Capt. Don's Retirement

Capt. Don's Retirement

Monday, November 7, 2016

Big Rugby Weekend- Chicago, November 4-6, 2016

Five friends, Hunter Glasscock, Jim Dunckley, Mark Adolphson, Dave Cunningham and I had an epic weekend in Chicago. We had tickets to see the New Zealand All Blacks play the Irish National Rugby team on Saturday at Soldier’s Field as well as the USA National Side against the New Zealand Maoris on the prior evening.
This big “Rugby Weekend” was made even more special as we were able to catch the tail end of the Friday mid-day parade to celebrate the Cubs winning their first baseball World Series since 1908. 


It was said that six million fans crowded into downtown to enjoy the event. We mostly encountered waves of people, dressed in Cubs jerseys, leaving the gathering as we were trying to find our J. W. Marriott Hotel. Hunter, as always well prepared, was there in the lobby with five poured beers.

Lunch was eaten at Berghoff’s Restaurant (Thanks Dolph) where we were introduced to their litre jars of German beers.


The USA vs. Maori match was one-sided, as we lost 7-54, but I felt our boys did OK. They handled well, dominated the lineouts and controlled the ball for long periods. However, they could seldom penetrate the Maori defense and their errors were too often converted into NZ points. The weather was warm (exceptionally so for November in Chicago) and we limo’d (thanks Hunter) to a late dinner at Portillo’s, famous for their hot dogs.

Saturday dawned warm and clear and this time the streets were filled with mostly green Irish Rugby shirts and an occasional Black NZ jumper. Late breakfast was double cheeseburgers the Billy Goat Tavern, hallowed Chicago ground. 

After a few more stops to warm up, including back to Berghoff’s, we made our way to the big All Black/Irish match. These two teams have been competing since 1905 with the Irish never winning. Of course the team from “the land of the long white cloud” was favored by 24 points. But, the day favored the boys in green, as they too were able to shrug off a losing skein of over a century and come away with a well-deserved victory 40-29.

We then headed out to Wrigleyville to soak up the atmosphere, down car bombs (thanks Dave) and eat deep dish Chicago style pizza (who paid for that, Dunck?). We somehow got back to the hotel and had our return flight the next morning.




Good Rugby, food, drink and fellowship. I could not have asked for more.