The Iraqi rugby player

THE Gauteng Lions manager flies to Baghdad to watch some young Iraqis playing rugby and is suitably impressed by one of them. He arranges for him to come over to Gauteng.

Two months later the Lions are 18-6 down to the Cheetahs with only 20 minutes left to play. The manager gives the young Iraqi winger the nod and on he goes. The lad is a sensation, scores four tries in 20 minutes and wins the game for the Lions. The fans are delighted, the players and coaches are delighted and the media love the new star.

When the player comes off the pitch he phones his mom to tell her about his first day in Super 15 Rugby.

“Hello Mom, guess what?” he says “I played for 20 minutes today, and we were 18-6 down but I scored 4 tries and we won! Everybody loves me, the fans, the media, they all love me!”

“Wonderful,” says his mom, “Let me tell you about my day. Your father got shot and wounded in the street and robbed; your sister and I were ambushed and beaten; your brother has joined a gang of looters and all the while you were having such a great time playing rugby.”

The young lad is very upset.

“What can I say Mom, but I am so sorry.”

“Sorry?!! Sorry?!!” shrieks his mom, “It’s your fault that we all moved to Johannesburg in the first place!”