After returning from Everest, inevitably attention turned to the next challenge and fundraiser for Wooden Spoon. Understandably, there was a desire by some of the challengers to effectively “complete the set” by playing rugby at the South Pole: Wooden Spoon had previously undertaken challenges to play the most Northerly rugby match (North Pole) and the highest altitude rugby match (Everest). It is easy to see the allure of a challenge in the unspoilt wilderness of Antarctica inspired by the legacies of the likes of Ross, Scott, Amundsen, Shackleton, Bancroft, Fiennes & Stroud. For me, just the thought of the vast ice covered expanses and the clean air are enough to get my pulse racing and start looking at what exactly is realistic and feasible.
When you look at the idea in any detail however, the cracks start to appear. The problem with playing rugby at the South Pole, in my opinion, is that there is either a cost issue, time issue or story issue. What I mean by that is that you can either pay to fly to the South Pole itself for no other reason than to play the game and set a record which removes any element of challenge, reduces the number of challengers who can actually afford to go and decreases the appeal of sponsoring challengers. So you could walk in from the edge of Antarctica to play, which would be an astonishing challenge, but due to the time it would take to walk that far, recruiting enough challengers to play the match would be nigh on impossible. Lastly, the option to be dropped in at a realistic walkable distance feels scripted and doesn’t lend itself to authentic storytelling which is what inspires support and fundraising for the challengers and the charity. I also struggle with considering a charity challenge when potentially the cost of the expedition is going to be considerably more than the amount raised for the charity.
It may be that in the future, with increased exposure or funding, that the time and/or cost issues surrounding a game at the South Pole will be overcome and that the idea can be revisited and the set can finally be “completed”. But for now, in my mind at least, it is back to the drawing board to find a suitable challenge to undertake in 2023. I do feel however, that continuing to look Due South may well be the right approach and that a trip to the Southern reaches of this planet may well be on the cards in my not too distant future.
Deano's World 