Day 4

Journalism is not a job. Thats what I have been able to discern above from all from my brief but amazing stay at the Guardian. I say this becuase my days work consisted of getting the train from Waterloo out into Surrey and then listening to the England rugby manager.

That is not work. That is pure enjoyment and for others, perhaps those who love the egg ball game more, a dream come true. It wasn't quite in those realms for me mainly becuase I have been instilled from a young age with a basic distrust of the more honourable form of football played by proper athletes. Even so it was an incredible experience. Penny Hill Park hotel turned out not to be a make believe territory for children but perhaps the most luxurious hotel I have ever seen (in my vast hotel experience), cut out of the Surrey hillside and surrounded by beatiful acres of land, golf course and rugby training pitches.

After getting off the train in Bagshot I began to fear that my morbid prediction of what would befall me would come true. It was tiny. There was no one there. There wasn't another train for an hour. It was wierd that just fifteen minute walk away was the headquarters of a premier sports team and a Michelin starred restaurant. I was pretty nervous on arrival (after the fifteen minute walk from the road to the reception and past a stern Johnson surveying training) as a repeat of "Hodgson Gate" would have been more uncomfortable in the presence of a rugby player with the same body mass as mount Vesuvius. Instead I was welcomed at the desk by the RFU's head press officer who knew me by name, was ridiculously nice and directed me towards the massive amounts of free bacon rolls and apple juice. The conference was due to take place in the Stuart Room and was not the monolithic press room I expected but a small space with about 15 chairs. After gorging myself and stepping out onto the terrace (I felt like I should have had a pipe and a tweed jacket, it was that kind of place) ,whilst listening to various Toff-type correspondents recount tales of whiskey and prostitutes, Rob Kitson from the Guardian arrived. If I had been told a little ginger fella would be waiting at a press conference for me to talk to, ruining an chance for me to eat free bacon rolls and chat with my more well informed counterparts, I would have been annoyed. Luckily Rob Kitson was incredibly nice and didn't stop talking to me ; giving invaluable advice and some funny anecdotes gleaned from his years as a journalist. Not only that but he gave me a lift back to Bagshot station saving me the walk of shame to the gate and the ignominy of Bentley's gliding past me, whilst simultaneously calling security because a youth in a harrington jacket was wandering the grounds.

The conference itself was interesting and engrossing. The current saga of young England players going to play in France, thus exempting them from the EPS agreement and possibly limiting their availability for England, was the order of the day and was pressed quite forcibly upon Johnson and Rob Andrew. There was an almost political feel to it as Johnson and Andrew spoke of "waiting to see what happened" in quite hesistant tones, despite it being clear they really werent happy about this possible exodus and how it could affect who gets picked or not. These veiled quotes say it all:

"It does make things more difficult, without a doubt.You can't compare players week-in, week-out. You have to watch tapes. It does make things more awkward. You can't deny that."

As well as Rob Andrew's more direct message:

"If they're not available, that will compromise their own situation. There is also the impact on the Guinness Premiership to consider and the domestic game in England. But the EPS agreement is about more than availability. There is medical profiling every week, fitness testing too. Players are also rested one week in five at their clubs and there is a 32-game limit in a season."

It was clear they weren't going to give and unequivocal answer on the matter, just as it was clear they are massively annoyed about this possible situation. There was evidence of tetchiness on Johnson's part today and if any more players commit their future to the lucrative Frence league then it could get very interesting.

When I got back to Kings Cross there was some tidying up to do on the worst pitches ever and cricket to watch whilst remembering that I had been in a room with no more than 15 people and one of the best athletes and only world cup winning captains England have produced. The journey was long, the start was early and the experience was tiring-but what a day it was.

*I Think I was watching training when the picture was taken today. Mental.