Fat Boy 10s
The ARABIAN POTBELLIES have just got AGRFU approval to hold the FAT BOY 10’s Boxing Day Charity Rugby Tournament on …..Boxing Day (i.e. the day after Xmas Day, 26th December for the non-Brits who may read this) The whole idea is to have a bit of fun on then day after Xmas – which is a traditional sporting day in the UK.
While some players will be away, a game of 10’s is not the same as a 15’s game where clubs need to get a full 22 squad out. We are really looking for Vets and 2nd team players and those not getting regular runs in the 2nds level teams. But it is not specifically a “Vets” tournament.
As it’s the first tournament of its kind, we are not initially intending to strongly police players playing for more than one team to help out. We would just appreciate a gentlemen’s agreement not to “stack” teams for the finals. So teams with only 10 or less than that can still get a run out and have fun. We also plan to have a couple of “Barbarian” teams so that clubs or groups of guys with less than a squad can still join and we can make up the team from more than one source.
The tournament will be held at Sharjah Sports Club – the home of Sharjah Wanderers RFC. Boxing Day is a Friday so traffic is light and it’s a breeze getting to the Club on a Friday afternoon. Kick off – tentatively at 2:00pm. The basic principles are as follows:
There has always been a strong tradition of Boxing Day Rugby – i.e. a fun game/games on the day after Xmas Day. Everyone likes to get out of the house and run off the previous day’s Xmas Pud etc etc The Arabian Potbellies and their sister/brother chapter in Hong Kong were founded on a principle of trying to combine rugby, fun, the partaking of a few beverages and charitable aims.
The Xmas season has no firm fixtures for a few weeks, but the weather is perfect for rugby. The idea would be to have an open, one day, fun 10’s tournament – primarily aimed at the second/third/Vets level of teams – but no specific restrictions. There would be a fun handicap system for the teams – based on the 5 yr experience of the annual Fat Boy 10’s in the Philippines. The handicap will be based on a two-way sliding scale of cumulative weight and age of the team. The older or heavier you are as a team the better it is (i.e. less penalty).
Teams with youth and agility are penalized by having “negative” points start to games. Or the team can “buy” their way out by more charitable donations. The handicapping is usually done at a “weigh in” prior to the start of the games (or based on the data supplied by the teams and AGRFU) and adds to the fun atmosphere. There will be an emphasis on a “FAMILY EVENT” with other fun competitions for kids and women. A small entry fee would be charged – and all proceeds will go to a UAE charity - and additional donations to charity are welcomed.
The tournament is expected to start about 2 pm and then playing on into the early evening followed the prize giving and by a party with food/drinks, raffles and an auction.