Free Rugby Spirit by Gerard Siggins

it really. He’s been home a few weeks now, but he hasn’t been out and a trip like that might be too much for him. You’ll see him a lot when we get home – he’s moved into your room!’
    Eoin was a bit put out that he wouldn’t be getting his old room, but if there was anyone in the world he would give it up for, it was his grandad.
    He said goodbye to his dad, and wandered back into the school. Most of his friends had left for home and justRory – who was on the bench for the As – remained in the Dixie Dorm.
    ‘Well, Eoin,’ he said, ‘that was quite an introduction to Castlerock for you!’
    ‘I know,’ he replied, ‘I think I would have preferred to keep my head down and stay on the Cs, but it’s been fun some of the time.’
    ‘Come on!’ said Rory, ‘There’s hundreds of guys in this school who would love to have half your talent as a player. Forget the likes of Duffy and Flanagan, the rest of the school are delighted that you’ve come here, even if they don’t know it yet.’
    Eoin looked out the window as the last of the boarders drifted away. A knock came to the door.
    ‘Madden, Grehan, come with me,’ said Mr Carey, ‘team meeting.’
    They followed the coach downstairs to the dining hall, where the table was set for about thirty.
    ‘The 13As are a fantastic group of players, in whom we have great hopes for the future,’ said Mr McCaffrey. ‘We’ve decided in the circumstances to throw a little Christmas party for a special group of young men.’
    Eoin and Rory squeezed in at the end of the table just as a dozen of the teachers carried in plates piled high with turkey and ham.
    ‘Do enjoy yourselves,’ said Mr McCaffrey, ‘But remember there’s an important game at 1pm tomorrow in County Tipperary. We won’t have any Christmas pudding or cake for you after this, and I hope you all get a good night’s sleep and head into the holidays with another victory under your belts.’
    An hour later Eoin and Rory hauled themselves upstairs with grave doubts about their ability to run anywhere fast within the next twenty-four hours.
    ‘At least I’m just keeping the bench warm,’ groaned Rory.
    ‘At the rate David Vincent was tucking into seconds I’d say you’ve a good chance of starting,’ came back Eoin.
    Next morning Eoin was proved correct, as David Vincent was a peculiar shade of green when they all met up for breakfast. Richie Duffy waved a sausage in front of his face, which caused the scrum-half to leap from his seat and race out of the hall.
    ‘Looks like you’re the man today, Grehan,’ sneered Duffy. ‘You better be quick getting the ball out to me.’ Rory turned an even darker shade of green than Vincent as Duffy’s words sank in.
    The bus journey down was quiet, with few takers for the sing-song Charlie Johnston tried to start several times.
    Rory and Eoin sat at the back of the bus and, for once, it was Eoin doing all the reassuring. ‘You’ll be fine, Rory,’ he said, ‘You’ve had a great season on the Bs and our pack will mill these guys. Just keep it simple and give Duffy the ball – let him mess it up.’
    ‘Yeah, but if he messes it up he’ll blame me,’ he groaned.
    Eoin didn’t have an answer to that.
    The bus pulled into the school in Rostipp just as Eoin’s mum and dad were parking their car. He queued to get off the bus, then he trotted over to them.
    ‘Hi, Mum,’ he called, backing away as his mother tried to give him a hug.
    ‘Not in front of the guys, eh?’ she chuckled, but with a little disappointment in her voice.
    ‘I’d be dead if they saw that,’ he replied.
    ‘Good luck today, son,’ said his dad, ‘we’ll be supporting you all the way. It’ll be the first time I’ve ever watched a Madden play rugby.’
    Eoin jogged away, realising that his father had never seen Dixie in action and couldn’t tell him about all the great man’s deeds like Mr Finn had.
    The team changed into their green and white hoops and ran out to