By Templar
October 15 2002

As our thoughts turn to the weekend jaunt to the Basque country we bring you Templars thoughts on our last visit to Biarritz in 2000. A what a jolly good time it was too! Templar In Biarritz

By LeTemplar
Date: 7/11/2000

After finally being weaned off paella, pastis (no not pasties) and Stella Artois at the MK Betty Ford Clinic, Templar has recovered sufficiently to get his thoughts of the Biarritz weekend down on paper. How did this latter day playboy fare in the South of France? Read on.........

BIARRITZ BY THE SEA

I was going to write about the Biarritz weekend a lot sooner but a combination of trying to forget about the Saints 'cos it depresses me, work and laziness (mostly the latter) have prevented me until now. So lets go back to happier times, blue sky, temperatures in the high 70s and Saints were still 'the' team in Europe. The Champions.

Our intrepid group of seven independent travellers arrived at Biarritz Airport Friday afternoon to be greeted by a Police presence that would do England football supporters justice. We all assumed that our fearsome reputation preceded us. After all we had been involved in exchanges of Anglo Saxon language at Leicester and Gloucester. We were immediately called over, fearing a warning of some kind, but instead a jolly Gendarme just said 'Brouzet'. (The Police presence was in fact a warm up for the PMs conference the following week).

On arriving at the Hotel we had a problem. Seven 30+ heterosexual males and 5 single beds and one double. A quick draw of lots sorted the problem. The two double bedders seemed quite content although the chambermaid got a shock 11.00am Saturday morning as she walked in on two 'Anglais' quite happily laying in bed together.

The Hotel was handily located over the road from Ondarts Bar which is run by the former French forward Pascal Ondart, and this is where we made our base. As a quick tourist note, the upstairs terrace had wonderful views over the Atlantic ocean and the afternoon sun shimmered overhead. Still back to reality and Rugby.

The ground is located in the leafy suburbs and the Rugby stadium is the main part of a sporting complex. A quick cab ride from the town centre and a few liveners in the clubhouse then to the game. No match report because its been done before but we all felt after the game reasonable grounds for optimism despite the defeat. Pretty shaky grounds as it turned out. Back to the clubhouse for a few more drinks.

The clubhouse bar overlooks the tennis courts and I must thank the Biarritz Tennis Club for arranging the ladies under 18 training session to coincide with the end of the game. I don't think the girls playing nearest the clubhouse were quite so grateful! As we were leaving the ground the Saints players were loading their kit on the team bus. A big thank you to Pat Lam who was the only player who acknowledged our existence; said thanks for coming lads and stopped for a chat.

Quick three S's back at the hotel, a meal in a Mexican restaurant (we always like to try the local cuisine) and then to Ondarts for a night of mingling with the stars. The Saints team were there plus Jonathon Davies, Jean Pierre Rives, Nigel Starmer-Smith and quite a few others. (I could turn tabloid journalist and report that a certain scrumhalf threw a pint over an ex-international cricketer and the heated argument that ensued but I won't.) Suffice to say I'm proud to say we were the last to leave when the exhausted bar staff finally said 'ferme' at about 4.30am and refused to serve another 'Cuba Libre'.

On Sunday we joined the bussed in wrinklies shuffling around town. It was a bit like Eastbourne only with sun and style. Sunday night we were again the last to leave Ondarts when they decided to stop serving at a rather early 2.00am.

A superb weekend, nice town, friendly people once again spoiled by 80 minutes of Rugby. Please make sure we can do it again next year Saints and no, the Shield wouldn't be the same.

Templar
5th November 2000