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G'day!

 

Hope everyone is well . . .and training fast and furious for the upcoming season!  Sydney is great, bigger than I imagined but I like the way it's spread out, kind of like Toronto with a bunch of small neighbourhoods. Right now I am living just off Bondi Road, about halfway to Bondi Beach.  Great neighbourhood, but the rents are out this world, but that seems to be the standard here in the eastern suburbs.  It's nice though, to be able to walk down to the beach after work and go in for a swim . . .makes landscaping that much more bearable!  In terms of rugby, I'm playing for Eastern Suburbs,. . .they field about 5 teams, and the level of rugby is tremendous.  I've learned so much in just the past two months, little tricks of the trade, and we haven't even done any scrums or lineouts yet.  The pace is fast, and I've had to pick up my game that much more.  For the first month, we essentially just did fitness drills, running sprints, etc.  I actually thought I was going to die after the first drill.  But I have hopefully gotten rid of the form that the Dave Dalcin Training Program put me into!  (Shakes fist)  Anyways, a lot of cool stuff and a great rugby culture here. 

 

Saw my first league game last week, a trial game between the Roosters and the Tigers . . .pretty cool, great pace, great hits.  I think I'm going to follow the Roosters from now on, seeing as they are the team in my 'hood.  But you can tell the difference between league crowds and union crowds, and the league crowd seems to be more colourful and boisterous during games.  I sat there, taking it all in, drinking my VB and munching on meat pies and loving it all.

Beyond that, pretty much been working and playing rugby, trying to stay out of trouble. (BTW:  They take quarantine in Oz seriously.  I forgot to wash my boots before I came over, and they were still caked with Twin Elm mud from our last game.  The officer asked me why I forgot to wash them; my reply, "um, I'm an idiot?".  That got a laugh. )  Haven't had to many big nights out, trying not to blow all my cash just yet, but Kings Cross was a fun time! 

 

Anyways, I'll keep you updated on things as they progress. I like the new Indians website, very snazzy, keep my in the loop on stuff as it happens.

 

Cheers,

 

Stu