It's hardly the most timely news item. However, Saracens have kindly informed us that tube trains won't be running between Archway and High Barnet/Mill Hill East this weekend, which will affect those planning to reach Allianz Park by public transport on Saturday.

This is to enable essential track maintenance work to be carried out and, with the Club Big Day Out just around the corner on Saturday, those planning to use public transport to travel to Allianz Park please take note.

Michael Tagicakibau, the Saracens' and Fijian winger, will be our special guest. He will be sining autographs in the 11.00am, and he will be with us for an hour and a half.

We have had good exposure on the Saracens and the Rugby Roundup websites.
but I was particularly delighted by the fantastic exposure we received for the BDO
on the Rugby Tonight show on BT Sport on Wednesday evening.

Anyone watching the programme, couldn't have failed to notice our subtle advertising on 35 hoodies and t-shirts - giving all the details.

Although I was less than happy with one tweet showing a picture of me with two other front row-sized clubmates - suggesting a very wide angled lense was being us
used!

It was certainly an experience and a half. However, Ignatians were quids-in before
the show started, as eagle-eyed presenter, Martin Bayfield, having spotted a clutch of blue and white BDO 'hoodies', made enquiries as to what was going on?

In many ways this was the perfect 'debrief' for the 'Memorabilia' section later in the show in which Ignatians had over a minute of airtime.

Kevin Linane, red trousers and all, was able to able explain the concepts of the BDO (600 players playing), and sidestep Bayfield's potential tripwire "that the t-shirt shows that 500 players will be playing at Allianz. You seem to have picked up an extra 100 players?"

"We've more coming along in the minis," was Kev's confident reply.

Martin was also able to extol the virtues of Big Tour in which 63 Ignatians' tourists made the trip to South Africa. I gather that Martin later gave Craig Doyle a Big Tour CD after the show.

In may ways we were keeping very good company. We were part of a show that homed-in on Northampton Saints, The Six Nations, the Premiership, the Top 14, but also found time to sweep down at the lower levels of the game.

The show didn't quite end at the bell as we were still in the studios 'after-time' so to speak, when we milked photo opportunities with Martin Bayfield and Craig DoyLe. What wouldn't we do in the name of the Big BDO.

See you on the big day

Harold