What can I say. After a mega Waitangi weekend with Macka, Bronte, Eddie, Sarah and Emma on the 5/6 Feb, I then headed north to Ashbourne for Shrovetide on the Tuesday night. Shrovetide - Played in Ashbourne since the 15th century or so, is basically a no-holds barred game of rugby. No Murder, No Manslaughter, No Transportation of the ball, and keep out of private property being the only real guidelines. Played over 2 days, (Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday), it’s the “Upards” (North of the river) against the “Downards” (South of the river). Each day at 2pm, the ball is thrown up in the middle of town and the idea is to get it to your respective goal at either end of the village, 3 miles apart. Game is played until 10pm at night, (remember
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