Edinburgh

European Parliament rugby team - image courtesy of our partner Penta

On Friday November 1 2024, just before dawn, while the whole of Brussels was still sleep with the capital covered by a typically Belgian damp chill. Well not ‘All of Brussels’ – in fact, a band of die-hard rugby men and women scurred through the dimly lit platforms of the Gare du Midi. Week-end luggage in-hand and smiles on their faces, they make their way eagerly to the Eurostar platform, ready for a summit meeting in Edinburgh the historical capital of Scotland. A city steeped in history, culture and natural beauty not to mention its misty pubs and our adversaries the Scottish Parliamentary XV Rugby Team.

After a lengthy journey worthy of the Hogwarts Express through verdant England, the European Parliament XV arrived in Edinburgh in typically damp Scottish weather – the traditional welcome for visiting teams.

The team had the pleasure of a guided tour of the historic renovated Scottish Parliament. As we were told, an institution both old and young: the States of Scotland existed as early as the 13th century, before joining the union with England through the Act of Union of 1707. The Scottish Parliament was re-established under devolution in 1998. This youthfulness was reflected in the architecture of the custom-built building, which boasts modernity, transparency and continuity with its urban and natural surroundings.

A convivial dinner at the foot of the castle provided an opportunity for the team to get together in the evening. We were joined by Christian Allard, a former Member of the European Parliament and former Member of the Scottish Parliament. Christian is ardent supporter of the European Union and Scotland's close links with the EU.

Finally, the next morning the moment we’d all been waiting for: match day! It was agreed to play the match in a hybrid format with four quarters – full-on, touch, veteran and finishing with a second full-on. In a setting worthy of a classic 18th-century masterpiece, with its poplar trees and unobstructed view of the old city of Edinburgh, under a clear sky and on a soft pitch, the match was hotly contested and ‘no quarter given’. Led by captains Jaroslav Bž́och (MEP) and Roccu Garoby, the EPXV Team very much held its own against the combative and well organised Scots. While extremely combative, it was ‘virile but fair’ and played in the best sporting spirit.

On the veteran rugby side, after laying siege for long periods, the EPXV was unable to break through the defiant Scottish defence – their tracking was fierce and a match for our advance on their try line. In the last minute of the quarter, the Scots stole the ball and got a breakaway try. During the touch rugby, the two teams also proved to be better defenders than attackers and a similar pattern of attack/defence prevailed. Each team only managed to visit the opposition in-goal once.

Final score: 2 tries to 1 for the Scottish hosts. It was a result that did not detract from the satisfaction of having played each other in such a spirited manner. The post-match reception in the adjacent clubhouse was an opportunity to get to know our opponents, and to propose a return match in Brussels, using the rules of parliamentary rugby. In the customary manner, team jerseys were exchanged and awards are given to the MotM for each team: the Scots choose Augustin Ternynck as man of the match for the EPXV, a well-deserved honour. The buffet lunch did justice to the reputation of Scottish gastronomy and the accompanying beers helped to make the atmosphere that bit more special.

The full-on day continued with a team visit to the fabulous Murrayfield stadium to watch the Scottish national team ‘notch up’ an impressive win over the visiting Fijians. Following the end of the match – the evening went into extra time and the pitch was enlarged to encompass the bars and restaurants of the capital.

Then came the dreaded moment: the return journey, the trains, the good-natured atmosphere, the feeling of coming back from a week at holiday camp, the busy Sunday night at Gare du Midi, the team members scattering to all corners of Brussels with the midnight night sky welcoming back that damp chill. Was the trip worth it ……….it most certainly was!