Family Matters - By Jude Dobson

Two or three years after another family and ours dreamt of going to the 2007 Rugby World Cup together-four adults, six kids' we are about to do just that. It started off as a bit of a "what if?" discussion, and over a few months the question morphed into "how can we?" then, eventually, "why not?". A year out it was "Do you have your credit card ready?" to book the flights as they opened up. Now, on the eve of going, the most common question is "Where is black stuff to wear?" as we pack our kit to make sure we so obviously look like Kiwis in France supporting the All Blacks. For readers of my columns, you'll know that I am not a huge rugby fan. Growing up, my three older brothers were more into sailing and athletic pursuits, so rugby was not a big feature in our house. However, I married someone who seemed to have taped most matches of note over the years, which I managed to tape over on occasion, to his horror. Still, he did do the ultimate taping over something stuff-up, recording yet another rugby match over our wedding video. I have been to a couple of rugby matches with my husband, but knowing zip about how the game works meant I ended up reading the programme more than watching the guys chase the ball. However, the thing that has made me sit up and take an interest in our national religion, sorry, game, is that my son now plays it. Suddenly, I have a very good reason to know how the game works as some of his great enthusiasm rubs off. Our older daughter, too, is a mad fan, going to Eden Park with dad whenever she can, and I see the enjoyment father and daughter share in supporting their chosen team. The infectiousness is getting to me. Plus, organizing this trip my eyes have been opened to the immense popularity of the game worldwide and the All Blacks' place on the world stage. Getting flights out of Paris straight after the game a year before the aircraft actually took off was an "aha" moment. Day after day (12 months out) every carrier was booked up, indicating the huge number of people expected in Paris in October. So I've schooled myself up on who's who and what they do, with rugby 101. As I sat in the hairdresser's having my colourless hairs recoloured recently, instead of reading all the glossies as the other ladies did around me, I read rugby articles I'd collected, including a lovely story on rugby for beginners, written just for me. With added info from my hair stylist and colourist - both guys who are rugby nuts - I now have a much better understanding of the basics. In fact, it's not possible to open a newspaper without seeing something about the RWC, so I'd have to be living under a rock to ignore it. Parisians, who are traditionally soccer fans, appear, like me, to have been won over by the sheer enthusiasm for this massive event. Rugby balls hanging from the Eiffel Tower, with more underneath, Euro Disney characters with Rugby balls in press releases, it's everywhere. I have my black gear to wear to the match, including my All Black cap and scarf, black and white face paint, a New Zealand flag to wave madly at the matches, All Black flags to attach to the car, even one to hang on the front of the house. I am a convert. Vive La France and GO THE ALL BLACKS!!