Born in 1973, Iain a Wolverton lad began playing rugby aged 12. His father was a keen rugby supporter but it wasn’t until he attended The Radcliffe Secondary School that Iain was introduced to the game. He was soon playing as a junior for Milton Keynes RUFC, and has continued playing the game with the Seniors for 17 years and continues playing to this day.
Iain decided to travel the world, but this did not stop him playing rugby turning out for teams where he stayed. He joined and played for Canowandra Pythons, New South Wales, Australia and Richmond RC, Vancouver, Canada. However it was time to return home and Iain tells of his homecoming:
“I had been travelling the world for three years and coincided my return with the opening
game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup (England vs Fiji) September 18th. I hadn't told anyone I was coming home which was deliberate as I love surprises. I missed the opening ceremony by 10mins in London and by the time I got to Wolverton I had to break into my Mum’s house as nobody was answering the door! Mum looked shocked as this was the first time she had seen her intrepid explorer son in 3 years and had firstly mistaken him for a burglar! It was 1am Saturday morning I had been travelling for 21 hours but all I could think about was pulling on my favourite MKRUFC No7 Jersey and running out at The Valley (MKRUFC home ground).
Word spread that "Talbot" was back in town and I arrived to a torrent of abuse and Rugby banter which I loved and had missed for so long. The teams were read out but the opposition Bugbrooke RFC had arrived with only 10 players. Forced with the uncomfortable decision to call off the game, MKRUFC decided to loan players in order for everyone to get a game. I had now been awake and heavily Jet lagged for 30+ hours and was moving into a Zombie like state. I'd been in the country for less than 12 hours and was going to play my first game on UK soil for 3 years for none other than my beloved MKRUFC right?
Wrong, I volunteered my services for the under-manned Bugbrooke side, it would have been
wrong of me to take someone's spot as I hadn't earned it and although if you cut me in half
I bleed black and white, Rugby is bigger than one game and every Rugby player stands arm
in arm, shoulder to shoulder with each other.. I played a half for Bugbrooke and a half for MKRUFC. Scoring my debut try for Bugbrooke I was rewarded with a 4 pint challenge (an MKRUFC tradition) and after some projectile vomiting I laughed and drank the hours away in my favourite place in the entire world The Valley home to the Zulu Warrior at Milton Keynes Rugby Club.
I'm nobody special but I am a very good example of how the sport which I love so much is without borders, prejudice or judgment, I have travelled the world playing and supporting rugby and been welcomed with open arms in every club I've visited or played for...... Rugby is the world’s biggest family!”
Iain decided to travel the world, but this did not stop him playing rugby turning out for teams where he stayed. He joined and played for Canowandra Pythons, New South Wales, Australia and Richmond RC, Vancouver, Canada. However it was time to return home and Iain tells of his homecoming:
“I had been travelling the world for three years and coincided my return with the opening
game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup (England vs Fiji) September 18th. I hadn't told anyone I was coming home which was deliberate as I love surprises. I missed the opening ceremony by 10mins in London and by the time I got to Wolverton I had to break into my Mum’s house as nobody was answering the door! Mum looked shocked as this was the first time she had seen her intrepid explorer son in 3 years and had firstly mistaken him for a burglar! It was 1am Saturday morning I had been travelling for 21 hours but all I could think about was pulling on my favourite MKRUFC No7 Jersey and running out at The Valley (MKRUFC home ground).
Word spread that "Talbot" was back in town and I arrived to a torrent of abuse and Rugby banter which I loved and had missed for so long. The teams were read out but the opposition Bugbrooke RFC had arrived with only 10 players. Forced with the uncomfortable decision to call off the game, MKRUFC decided to loan players in order for everyone to get a game. I had now been awake and heavily Jet lagged for 30+ hours and was moving into a Zombie like state. I'd been in the country for less than 12 hours and was going to play my first game on UK soil for 3 years for none other than my beloved MKRUFC right?
Wrong, I volunteered my services for the under-manned Bugbrooke side, it would have been
wrong of me to take someone's spot as I hadn't earned it and although if you cut me in half
I bleed black and white, Rugby is bigger than one game and every Rugby player stands arm
in arm, shoulder to shoulder with each other.. I played a half for Bugbrooke and a half for MKRUFC. Scoring my debut try for Bugbrooke I was rewarded with a 4 pint challenge (an MKRUFC tradition) and after some projectile vomiting I laughed and drank the hours away in my favourite place in the entire world The Valley home to the Zulu Warrior at Milton Keynes Rugby Club.
I'm nobody special but I am a very good example of how the sport which I love so much is without borders, prejudice or judgment, I have travelled the world playing and supporting rugby and been welcomed with open arms in every club I've visited or played for...... Rugby is the world’s biggest family!”
