Magic Weekend

Hard to believe it is a year ago since we went down to Edinburgh to watch the first Magic Weekend to be held in Murrayfield. But we booked ourselves into the same hotel as it was so handy for getting in and out of the city by train - and once again had the added bonus of being the hotel of choice for the Catalan Dragons (the highlight of my whole weekend was being in the lift with 3 members of the team - a bit of a squeeze but not a whiff if garlic!!)

The event is held over 2 days but we only went on the Saturday as that was when the Leeds Rhinos were playing. They were playing last so we watched some of the previous 3 matches and had a good look around all the other activites that had been laid on for fans. People watching was the best fun as so many people turn up in fancy dress. These smurfs were the best - but we also saw Tweedldum and Tweedledee (on the moving climbing wall!), WWE wrestlers and Mario and Luigi!!





Engage who sponsor the event had put on lots of rugby themed activites for fans of all ages so the kids were more than happy - even the army were there doing demonstrations.






They were giving away the Irn Bru and it was proving popular - but maybe that was because the beer was £4 a pint. I don't drink so I tried Irn Bru for the very first time - and my verdict was that it is way too sweet and has a very odd perfume tast - no wonder they were giving the stuff away!!!!





















Sam enjoyed the beer - although he was only supposed to be holding the glass for his Dad!









































You can go out and watch the teams warm up and get much closer to them than when they are actually playing. So we hung around to watch the Rhinos coming out to train. I managed to get a shot of the very mean and moody Mr Keith Senior who looks as though he would eat you for breakfast - and they boys favourite player Rob Burrow (even though he left the pitch very early on due to being injured - although none of the pathetic fake rolling around on the grass in agony which seems to have been perfected for a majority of football players.)









































Great to meet up with Cheesy and Jennie who we haven't seen for a while.






















Sam managed to get his photo taken with this years compere Dominic Byrne - who is the newsreader from the Chris Moyles show on Radio 1 (but have to admit I missed Cheggers this year!)






















And of course the boys had to get their photos taken with as many team mascots as possible.

The Sid the Savings Pig who is the mascot of Engage who sponsor the event:






















Mightly Max of Wigan Warriors:





















And saving the best to last - the Leeds Rhinos mascot Ronnie:



We would love to go to next years Magic Weekend but don't know where it is being held yet - France possibly!!