my experience as a london wasps mascot

MY EXPERIENCE AS A LONDON WASPS MASCOT
My name is Cameron Settle and I have been a member of Medway RFC for nearly 2 years. I
currently play in the Under 8s. I love to play rugby and I also love to watch. I am a supporter of
London Wasps as my Grandad is a season ticket holder and he has taken me to watch them at
Adams Park Stadium. My dad is also a fan of Wasps.
Medway RFC have been community partners with Wasps for some time and this
has given me the opportunity to go to New Bucks University with the club for a
training day in December with the Community Coaching Team. This was a great
experience, particularly as after training we travelled to Adams Park to have
photographs of our team taken in the stadium with Sting. After this we watched
Wasps beat Saracens in the Guinness Premiership!!!
Shortly after Christmas, my Grandad told me that for my birthday
he had booked a place for me to be a mascot for London Wasps.
Not only would I be a mascot, but it was for their Heineken Cup
‘Battle of the Capitals’ match against Leinster at Twickenham. I
was very excited!! I had been to Twickenham before to watch
England vs Pacific Islanders and I knew how big the stadium
was.
The night before, I could hardly sleep. I was quite nervous as Dad
told me that at least 30,000 people would be there watching.
On the day of the game, we left home about lunchtime. I travelled up with Dad, Mum, my sister
Heather (who also plays for Medway in the Under 6s), and my Auntie Rachel. We parked in the
North Car Park and met up with my Grandad, Nonnie, Uncle Darren and his girlfriend Emma.
We arrived quite early and had time to walk around the West Car Park
and play on some of the games there. While we were there, I got a Wasp
painted on my face and I even got interviewed by a television crew with
my Dad and sister. This was shown on the big screen in the stadium
before the game.
When the time came, Mum and Dad took me round to Rugby
House. This is where they dropped me off with the other 14
mascots. I met Dave Larham there and he took us all into the
stadium together. At this point I was very nervous but also
excited.
He led us to the changing room where our strips were hanging up,
ready for us to change into. I felt like a professional!!! Also there
was a ball for each of us signed by the whole squad and a scarf.
When we got changed they pointed out who’s signatures were on
the ball.
We were then lined up in the tunnel where we met the player we
were running out with. I was third in line and was paired up with
Richard Birkett. He took my hand and as we waited in the tunnel I
looked up and saw how big he was. He was massive!!
Then the time came to run out onto the pitch. It was a great feeling as we came out of the tunnel to
hear all the cheers from the Wasps fans. I can remember flames firing up either side of me by the
touchline. They were hot!!! When we got to the middle of the pitch, as I left Birkett, I told him “good
luck!” and joined the rest of the mascots. As we were led back to the tunnel we all waved to the
crowds.
When we got back into the tunnel, we had our picture taken together. We were then taken back into
the changing rooms where we got back into our own clothes. Right after I got changed I saw Sting
arrive without his costume on!!!!
We watched the rest of the match, and throughout the
match we kept getting messages from our friends saying
that they had seen me on television.
We were then taken back to our parents. When I got
back to Mum and Dad, they told me that they could see
me on both the pitch and the big screen and that they
were very proud. My Mum cried!!
It was quite a good game and Wasps finally beat Leinster 19-12. However this score was not good
enough to secure a place in the quarter finals and Wasps would have to win convincingly against
Castres the following week, with Leinster losing.
The whole day was fantastic. I felt really proud to be a London Wasps mascot, especially as Mum
had recorded the game and I saw myself on Sky Sports! The following day I was training with
Medway and I told everyone all about it. On Monday I told everyone at School. That day my
Grandma found a picture of me in the Daily Mail and gave Mum the picture to show me. It was just
the back of my head, but every bit of fame counts!!
I would like to thank my Nonnie and Grandad for my present. My Dad has told me that he is going
to get my mascot shirt embroidered with my name, the match and the date to help me remember the
day. I would also like to thank all the staff and players at London Wasps, especially, Dave Larham
for making my day so special and memorable.