I’m so looking forward to our weekend in Hull to visit our student son David and his lovely girlfriend Fiona. It has coincided with the very exciting Four Nations England v New Zealand rugby match on Saturday which they had already bought tickets for, and  I instantly said I would like to go along too, even though David kept protesting that I wouldn’t understand it.

“Do they score a try?” I asked, and David said they did.

“Do they score conversions?”, and he said they did.

Well I can follow that, so even if I don’t know all the rules, I will still enjoy it. And I’m really looking forward to watching the All Blacks perform their dramatic Haka routine when the game opens; I’m sure the stadium will erupt with the excitement of it, especially as the winners go through to the finals.

Both David and his brother James played rugby for their local club at junior level, albeit the other one (do you understand the difference between rugby union and league?) so I have watched lots of matches from the touchline, even though I had to look away sometimes when it started to get rough, as well joining them on club on trips to Twickenham.

I must admit I am relieved that they no longer play the game. I remember James being carried off the pitch with stud marks on his face, and I often couldn’t bear to watch as players pounced on him.

I will miss watching Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday, but there’s no doubt that the moves worth watching are going to be at the KC Stadium, and one thing is certain, it is going to be packed with drama and passion as New Zealand will be making their first appearance there since 20,324 fans watched Great Britain defeat the Kiwis 44-0 in 2007 to seal their first series victory in 14 years.  England will be hoping they can repeat that performance this weekend.

The best thing about this international match is the price, with tickets costing only £20 and £10 concesions, a fraction of the exorbitant price for an England football game, making it affordable for students.

If I’m lucky, we may also be able to check out some of Philip Larkin’s old haunts too, the poet and former Hull University librarian, some of which I have already seen, and the library is amazing.

In fact, Hull University is wonderful, David is very happy there and has made wonderful friends. I have yet to meet anyone who has a bad word to say about it.

“Hull doesn’t deserve the bad press it gets,” David often says.

Let’s hope the Kiwis like it too.

*I wonder if the England team will wear poppies. While there has been controversy about England’s football players wearing them, we have not heard a whisper about the country’s rugby team.

*Update: Congratulations to England for its sensational 28–6 victory. There was a great atmosphere, and KC Hull is a great stadium.