Bolton Mets Tour 2002 Ireland

April 2002

The tour was slightly earlier this year and was made 'men only' due to it tenuously being described as a Stag-Do for one of the players; at least that was the excuse given to the wives that normally travel.  In a startling break with tradition, and amongst much complaint, a match was played against the newly formed East Coast Eagles at Seapoint RUFC.

After 3 solid days on the keg the Mets struggled early on.  However one the beer was sweated out the Mets began to play more cohesively.  The Eagles, playing their first ever game performed excellently.  Credit must also go to those members of the Eagles team playing their first ever game of rugby.

The game ended 42-24 to the Mets but on the day, to quote a cliche Brian, rugby league was the winner.  The Mets were generously presented with a signed shirt by the Eagles, who in return were presented with items of Mets clothing that the unprepared but quick thinking Chairman Jack nicked off the travelling Mets contingent.   The match was also memorable for the fact that motormouth Mets coach Chris Brown was knocked unconscious on the hard ground but still carried on talking.

More on rugby league in Ireland can be accessed by following this link

Tour highlights included some of the players being chased by the Garda in 4x4s past, over and through the promenade gardens at 2.30am one morning.  The reason the Gards took offence was that the players were naked at the time.  Unfortunately the spotlights from the Garda caught the players in full view when many people were just leaving nightclubs, reminding many people to remark just how cold it was that night.