European cup competitions began at the weekend but a transcontinental connection was made in November between National One side Esher and Portuguese club GDS Cascais. 

Article from Talking Rugby Union. Written by Francisco Isaac.

The European cup competitions kicked off at the weekend with all 10 Gallagher Premiership sides in action across the Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.

Saracens, Northampton Saints and Gloucester were the only three teams to taste success in Round One but the continental feel for clubs in England may have actually begun at the end of November.

Just over two weeks ago, National One outfit Esher welcomed six-time Portuguese champions GDS Cascais to Molesey Road, which was the cherry on top of their recent tour to England.

Cascais were invited to these shores for a four-day tour to enjoy a bit of sightseeing, play a fixture against Esher and watch Wales vs South Africa in Cardiff before heading back to Portugal.

After a day and a half of taking in the sights of London, Cascais boarded their bus down to Surrey to face Esher but what made the Portuguese side such an intriguing prospect for the third-tier English club?

From Portuguese internationals like António Vidinha, Nuno Mascarenhas, Francisco Sousa and Salvador Vassalo to Argentinian powerhouses like Nicolas Griffiths – who played in Scotland and Spain – head-coach Gabriel Ascárate (former Pumas and Glasgow Warriors player) picked a strong side.

On arrival, there wasn’t the sea of fans eagerly waiting for the players like you so often see ahead of European matches. Instead, Esher’s Director and National League Rugby Chairman John Inverdale – the person who made the whole tour come to life but doesn’t want to be mentioned – gave us a warm welcome.

We headed into the bar which also serves as a museum showing an assortment of memorabilia such as club emblems of past visitors, old pictures and newspaper clippings. It was uplifting walking on the wooden floor, reading and taking in all the historical details about Esher’s history and culture.

As Cascais went to the locker room to get ready for the game, some veteran Esher fans walked in and started talking. They were keen to gather information about who Cascais were and what the club’s position is in the Portuguese league while also sharing some old stories about Esher and news about how the club are currently doing.

The Game

It wasn’t a packed house – as Esher’s National One clash with Bishop’s Stortford was to be played the next day – but a good flock of fans came down, their curiosity getting them out of their cosy houses and onto the frozen stands of the historic Molesey Road.

If at first the locals weren’t into the game that much, after the first 20 minutes, a few voices began to come alive.

The usual “put him down, put him down!” and “That’s the way, c’mon lads!” were the shouts coming from the terraces as both teams gave a proper show to their fans.

Cascais scored an early try, but Esher hit back and were able to gain the lead with the game back and forth until the break.

If things had kicked off slow, well, at half-time, people were speeding up to the bar to get a refill of their most appreciated drink/food. The talk was about how that player was “an impressive human specimen”, or the other “fella could’ve held the ball a little longer before offloading it”.

I won’t lie, I also indulged myself in Esher’s food menu, grabbing a juicy hamburger with extra cheese (and bacon, of course) and some fries while waiting for the game to come back on.

I wanted the full local rugby experience, and Esher was delivering it with such brilliance and warmth that I didn’t feel the cold anymore. For those that might be asking; ‘Has he ever gone to a rugby game in his life?’ the answer is of course ‘yes’ but there was something different on that Friday night, and it was due to the whole vibe and atmosphere.

I’ve played and reported on Friday night games. I have been in the stands as a spectator or as a nervous fan waiting for the game to unravel, and I have tasted the sweetest of victories and the bitterness of losing.

But in Esher, I felt the weight of rugby history. It was simply different. I can’t say nostalgic, because I unfortunately had never been to Esher or to Moseley Road before, but I felt at home.

The last half was a tense affair. The two sides scored two more tries and were locked in a tie for what seemed like an eternity until the visitors piled on the pressure and scored another five-pointer, pulling ahead 29-26 with just a few minutes to spare.

Esher had a late penalty, but a handling mistake provided a turnover with Cascais kicking the ball out to earn a hard-fought win.

If before kick-off there was little enthusiasm, by the end, every fan was on their toes, nervously supporting their teams and waiting for a twist of fate to happen. Cascais won, and everyone was (seemingly) happy, nodding their heads in approval and sharing: “That was a good match. Fair play”.

The Farewells

For the young Portuguese players of the Cascais ensemble, going to England to do a bit of tourism and play rugby will become an ever-lasting moment in their sporting lives.

Maybe to a few, it will help them to believe more in themselves and work even harder. For others, maybe it will just be enough to keep them in the club as they wait patiently for another tour so they can be in it again.

Moreover, what was supposed to be just a game turned out to be a forging of a relationship, with both teams agreeing to play once a season be it as a pre-season fixture or included in future autumn rugby tours.

The terrestrial boundaries made of rock, water, soil, concrete and metal were dusted off instantly as Esher and Cascais’ love for the game was above all else.

Teams exchanged gifts and pleasantries, shared a couple of beers and a heartening meal, told some stories, and relived some of the best moments of the game before heading home.

When I finally got home and unpacked my bags, I took out Esher’s scarf and hung it on the wall, to remind me how a simple tour to one of England’s oldest clubs will forever have a place in my memory lane.

The impact of rugby touring has become a faint memory as unfortunately, Brexit has had a significant impact on travelling and lodging prices.

However, even before it, Portuguese teams rarely toured the UK, even when there were British clubs/teams like the Penguins touring Portugal.

In a time where pro rugby is getting even more professional, to have these types of sporting gatherings taking place at the same time as Autumn/July internationals makes even more sense just for the growth of the sport.

Not saying an Esher vs Cascais annual game will become a moneymaker or change the futures of both clubs, but it will create invaluable memories, open horizons and help bring different worlds together.

For me, having had the chance to connect with Esher fans, directors, journalists and players will always be remembered as a special day in my sports reporting life.

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