worthwhile cause.
"Seeing names like Lawrence Dallaglio, Martin Johnson and Mark Regan on the other side is going to take me back to the days when we were battling it out in the Five and Six Nations and then teaming up for the Lions."
Visit: www.helpforheroes.org.uk
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