Henley Sevens and 'Turmoil at LI'

By BrianC
February 19 2003

'Turmoil at LI' was the title to a thread on the Quins board last August. In the week before our gathering at Henley there was, shall we say, some upset on this site. Here I give a personal account of why Henley turned out to be so special for me.

Henley Sevens - August 10th 2002

For a variety of reasons this was a very special day for me. The report of the days proceedings is here. This doesn't, however, touch on any of the undercurrents that were running in the lead up to that day.

Those of you who were around at the time may well remember that, in the week prior to Henley, Cath took the Sunbury Centre away from Sportnetwork and left this site with me. To some I was the villain of the piece. Most I believe were, and I honestly include myself here, somewhat bewildered by the events.

If any of you have ever been at the centre of such a storm you will know it is not a comfortable place to be. Rightly or wrongly I felt that everything I did and said on this site was being monitored and judged. Not just by those in the London Irish family but by those from other clubs as well. I was above all paranoid that some public slanging match would develop. Good sense prevailed, none did.

After what seemed like an incredibly long week the day itself came. The awesome machine that is London Irish supporters getting things done kicked into place. You don't have to ask me, anyone who was there will confirm that it was a truly great day. Not least in that it was our first social gathering after a long rugby-less summer. A mistake we should not repeat this year.

Henley, only eight months ago, was the first time I met a good number of those who had been and are regulars on this site. MWM, TPL, Eek, JoeV, Richard@langley and Dublinannette are the names which readily spring to mind.

For me, above all, I knew I was with friends, both old and new. After Henley I knew that everything would be alright. Not necessarily ever the same again but alright.