Aussies test Rupert Moon
It was a test for Rupert Moon’s ambassadorial skills – being confronted with five touring Australians who shook hands and promptly explained they didn’t know anything about rugby!
But the verbal side-step didn’t throw the Scarlets commercial director off-balance and he was quickly into his stride with a welcoming VIP tour of the Parc y Scarlets stadium for the visitors from Adelaide in South Australia.
The visiting Australians were members of a Rotary International group study exchange project, spending four weeks finding out what makes South Wales tick.
“Everyone we meet in South Wales seems to think that every Australian is a rugby fan,” said team leader Philip Johns, who farms 9,500 acres in the Port Pirie area of South Australia.
“But - and we had to whisper this when visiting Parc y Scarlets - South Australia is one of the areas of Australia where rugby is very much a minority sport. Aussie Rules Football is what dominates where we live.”
Mr Johns added: “Even though we were off the pace in terms of rugby knowledge, Parc y Scarlets was still a ‘must visit’ date on our busy schedule.
“We were very lucky to be treated to a VIP tour of the ground – from dressing rooms, hospitality suites and training areas – by someone who is so naturally passionate about the Scarlets rugby region.
“Rupert was a very accommodating host, even though we were weak on our rugby knowledge! He did, of course, spend some time explaining to us how he captained the team who beat the then world champions, Australia, in 1992!
“The tour was an amazing experience for all of us. Rupert presented us with copies of the book, Faces of Stradey, and autographed them. I speak for all members of our group study team when I say we were hugely impressed with the facilities at Parc y Scarlets.”
The study team’s visit included attendance at Llanelli Rotary Club’s weekly meeting at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli.
Scarlets commercial director Rupert Moon joins members of a Rotary International group study exchange team to pose for a photo in front of the Ray Gravell memorial statue at Parc y Scarlets. The exchange team, from Adelaide, South Australia was made up of (from left to right), Philip Johns, team leader, Mark Purdie, Tania Bailey, Phuong-Phi Le and Ben Cunningham.
But the verbal side-step didn’t throw the Scarlets commercial director off-balance and he was quickly into his stride with a welcoming VIP tour of the Parc y Scarlets stadium for the visitors from Adelaide in South Australia.
The visiting Australians were members of a Rotary International group study exchange project, spending four weeks finding out what makes South Wales tick.
“Everyone we meet in South Wales seems to think that every Australian is a rugby fan,” said team leader Philip Johns, who farms 9,500 acres in the Port Pirie area of South Australia.
“But - and we had to whisper this when visiting Parc y Scarlets - South Australia is one of the areas of Australia where rugby is very much a minority sport. Aussie Rules Football is what dominates where we live.”
Mr Johns added: “Even though we were off the pace in terms of rugby knowledge, Parc y Scarlets was still a ‘must visit’ date on our busy schedule.
“We were very lucky to be treated to a VIP tour of the ground – from dressing rooms, hospitality suites and training areas – by someone who is so naturally passionate about the Scarlets rugby region.
“Rupert was a very accommodating host, even though we were weak on our rugby knowledge! He did, of course, spend some time explaining to us how he captained the team who beat the then world champions, Australia, in 1992!
“The tour was an amazing experience for all of us. Rupert presented us with copies of the book, Faces of Stradey, and autographed them. I speak for all members of our group study team when I say we were hugely impressed with the facilities at Parc y Scarlets.”
The study team’s visit included attendance at Llanelli Rotary Club’s weekly meeting at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli.
Scarlets commercial director Rupert Moon joins members of a Rotary International group study exchange team to pose for a photo in front of the Ray Gravell memorial statue at Parc y Scarlets. The exchange team, from Adelaide, South Australia was made up of (from left to right), Philip Johns, team leader, Mark Purdie, Tania Bailey, Phuong-Phi Le and Ben Cunningham.
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