Bagrock on

While I've been living in Rome, I have become friends with several Irish Expats. Consequently, I have been exposed to the game of Rugby, and frankly, I've grown quite fond of it. Yes, I know. I used to believe that it was a game of brutality, played by brainless savages. Well, I've been converted.

It is a far more exciting game than North American Football as it doesn't have those boring long pauses between plays. It's as fast moving as soccer, but the strategy and formations are much more intricate. And who can't be impressed with what the players put their bodies through without using padding or safety equipment?

Well, the Six Nations tournament is now under way and I find myself planning my week-ends around when each game is being played. Six Nations lasts 5 week-ends. All six teams (Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Italy and France) play each other team once. The team who wins the most, wins the whole thing. Simple. And I just can't seem to get enough.

I am even captivated by the pre-game cermonies. All the teams bring kids onto the field with them at the beginning of the game. Those children are the team mascots. No big, orange, unidentifiable creatures with trumpets representing rugby teams, I tell you!

And I was so intrigued by the "Unofficial" Scottish National Anthem (Flower of Scotland) when I heard it that I bought two different versions of it off itunes this week. The song has a special meaning for me, because my late grandfather used to play that very song off his Bagpipe CD early Christmas morning to wake the whole family up. So I'd heard it played on the bagpipes every year, but I had no idea what it was called and, even better, that there were lyrics!!

So I now legally own a "Bagrock" (Yes, that is an official Genre of music on itunes) interpretation of Flower of Scotland. But what really sold me on this particular version of the song was actually the group's name. The song was recorded by none other than: The Red Hot Chili Pipers. Heh.