Mark Andrews 25 Points on playing Rugby

an arish hard work it goes to make an any school first team so congratulations and well done trying to think of what to speak about tonight I've been given a very strict time limit of 5 minutes and I thought the last thing you guys want to hear is a motivational speech or how to get all socked up for the tournament that's for your coaches and your senior players to do so I thought back to my 25 I think years of playing rugby both as an amateur and professional I thought what are the key learnings that I can take out of all those years so I put them down in no particular order of importance but you have 25 points that give you something to think about that I learned from my career number one where gum God God only gave you two sets of teeth you're on your second set your third one comes from a dentist and those are expensive never question the ref in all my years of playing no ref ever changed his decision after being CH Power Player don't take shortcuts in training shortcuts in training only lead to losses in matches the team always comes first don't never be late you're never more important than the team and if you think you are go play tennis or to shake your opponent's hand after the game it's a game of respect show it fear is normal and keeps you from doing stupid things don't fear fear nerves are good they're your body's way of preparing you for for battle only idiots or people without brains claim to not be nervous before a game learn to play for yourself not your father not your girlfriend not your mother learn to play for yourself don't be superstitious touch what I never was if you are starting to make superstitions break them as soon as you can don't ever leave your after match gear in your kit bag for the weekend it'll smell like someone died in it when you open it listen to your coach if you don't agree with him shut up and take up coaching yourself cheating is not on in any form if you want to cheat go play cricket for Australia don't retaliate on the field any fool can lose his cool it takes a real man to keep his cool don't ever have a go your teammate in the field no one goes out in the field to make mistakes if you can't say something positive say nothing don't ever be late it is a biggest sign of disrespect to your team and coach and I've said this already but I can't mention this enough you are never bigger than your team don't forget that when you go on tour you represent not just yourself and your school but also your family we're underpant at all times in the red be field no explanation needed learn the difference between initiation and humiliation they both sound the same but have completely different results don't ever confuse them and appreciation brings someone into your family or team humiliation simply reminds them that they don't belong in your team be humble in Victory no one likes a show for a brag it give thanks to the Unseen people who surround you the groundsman the Medics the cleaners anybody who supports you from the Shadows so you can have the spotlight on you have fun right now you don't get paid to play redby that's about fun guys if you lose I promise you as we always told the sun still comes up tomorrow remember what you blame for shower after every game again I need to explain why and then thank your parents and your coaches thank all those people who help you get to where you are today and then to finish I should be close on time in 1995 June the Rugby World Cup we had a poem that we read before we ran on to every single game and after the game France opino was our captain used to give us some time to go and find a mirror and stand and look in that mirror and the reason why is this the poem was by guy called Dale wibra written in 1934 it's called the guy in the gloss when you get what you want in your struggle for self and the world makes you king for a day then go to the mirror and look at yourself and see what that guy has to say for it isn't your father or mother or wife whose judgment upon you must pass the fellow whose verdict counts most in your life is the guy staring back from the glass he's the fellow to please never mind the rest for he's with you clear up to the end and if you've passed your most dangerous difficult test if the guy in the glass is your friend you may be like Jack her and chisel a plum and think you a wonderful guy but the man in the glass says you only a bum if you can't look him straight in the eye you can fool the whole world down the pathway of years and get Pats in the back as you pass but your final reward will be heartache in tears if you've cheated that guy in the glass I challenge all of you after every single game you play to find a quiet moment go look at yourself in the mirror and say have you played the game that will make your school and your family proud and more importantly your teammates