Home Swede home (From Swindon Advertiser)

Home Swede home

6:00am Friday 6th January 2012 in Rugby By Andy Warren

ADAM Westall is hoping a team bonding session in Sweden over the Christmas break will help fire Swindon to success in 2012, as he prepares to make a big step off the pitch.

More than half of the Swindon first team travelled to Scandinavia for Westall’s stag do on December 27, as the group enjoyed two nights in the picturesque city of Gothenburg.

The fly-half will marry fiancee Kelly at the end of January, and Westall was pleased to enjoy some time away with a few of his teammates before the big day.

“I think a few of the guys knew where we were going but my best man kept it a secret from me, so it was a bit of a surprise. It is not your usual stag do destination though, but it was very nice,” he told the Advertiser.

“As seems to happen on these things we happened to find an Irish bar and sat in there most of the time. It was great to spend some time with the guys who were there, and I am sure some time away will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season as it is good for team spirit.

“Sweden is a pretty cultured place and it is quite sensible too, so there was nothing too rowdy really, as it is always quite expensive. But what goes on tour, stays on tour.”

Swindon return to action tomorrow when they travel to Salisbury having not played since beating Bletchley on December 17, and Westall is happy to be getting on the field against the side immediately below them in the South West 1 East table.

“It is a funny one really because when we broke up for Christmas we were all ready for a little break because games take their toll on the body,” he said.

“But after a little while you start to miss it and you feel like you need to get back in the gym because fitness can go very quickly.

“It will be good to get back into the swing of games, and Salisbury are a bit of an old nemesis for us, so it will be good to try and get one over on them.

“They have not lost at home for something like two years, but we are on a decent run so we have a good chance.”

Predicted heavy winds could see Saturday’s game turn into a battle of the forwards, but Westall is confident his side will be able to adapt to the conditions.

“If it is blowing a gale and raining I don’t think there is going to be much rugby played, but we can cope with that,” he added. “As a fly-half it is difficult because those conditions, and a boggy pitch, do not help us at all, but playing away from home might just do us a favour.”