I have been waking up over the past few days thinking we are bang in the middle of the rugby season as the weather has been absolutely rubbish and has not resembled the long hot summer that so many have been predicting over the past few months! The 20/20 cricket season has started and, by the looks of things at the moment, is likely to become a complete farce as many of the group games are likely to be complete washouts! One thing I suppose the rain is keeping the ground nice and soft!!

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My prediction for the Springboks v All Blacks game wasn’t far out! What a game it was on the physicality front! The All Blacks proved, beyond any doubt, they are the number 1 side in the world and are outright favourites for the World Cup, but the Boks are sneaking up on them and I still believe they will be there or there abouts. It’s amazing to see Bobby Skinstadt back in a Bok jersey. It was only last season that he was playing in London 1 with Richmond!

I take my hat of the guy in making the transition and returning to be an international rugby player after about 3 or 4 years out of the team and playing at the level he was. That’s not being disrespectful to Richmond, but for someone in their 30′s to do that is incredible. I also note that South Africa have decided to rest virtually their whole squad for the Australian and New Zealand leg of the Tri Nations, an action that has caused all sorts of issues in Australia

Mark’s club team Marist won the semi final on Saturday against a team called Huia 14-13. Mark scored an awesome try from a rolling maul. He said it was a frustrating game because the weather here was so cold and wet, they played in huge puddles of water and the rain was pouring during the game.

Next Saturday is the final and Mark can’t wait to play. Following that weekend is the pre-season game for the Makos against Northland who I think former Red Dan Goodwin may be back for.

We finally finished redecorating the house at the weekend so just cleaning up our paint spills – a little chilly but sun is shining throughout the days.

Mark and I send our best to you all, more next week.

Good news to start with today

Latest news on Sunday from Angeala in New Zealand is that Mark Bright has made the final Tasman Makos squad for their NPC campaign and begins full training with the side on Monday. As if by way of celebration, Brighty scored in typical fashion on Saturday as his Club side Marist beat Nelson 19-18 to progress to the semi-final against Huia next weekend. Congratulations Mark.

As you may of read, my column now has a sponsor! I would like to take this opportunity to thank Eric Nicholls and his company for their support.

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On Saturday, in Redruth, it is Murdoch Day and the club has a stand in the main street for the first time. A number of players will be there throughout the day and there will be items for sale etc such as membership, shop items and maybe a player or two!!!!! Please make the time to visit the stall and support the”Reds” for next season and beyond

The Redruth website continues to receive a huge number of ” hits ” on a daily basis. It could be the opportunity you are looking for to advertise your company !!

We are looking for further Sponsors to help the Club in its challenge next season, and here is a 24/7 medium reaching a world-wide audience.

Your name, logo, artwork and photo here !

Or a Club car, where your name and number can be seen by anyone and everyone at anytime, anywhere !

Finally, the new Match Day programme is in pre-production, we have a ” Rugby In The Community ” published in July and boards at the ground plus spaces on Players’ kit up for grabs.

Please contact David Thomas on 07944 633106 or email davidredruthrfc@aol.com for more details.

Following a weeks break, where I have spent a most enjoyable week in

The Redruth Rugby Academy is up and running. Players from Redruth School and Redruth Rugby Club have been invited to join the Academy, which will be commencing in full from September. The squad of players have already assembled for an introductory session which consisted of fitness testing and games. Apart from the players Nigel Hambly, Craig Bonds (Academy Manager), Matt Stearn, Richie Kennedy and PJ Gidlow were all in attendance putting the players through their paces. The levels of commitment and effort from the boys were tremendous. So well done lads and hit the ground running in September!

The aim of the Academy is for young players to have an opportunity to engage in further education whilst balancing rugby training and conditioning. Members of the Academy will receive coaching from an Academy Coach and members of the current coaching team at the club.The long term plan is to provide Redruth Rugby Club with quality players that have progressed through the age groups, resulting in those with the necessary ability becoming contracted first team squad members. The Academy will run alongside the outstanding, nationally recognised colts set-up that Simon Blake has established.

For more information regarding the Academy please contact Craig Bonds at Redruth School on 01209 203700.

More updates on the Academy and its progress will be available from September.

Angela has kindly explained to those who were asking how the NPC works for Mark and a little more about Marist.

There are some useful website links attached.

http://www.tasmanmakos.co.nz/

http://www.makos.co.nz/

Marist is Marks local club senior A team. Marist is a nationwide club and Mark has played for Marist for 18 years. The Marist senior A team has won 4 out of the last 6 club championships with Mark being part of this A team since 1998.

The Makos are a newly developed team combining two provincial teams called Marlborough Red devils and the Nelson Bays which mark played for from 2001

In the first of a new Summer feature on the website, Angela Bright ( wife of Mark, parents to young boy Bailey ) has very kindly agreed to send regular updates on Mark’s progress back home in New Zealand, and also how their home life is going having returned home for the next 4 months.

Our thanks to Angela, who has also included a local press report from The ” Nelson Mail “.

Hello Everyone

Mark is training hard and also playing now. We are working on the house that we bought in April and he has managed to paint the outside since being here and I have done the gardens and next we are tackling the inside. We are doing the best we can, but we are super lucky that the weather has been fantastic and sunny everyday. A little icy in the mornings but bright blue sky all day long.

Bailey is well, he was very unsettled for the first 3 weeks so I came home early to sort him out a bit and he seems to be coming right. He started daycare yesterday so will go there 4 afternoons a week until his birthday on 4th august. Then Bailey and I will come back to redruth on 27th August. I will be 5 months pregnant then so that will be an interesting time.

This weekend is the trial for the Air NZ Cup Tasman Makos team so Mark will be training with the team on Sunday all day and then they head to Blenheim on Monday to play against each other for their spots.

Mark is starting at 6 but will cover 7 and 8.

That’s it from the Brights, newspaper article follows:

Best Wishes – Angela, Mark and Bailey Bright

Dominant pack gives Marist the lead

28-May-2007

By WAYNE MARTIN – The Nelson Mail

Three lopsided scorelines saw another change at the top of the points table with Marist now squarely back in contention after 11 rounds of the Nelson Bays division one rugby competition.

Wakatu Hotel Marist comfortably beat the Stables Tavern Waimea Old Boys 33-5 at Tahunanui on Saturday, while Turf Hotel Stoke scored 10 tries in beating Enza Riwaka 64-14 at Greenmeadows. The Car Company Nelson bagged nine while overrunning Goldpine Wanderers 58-12 at Neale Park.

It’s the first time since round two that Wakatu Hotel Marist has enjoyed the outright lead, its victory based on a dominant forward effort and another solid defensive display.

Marist led just 12-0 at halftime after Waimea had taken first use of a strong breeze, midfielder Rudolf Meredith and flanker Mark Bright scoring the tries after a grinding first half forward effort.

Marist added another three second half tries through winger Mark Faiva, prop Gavin Briggs and loose forward Joe Yalayala, with Waimea’s only response being a solitary second half try to halfback Bryce Bird.

Waimea’s forwards struggled to match an experienced Marist pack in which Yalayala, Bright and hooker Thomas Grey each played leading roles. Halfback Adam Griggs ensured Marist stayed on the front foot by turning the ball back into his aggressive and responsive pack which is now starting to recapture some of its traditional menace.

Neither backline enjoyed much leeway in the strong wind although Marist’s defence again proved decisive with Bird’s try the first Marist has conceded in four games.

Ends…to be continued…