The Girlfriend’s Guide to the Off Season
It’s been a while since I’ve put on my ‘girlfriend’ hat...but having popped into the BAY the other night to watch a made-up Bay side play a touring team from Ireland (who were not even wearing green nogal), I noticed the few ‘hardcore’ girlfriends hanging around – and it wasn’t even official match day...
This is a tribute to you. You girls who have stuck with your men through thick and thin this season – and what a season it’s been. You’ve put up with long Saturday nights, endless renditions of ‘Sweet Caronline’, Spur hamburgers for supper and muddy shoes. I salute you ladies!
This week, the ladies of the Bay (or wags, as we are unofficially known – although fiancés don’t really seem to fit into this group) were honoured at the Thursday night jersey handover, an occasion usually graced by the presence of some incredible sportsman, ex-springbok or wise mental strategist. One by one, the girls came up with their men and presented them with their jersey for today’s game against NNK, a hug and a kiss. Some of the guys were represented by moms (ah, sweet) and friends (hmm...) but overall, it was the ladies getting the recognition.
Girls, it’s been your support of these guys that have contributed to the success of this season. They know that each Saturday at the Bay, they can expect to see you on the sidelines cheering them on, looking good and enjoying yourself – and that is worth more than any try.
Now a new season begins, and I don’t mean a new rugby season. It’s the ‘off-season’, a time when you have your boyfriend to yourself on Saturdays and when you finally get some payback from all the hours you’ve spent on the edge of muddy fields cheering until your voice was hoarse.
A brief guide on how to manage these next couple of months (and believe me, it’s just a couple, since the ‘pre-season’ begins shortly!):
1.) Make the most of your weekend times with your man, don’t waste the time lying on the couch, but rather plan cool things to do, enjoy weekends away and do something different for a change! Who knew that road tripping up the R62 without a rugby ball in sight could be so fun?
2.) Encourage weekly domestic activity. His normal excuse for not washing up/cleaning/cooking on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights is ‘But babe, I had rugby, it went on a bit late!’ or ‘Wow, that practice was hectic, I’m knackered. What’s for dinner?’ None of that now. Place the new Jamie Oliver next to his toothbrush as inspiration.
3.) Find a new sporting hobby you can do together. You’re never going to be in the ruck with him – like, ever – so rather propose mountain biking, kayaking, scuba diving or what the hell, sky-diving! He’ll have the time, so just dangle the ‘you’ll be SO fit for pre-season’ tempter.
And hopefully, when pre-season rolls around, you would have spent so much time together, you’ll quite willing to relinquish him to the sights, sounds and smells of False Bay’s fields.
Enjoy the off-season ladies, you’ve earned it!
