The pair, arriving early at the club's offices, were invited to and treated to a slap-up pre-match meal with the entire Parma squad. And, what's more, were escorted to the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi by the Parma team manager leading the way - on his scooter! Richard's thoughts on a memorable day for them, and for the Saints fans who travelled to see the 68-21 win. What a day! This is exactly what rugby days are all about. It may have been the occasion of a contest at the highest club level in Europe, but it was a genuine, honest rugby and social encounter firmly seated in the attitude for which the game is famed. We all know the Saints' place among the elite in Europe but the continent's premier competition is a harder nut to crack for the likes of Parma. It's a Serie A football city with two rugby clubs, both of whom lack the financial clout and an appropriate domestic competition to keep Italy's best players within the national boundaries. Parma (and every other Italian club for that matter) merits its place in the Heineken Cup because of the great strides the national side has made in the last ten years. And here it was mixing grass roots rugby with European professionalism perfectly.
 | | Richard meets Parma's team manager |
Not one of the six hundred or so Saints' fans who made the trip will say it wasn't up there with the best European weekends, even if their side was less than taxed on the field. The welcome and the hospitality (and not just that given to us privileged radio hacks) was up there with the finest in Europe and not unlike that of those great community clubs we all started out with back here in Blighty. Hospitality and sporting spirit Parma sought and found new friends with an irresistible mix of camaraderie, warmth, friendship and sporting spirit. We were lucky to experience all this at the closest quarter, thanks to our unfortunate mistake which meant we arrived very early at the club's offices instead of the stadium, and were then invited to the team's pre-match meal. The pasta, the sauce, the parmesan and prosciutto ham sure beat chomping a sausage batch in the rain. And I can't believe I will ever again be treated to the experience of being escorted to a sporting stadium by the opposition's team manager leading the way on his scooter. I can't see Paul Grayson leading Italy's press down the Weedon Road on a Vespa somehow. Unforgettable. There existed a complete lack of ego and pretence in a sport becoming ever more cut throat and professionally ruthless. It was one of the moments which make the sport such a joy to follow. Good luck to Parma in all they do - and please go out of your way to extend a similarly warm welcome to them when they visit Franklin's Gardens this Saturday (16th December). | 
