We’re getting told that we missed the contentious aspect of this tournament – that the winners, Ardbeg, (hold your breath) applied a loose interpretation of the rules in their route to victory.
They had a 15 man squad instead of a 10 man squad. Well, that seems conclusive enough.
There were plenty of digs at this manoevre during the prize giving. Ian ‘Mighty Mouse’ McLauchlan – set to become the new Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) chairman) – awarded the 10 special bottles for the winning squad – and announced that there was unfortunately not enough for all of them… Now that’s an enviably witty way with words.
For fans and supporters of the event – any one wanting a Eat Sand 4 Last Man (or Lady) Stranding t-shirt (see above), should email simon@bruichladdich.com. All proceeds go to Islay Rugby Club, a stalwart resource for the event.
Poor show! Surely we should be celebrating the fact that an Islay team did so well -with 9 local players and all players linked to Ardbeg. Camaraderie was the name of the game and we all had a memorable day, playing with some cracking players.
The Ardbeg spirit runs strong and true, despite a case of sour grapes from (shhh…) where?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
For Neil Johnston: To clarify – people who put us straight on this were having a laugh at Ardbeg’s enterprise – which is also how we read the Mighty Mouse’s joke about the ten bottle prize. We’re not aware of any sour grapes and Ardbeg’s record of successive wins in such a gruelling contest is indeed a spirited achievement. And what a spirit.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I agree with you totaly Neil.The first time an Islay team gets to the final and Islay people are moaning about it…I also heard someone say that we had no local boys play in the final!! I dont know what game they were watchin because the local team was made up of mostly local lads…. Well done Ardbeg
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
French-owned Ardbeg, and great whisky it is too, played some very fine rugby and were undoubtedly worthy winners of a very successful and enjoyable tournament. Congratulations to them. It was indeed a great day of fantastic sport, spectating, and camaraderie.
But there is a serious point here, I would venture, if the great success the tournament has become is not to be compromised. Rugby is a hard, physical game with a strong code of conduct that makes it such a fantastic game to watch and to play, and which prevents it from degenerating in to an ill-disciplined brawl.
Ignore those rules at your peril. There aren’t many in Islay Beach Rugby, but using 50% more players than were registered, and the rules allow, was a bit like turning up for the school sports day 4 X 100 metres with a team of six hired guns.
Despite some vociferous representations from other teams, a generous verdict of “over-enthusiasm”, rather than anything less sportsmanlike, was why Ardbeg was not expelled from the tournament by the Islay Rugby Club chairman – Bruichladdich’s Simon Coughlin.
As comedian Al Murray says: “Where would we be without rules? France.”
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Nice to see English owned Bruichladdich still bleating away . as part of the winning team and a founder of the beach rugby long before any involment by Bruichladdich no teams will be expelled by Simon or any other member of Bruichladdich and as for the other teams complaing I do recall this was only the team of hired guns paid for by Bruichladdich that made any comments , simply a case of sore losers or money badly spent , follow Ardbeg and get a bunch of locals and their friends
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
as one of the “hired guns” the best part of the day was pumping Bruichladdic/Melrose on our way to the cup.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0