Looking back over the enormous file that makes up the path of the South African Rugby team coming to the Grand reads a little like an encyclopaedia! Here we describe the 'ins and outs', 'ups and downs' and 'rules and regulations' that made up our part.
Bsck to the beginning..... 23rd May 2013 to be precise, was the first enquiry that Eastbourne and of course the Grand could be in the running as a Team Base for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. It had just been announced that the AMEX Stadium in Brighton would host two of the first round games. A bid was needed fairly quickly. So the Grand, Eastbourne College and Eastbourne Campus of Brighton University got together to produce a most impressive 8 page document highlighting all that the town had to offer. It was submitted to England Rugby.... Now to wait!
The waiting lasted until 10th July 2013 when 3 representatives from England Rugby Team services came on the first of many site visits. They toured all three sites and discussed basic requirements with each base individually. No hint was given at this stage which teams might be involved.
It wasn't until the 1st November that we got the call to say a team wanted to view... It was Samoa RFU. They came and first impressions were good.... they liked Eastbourne and its facilities. The host committee thought this would be the 'adopted team' for the tournament. By the end of the month, the 26th November another team would enter the mix.... The mighty Springboks were coming on a recci.
It was now a two horse race as they say. Next stage was in December 2013 when England Rugby secured the bedrooms and function rooms, this duly done it still wasn't clear who we would be looking after.
The first inclination of who it might be was in March 2014 when first the Springboks Head Coach Heyneke Meyer made a visit and then a couple of weeks later the Team Liaison Officer came.
July 2014 and the big press release from England Rugby was made..... The South African Team would be using Eastbourne as their Team Base and the Grand, there chosen Hotel. Great excitment as you can imagine.. all that hard work had paid off. The final agreement was signed and now all we had to do was wait...... another 14 months!
After all the papers were signed the hotel was instructed they needed to sign a disclaimer to say they would not disclose to anyone that the team were going to be resident. It was hard watching and listening to the other two partners telling the world of their involvment, but true to their word, the hotel kept tight lipped about it!
In June of this year the final visit happened which included the security team. All teams taking part in the World Cup receive security from both England Rugby and the local force.
A week before the team arrival came the many deliveries! The first being a large number of cases of various waters/ sports drinks and snacks. The following day the all important training kit/match kit, training equipment and video analysis equipment arrived. You can imagine what the Boardroom at the hotel looked like... floor to ceiling of stuff..... Images of an Amazon Warehouse came to mind!
And so the big day arrived.. Saturday 12th September, all the staff eagerly awaited the guests they would be looking after for the next 9 days. They arrived and straight away showed their friendliness and politeness. It was now over to the Executive Head Chef to be in charge of making sure the correct food got to the athletes at the right time and on the right day! A very detailed nine day meal planner had been sent in advance, so hopefully all his deliveries would arrive on the correct day. It was quite a military operation. He would be responsible in providing Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and snacks around the clock.
The transport team not only provided the Official team bus for the players and staff, but also came with a Kit Van, 2 Landrovers and a 9 seater MPV. It was rather obvious to most passers by that maybe the Grand was indeed hosting the players by now.... well you just needed to look in the carpark.
The rooms being used by the team were dotted around the hotel and so it became quite a usual sight to see players pottering around in their tracksuits and flip flops. Amongst the rooms were a Team Room for Game Meetings and general relaxation, a dining room set with round tables and buffet, a physio room with 2 physio beds and the Media Room.
One person who became quite important to the team was Head Housekeeper, Yvonne Clingham. It was her job to co ordinate all the daily washing for the group. This included the official team suits, training kit and personal items. Quite a tall order but one executed to perfection, although Yvonne was heard to say she had no intention of doing any ironing at home for some time!
On Sunday 13th September a welcome ceremony was held at the towns Winter Gardens, it was scheduled for the Bandstand but sadly the usual kind Eastbourne weather was not playing ball! Something picked up and commented on by the team coach in his speech!!! Sunshine coast and all that! Undeterred the town turned out in force to welcome their new heros. A wonderful ceremony of presenting the Rugby World Cup caps and Participating medals followed.
The rest of the stay was a cycle of eating/training/sleeping, eating/training and sleeping! All week they disappeared to either the Gym at Brighton Uni or the training fields of Eastbourne College. On one evening a takeover happened at the Two Bulls Restaurant in Old Town, apparently a group of Bell Ringers were in for a quiet supper when the doors opened and in walked the guys.... These chaps are hardly missable by sheer size!
On the day of the big game against Japan at the AMEX Stadium all staff directly involved with the looking after had become quite attached. It was decided a 'line out' would be formed as a send off. Sadly the result was not what the script said and a sombre group returned later that evening.
Not much time to brood, the very next morning at 9.30am on the dot, the team bus rolled out of Eastbourne. Staff waved fond farewells and all wished them well for the games ahead...
The overwhelming comments from all the staff involved was just what a delightful bunch they were and a pleasure to look after. SA had definately made a mark.
Not your average week at the Grand Hotel, but one all the staff will remember for a very long time....... Come on you Boks!...