I’m writing about a small incident that happened to me over the weekend relating to the Rugby at Twickenham on Sunday 26th February 2017. This is more of a complaint directed to the RFU than a story as such.

At around midday, I was taking my children to Syon Park and as I was driving along Park Road leading up to the Syon Park gate, a white England Rugby vehicle approached me from the opposite direction at quite some speed. Their hazard lights were on and they were flashing their headlights like they were an emergency vehicle. The driver forced me to stop in the middle of the road as I didn’t want to collide with them.

He then motioned with his hands that I back up quickly and I had no idea why until I saw in the distance a large black coach that I can only assume was carrying VIP’s related to the Rugby, possibly even one of the Rugby teams. I was forced to reverse my vehicle backwards some distance and mount the kerb to allow the coach to pass by.

There was also a vehicle behind me at the time that had to do the same thing and there was a lot of hesitation as the driver behind me didn’t know what was going on either. Fortunately my vehicle wasn’t damaged at all but I took a risk mounting the kerb and could have very easily damaged my vehicle. My kids and partner were a bit distraught at what was happening as the situation was very intimidating to everyone in the car.

In normal circumstances, if a large vehicle like this is travelling on a small road that has restricted access, surely the council or the police need to be notified so that its path can be managed correctly avoiding intimidating situations like the one that happened to me.

If I had prior notice that coach would be travelling down that road, obviously I would have been courteous and given them the right of way. I didn’t expect to be intimidated and pushed out of the way half way down the road potentially jeopardizing the safety of my family and risking damaging my vehicle.

I would like an apology from the Rugby Football Union who I can only hold responsible for this. I am a resident of the area and I don’t appreciate being intimidated on a public road when I should have just as much right to use it as anyone else.

If I decided to drive down the same road with a large lorry while my friend drove in front of me in his vehicle flashing his headlights and hazard lights, I’m sure someone would stop and kick up a fuss. It’s not right. It’s not fair.

Article supplied by Andrew Simeou.