The job of managing a semiprofessional rugby club means that Bedford Blues director of rugby Mike Rayer has few opportunities to take in the annual Six Nations championship.
During his playing career, the former Wales fullback represented his country eight times in the tournament in the days when it was just five countries taking part.
These days though, Rayer is either coaching his team on a match day or preparing for their upcoming Championship encounter to be able to sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
“I don’t keep a close eye on it to be honest because there is so much on our plate in terms of planning to take notice of it,” he confessed, adding: “After this weekend I couldn’t tell you what the fixtures are.”
Rayer was part of the Welsh team that won the old Five Nations in 1994, with a personal high being scoring two tries as a replacement in the victory over Scotland.
And as a result he is well aware of what every team goes through in the build-up to the tournament.
He said: “Every country goes in at this time with false optimism and every team thinks they can win the championship, and it’s all about momentum which it has been down the years. If you get a win the first weekend, particularly away from home, then that’s great momentum going into the following weeks.
“If you win the first couple then, generally, you go on to win the championship.”
Despite everything else going on, Rayer will still be able to set aside time today to watch Wales take on Ireland in a re-run of their quarter final clash in last year’s World Cup.
On that occasion the Welsh ran out 22-10 winners, although the Blues boss feels it will be tougher going for them this time around at the Aviva Stadium.
“The Welsh team have got so many injuries to key players that it’s going to be really difficult for them, particularly with Ireland having been stung at the World Cup,” he said.
“They will have something to prove so it will be interesting to watch that one.
“France are probably the favourites given what they did at the World Cup, but Ireland have got a lot of experience in their side and Wales and England, for me, have got a lot of potential and excitement about them.
“Scotland are always dark horses, but if they get off to a winning start then they could do something because their regional teams have done quite well in Europe and the RaboDirect Pro 12.”
