My Media Access Day With Wasps - 23rd February 2019

After impressing Wasps staff with my last blog entry on the Sensory room I was invited back to the Ricoh Arena today, and given behind the scenes media access for the Wasps v Sale Sharks match.

I met  my Playing Advantage coach and friend Jordan Young

(Community Development Officer) and collected my match day media pass.

We then went backstage to meet some of the media staff and have a look around the press areas.  Everybody was very kind and friendly.

 After seeing the media suite we went for an explore and had an amazing back stage tour of all the important areas of the Ricoh Arena.  Including going into the changing rooms and warm up areas and seeing the players getting prepared and ready for their match.  I wasn't allowed to take photographs in some of the areas because I didn't want to distract any of the players important preparations.

This little room is just off the players tunnel and is where the players come straight for interview after a match.  I pretended that I had just captained the winning Wasps team.

Here's one of my favourite players Jimmy Gopperth just arriving  through the players entrance.  I asked him how his training is going after his injury and when he would like to be back playing.

Back to the Media room and time to enjoy some of the food which is provided for the media team.  I got to say Hi to the BBC Coventry and Warwickshire Radio commentary team.
 I give the food a 6 out of 10 :-)!

Next I met the man who works with the big screen.  All of the information on the screen is controlled by people up in Preston.  

He allowed me to choose something to put on the screen and then I spoke on the radio and told them I wanted to display the quiz.  A few seconds later there it was on the big screen for the whole stadium to see.

It is a little sunny.  I cannot believe I was allowed to choose what went on the big screen.

 Next I explored some of the hospitality areas, including where the players family and friends are entertained and where the sponsors and v.i.p.s are looked after. 

 I cannot believe how much food is served in so many different places before a match.

This is the view from the top balcony where some of the most expensive seats and special guests enjoy the match.


 

You get a great view of the whole stadium from up here.

The players are coming out to warm up.  So time to go pitch side.

On the way I visited Jordan's office and met some more of the Wasps backroom and media team.  I met Wasps kit man Pudsey, and he kindly gave me a pair of Gaby Lovobalavu's socks.

It's great being so close to the action.

One of the Wasps media team were taking some warm up photographs.  So I decided to take some of my own.

Here they are:

The match officials are warming up too.

The stadium is getting fuller.

I cannot wait for the match to start.

Hi Sting.

Taking my seat in the press box. 

 Dai Young Director of Rugby for Wasps, just said hello and shook my hand.

I have the BBC Coventry and Warwickshire Radio commentary team directly behind me.

Everybody is ready for the match to begin.

The excitement is building.

The match is finally under way.

It's great to hear the live commentary behind me and hear the Wasps coaches and the Sale coaching team (just to the right in the picture) giving instructions to pitch side.

Here are some  first half action shots I took.

Sale started the match really strongly and although Wasps fought back.
 The first half ended 8 - 17.

At half time I got to go to the presentation of a  kind donation from the Rotary Club to the Wasps Community Fund, which is going towards the Playing Advantage tag rugby tournament trip to Belfast in June

Here's the presentation.

WOW we're on the big screen!

Time for the second half.

Wasps started the second half with what looked like a great  try but the TMO ruled there had been a forward pass and it was not allowed.

It was great to see Jack Willis back from injury playing today and Jacob Umaga (a regular at our Playing Advantage Sessions) recalled and back on the bench today.

Wasps fought back really hard but the Sale defence was too strong today.

Final score 18 -24.

Attendance 12,085.

  I was a little disappointed but I still had the post match press conference to look forward too.

Dai Young first.

With Steve Diamond Sale Sharks Director next.  I told him how I was listening and watching him during the match in the press box.
 I got to ask him some questions including:  Who he thinks is going to win the Rugby World Cup?  New Zealand.
What his favourite toy was growing up? A rugby ball
What he would buy if he won the jackpot on the lottery? Willie Le Roux :-)! and Who is the best person in his team to follow on twitter? One of his coaches who doesn't know how to tweet properly.

What an amazing day!

Here's me proudly wearing my media pass, and holding my programme.

 I have had one of the best days ever!

He's my Gaby Lovobalavu's socks.  I wore them all weekend, and I will wear them proudly every week at my Playing Advantage group.

I cannot thank Jordan and all the team at Wasps enough for giving me this amazing experience.