Rugby Nut

I've just sent the following email to Mike Penning MP, following his comments in the Standard,  about Jeremy Corbyn, whom he criticised for not attending the England vs. Fiji rugby game. I will let you know if I get an answer.

Dear Mike Penning

I was pleased to see you recently describe yourself in the Evening Standard as a ‘rugby nut’. Me too! It's great to see that the Minister of State for Justice has got his priorities right!

In rightly denouncing Jeremy Corbyn for turning down free tickets to see England play (can you imagine? I can't!), you stated

As a rugby nut who’d go anywhere to see England play, I cannot believe anybody, let alone the Leader of the Opposition, would not support our country.

Some know-it-alls (don't you just hate them?) have tried to suggest that you are a bit of a nobody trying to make a desperate political point out of nothing at all on the slavish bidding of Conservative Central Office! Obviously that’s a ridiculous suggestion to rugby nuts such as ourselves; if you say you'd go anywhere to see England play and wouldn't - like Mr Jeremy Corbyn - let prior commitments keep you from the games, I believe you! 

But just to put my mind at rest, could you confirm that you did indeed attend all of the following matches?

5.9.15 England vs. Ireland
22.8.15 France vs. England
15.8.15 England vs. France
21.3.15 England vs. France
14.3.15 England vs. Scotland
1.3.15 Ireland vs. England
14.2.15 England vs. Italy
6.2.15 Wales vs. England
29.11.14 England vs. Australia
22.11.14 England vs. Samoa
15.11.14 England vs. South Africa
8.11.15 England vs. New Zealand
21.6.14 New Zealand vs. England
14.6.14 New Zealand vs. England
7.6.14 New Zealand vs. England
15.3.14 Italy vs. England
9.3.14 England vs. Wales
22.2.14 England vs. Ireland
8.2.14 Scotland vs. England
1.2.14 France vs. England
16.11.13 England vs. New Zealand
9.11.13 England vs. Argentina
2.11.13 England vs. Australia
14.9.13 England vs. Samoa
15.6.13 Argentina vs. England
8.6.13 Argentina vs. England
16.3.13 Wales vs. England
10.3.13 England vs. Italy
23.2.13 England vs. France
10.2.13 Ireland vs. England
2.2.13 England vs. Scotland
1.12.12 England vs. New Zealand
24.11.12 England vs. South Africa
17.11.12 England vs. Australia
10.11.12 England vs. Fiji
23.6.12 England vs. South Africa
16.6.12 England vs. South Africa
9.6.12 England vs. South Africa
17.3.12 England vs. Ireland
11.3.12 France vs. England
25.2.12 England vs. Wales
11.2.12 Italy vs. England
4.2.12 Scotland vs. England
8.10.11 England vs. France
1.10.11 England vs. Scotland
24.9.11 England vs. Romania
18.9.11 England vs. Georgia
10.9.11 Argentina vs. England
27.8.11 Ireland vs. England
13.8.11 Wales vs. England
6.8.11 England vs. Wales
19.3.11 Ireland vs. England
13.3.11 England vs. Scotland
26.2.11 England vs. France
12.2.11 England vs. Italy
4.2.11 Wales vs England
27.11.10 England vs. South Africa
20.11.10 England vs. Samoa
13.11.10 England vs. Australia
6.11.10 England vs. New Zealand
19.6.10 Australia vs. England
12.6.10 Australia vs. England
20.3.10 France vs. England
13.3.10 Scotland vs. England
27.2.10 England vs. Ireland
14.2.10 Italy vs. England
6.2.10 England vs. Wales

As you can see I’m not going to go back beyond the decade: I’m not sure how long you’ve been a 'rugby nut’; it may have been a very recent thing for all I know!

I applaud you – as one rugby nut to another – for your tireless efforts in supporting the England Rugby Team so devotedly. You put people like Jeremy Corbyn to shame! It must require you to put your family and your constituents and your ministerial responsibilities second and your love of rugby first. Well done! I think people underestimate how much hard work it is being a rugby nut. The time! The money! The air miles! It’s probably why, unti. I read the Standard, I must admit I’d never heard of you. But I have now. 

I look forward to hearing from you

Swing low sweet chariot!

Very best wishes

Dan