Hilary's Adventures Down Under: International Sevens Adelaide Rugby Tournament

G'day,

[April 4, 2009]

On Saturday I slept in! This was exciting because I rarely get to sleep in - 5:45am or 6am comes early. Anyway, I got up and got around for the day. What day was today - RUGBY DAY!!!!!! The Interntional Sevens rugby tournament was being held in Adelaide so I thought I'd go. I mentioned it to Ellie and she was in. As was Morgan. We caught the 172 bus into the city and then hoofed it to Adelaide Oval which is where the three-day event was taking place.

I paid $19 to see 16 countries play rugby - which is a pretty good deal for one day. When we arrived South Africa was playing someone and they kicked butt. I decided I was hungry so I was going to get something to eat. I waited in line for 20 minutes before I finally got some hot chips (fries for you Americans) and a chiko roll. I was getting a little impatient because the boy was only bringing two holders with chips in them at a time, and hello - there were 50 people in line and everyone wanted hot chips. I could also see them cooking the chips so I know there were more than 2 holders of chips coming out at one time. But whatever I ended up getting them and they were heaps better than the ones at AAMI Stadium last night. The chiko roll was really good too.

I found our seats. We sat pretty close to the field and the action was in front of us for most of the day, which was good. I have to say the atmosphere of the place was outstanding. One section of the crowd was purely Kenyans rooting for Kenya. I was rooting for Kenya too. They stomped whoever they were playing in the first match I saw them play. Tonga played Wales; England versus Samoa; New Zealand kicked the US's butt; Argentina versus Fiji; France beat Scotland; Australia beat Portugal and the last match of the day was South Africa and Kenya.

The United States did not play very well I thought. Of course, New Zealand won the World Cup recently and are hellaciously good. I know that the US did score 5 points near the end of the match, but NZ had at least 20 some. I kept thinking, "If you lived in the United States - why in the world would you want to play rugby when you have football?" I mean come on. Rugby is just not well-known in the United States I guess. I was told that the US finished fourth overall in the tourney so they must be half-way decent. When the tournament comes to the US they play in San Diego so maybe rugby is big there? I'll have to check it out. Ellie and I are going when it comes to the US next year. Hopefully it coincides with Winter Break [everyone else calls this Spring Break - I don't know why Wartburg has to be so difficult and call it something else.]

After the US/NZ match ended Morgan left to go to Paradise Church where someone from Hillsong was supposed to be performing. Hillsong is the equivalent to David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin, etc. in America. Ellie and I had planned on going, but when we saw that South Africa was playing Kenya we knew we were staying for that game. Rugby, cricket and footy are like religion here okay? So we were staying with all the other religious people to watch some more rugby. Besides Ellie is a South Africa fan and I'm a Kenya fan and how often do we get to see our favorite teams play each other - let alone in Australia? Exactly.

Now the Kenya and South Africa match was worth more than what I paid to see everyone play. The match was very close and Kenya ended up coming out on top with the victory. The oval ERUPTED into cheers, chants, dancing and screaming. It was amazing. Did you know that the Kenyan national anthem has "hakuna matata" in it - you know the saying from The Lion King? I didn't know that. The Kenya team after their victory came over and stood in front of the stands and were thanking the fans. It was great and quite the sight to see. And it was a great ending to a wonderful day of rugby.

El and I caught the bus back to the house and then we finished off the day by watching "Just Like Heaven" which stars Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo and eating spinach and cheese pasta. Good movie, great meal and rugby = one heck of an amazing day!

Enjoy some of the photos from the rugby tournament. I have some videos I will upload later.