Rory Marshman is flying high. Turbulence expected. A smooth ride overall hoped for.
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For a long time this year it was feared that COVID would garrote the life out of rugby in 2020.
But now Marshman is immersed in the sport he holds to his heart like a religious object.
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On Friday night at Scully Park, he will coach the Farrer First XV against The Armidale School First XV in the Cup final of the North West Regional Youth Rugby Competition.
The following day at Alcatraz Rugby Park in Armidale, he will skipper the Magpies' second-grade side in the preliminary final against Walcha.
The victor will play the Knights in the grand final.
"The last two weeks have been a pretty busy time, with what sports been able to happen coming to the conclusion all at once," he said.
It is a good time in Marshman's life. Being made coach of the Farrer First XV last year was a full-circle moment for him: he played for the side in 2010.
Another full-circle moment was when he returned to his alma mater to teach English and History in 2015, after studying at the University of New England. Farrer approached him.
Marshman chooses his words carefully while searching for the optimal syntax.
The coach and prop no doubt hopes his two sides deliver optimal performances, or close to it, over the next two days.
Running on to Alcatraz Park with him on Saturday will be his younger brother, James, a fly-half.
