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I have no interest in politics. Never have, never will. Undoubtedly a lack of ambition on my part but quite

possibly, born out of a hopelessness towards government, probably instilled in my youth growing up in

Shoeburyness, Essex finest. There, the prevailing train of thought towards politicians was not to vote. How

ironic that Maggie Thatchers Essex Man knew that to vote only encouraged the bastards.

So with no wish or right to get involved in any countrys politics, this is a rugby story, not a political one,

albeit a very sad one. But it will show, without my hands leaving my wrists, how the well intentioned

actions of those in charge, can have a devastating affect on your local rugby team.

In September 1991 twelve Philippine Senators* voted against ratifying the Philippine Bases Agreement.

What they actually did was vote to approve Sen. Wigberto Taadas Resolution No. 1259 of Non-

Concurrence to A Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Security. The sugar coated title of the proposed

agreement that would have allowed the US military bases to stay in the Philippines for another 10 years

(until 2001).

Far be it from me to pass judgement on this decision but I think it is universally agreed that no country likes

to have a foreign powers troops & weapons on their own soil. Er, that is, apart from mine, of course, the

United Kingdom.

What these twelve good men failed to realise at the time was that the two bases, namely Clark and Subic,

made up 100% of Nomads domestic rugby fixtures. This is years before the Eagles & Ebons and other

assorted poultry were born. There was a very occasional French team, when they could get the numbers,

which even their Ambassador was drafted in to play for. That was until Craig Scott, our local fitness

instructor, and one-time member of the British karate team executed a perfect ippon on His Excellency,

off the back of a line out. I can still remember the scream.

Sure, we played many touring teams during the year but these fixtures were not guaranteed. Even the regular

tours could be cancelled. The Royal Hong Kong Police, who had toured Manila since Abraham had been

banned from touring anywhere after an unfortunate incident on the HK - Vancouver flight during their

summer Canadian tour. Well, ok, several incidents, culminating in the removal of one of the touring party,

lets just call him Spiv, from the plane straight to hospital as he was so intoxicated.

Apart from regular home and away annual games, the bases were used as warm-up games especially when

we had good teams touring Manila. Tamworth, Australia brought more back-up staff than we had players!

But if ever the old Manila ploy of getting a team plastered and love-struck before the game, it never worked

better than on this one.

Bubbles bar in Ermita opened its doors specially for the newly-arrived touring party at 3pm, unheard of in

those days. I assume Tamworth must be out in the sticks as youve never seen eyes so wide. After an hour of

what I put down to shyness on the Aussies part, one of them asked me: How much is it to dance with the

girls? I could have been a millionaire.

Both bases came to Nomads to play a couple of times a year but the away games were a popular domestic

mini tour. I was very fortunate that my only serious rugby injury (left knee ligaments) happened at Subic

and not just because they paid the medical bill! The hospital facilities were outstanding and the pharmacy

was fully stocked.

After the game when the lads came to pick me up from the base hospital, Steve Barker noticed that the pain

killers they gave me had caine in the name. We put the case to the pharmacist that Makati Medical would

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not have supplies of these and extra tablets were secured, ensuring a pain-free ride for all the lads on the way

back to Manila.

The trip to Clark used to follow a regular pattern. A bus from the garage on EDSA around noon, time

enough for the Friday night excesses to recede. Getting on the base was no small matter, after all you were

entering America. You needed your passport. One of the opposition players would have to come to the gate

to get us all in and this always took hours. With the bars so close its amazing games were ever played.

The games were always testy to say the least. American service personnel were banned from playing Grid

Iron as the Air Force didnt need the injuries. But that didnt stop them from playing a version of it against

us. Their knowledge of the rules of rugby were shaky at best. It was never long before the first fight would

break out as they would attempt to tackle you, no matter if you had the ball or not or where it was on the

park.

Memories of getting blind-sided would quickly evaporate after the game as both teams hit the town. First

stop would be to see Mick OBrien (RIP) in Moondoggies, the late great boxing trainer. The singing would

be led by Major Dennis Dgill Gill, who knew every song and composed the immortal The Whore from

Bali Hai.

Although we knew some of the bars, Dgill and co were invaluable in keeping us out of the ghettos. Some

bars were black only and there was even an hispanic one which caused much confusion with the similarity

of the local Filipinos. Possibly not the most delightful of surroundings (its a hundred times better now) but

Angeles was remarkably cheap. An American servicemans pay was then extremely low and the prices

around town reflected what they could afford.

There would be no rendezvous for the bus back. The driver would simply drive down Fields Avenue at a

snails pace with the full weight of his body on the horn. If you made it, all well and good, if not, well,

probably all well and good. Happy days.

Ends