Old Nicks
The Devils is a strong cultured rugby club based in Beijing, China with a strong contingent of players who are living and working in Beijing as an expat and have found more than rugby whilst playing with the Devils, they have found incredible friendships and bonding that not only exists on the rugby field but in all aspects of life whilst living in Beijing, Devils players become your best mates. This friendship and loyalty to the club and team mates has been the cornerstone to our club motto “once a Devils, always a Devil!”
As with all expat dominated rugby clubs around Asian, the Devils have always had a high turnover of players, with players experiencing this club during there working period within Beijing. Due to ex-player’s desire to stay involved with the club and the strong friendships kept by past players the Devils formed the Beijing Old Nicks. The Old Nicks gives ex Devils who have left Beijing the opportunity to still tour with the club and play with their old team mates. The Old Nicks is the clubs over 35’s men’s team.
The Old Nicks have 2 tours annually, the first is our annual trip in the last week of February to the Bangkok 10’s where we play in the 2-day tournament in the Vet’s division. The second is in the second half of the year when we look at travelling to play a regional friendly 15’s game, looking at a new location every year. Ex Devils from all over the Globe met up again on these tours along with the handful of Old Boys that are based in Beijing and still playing with or retired from the Devils.
The Old Nicks are also open to have rugby lovers and ex rugby players in Beijing who are looking to join a fun and friendly rugby community to enjoy a beer or 2 over a match in our local bar, head out to watch and support the Devils and She Devils here in Beijing on weekends and even join the Old Nicks tours on a social basis.
The Beijing Devils are my life away from work in Beijing. Best teammates on the pitch but most importantly best mates and always there for you off the pitch as well. I have made lifelong friends who are now not only in Beijing but all around the globe.
My greatest Devils moment was at the Bangkok 10’s playing with the Old Nicks. We lined up against a team lead by Bobby Skinstad (ex Springboks captain) plus a further 7 ex internationals. We ran on with a team of 10 ex Devils legends and got stuck into them from the whistle. 90 seconds into the game at nil all I go through to score a try, I’m ecstatic, Old Nicks are celebrating, crowds on their feet cheering, my greatest Devils moment, I am stoked! Unfortunately it only lasted a few seconds as the ref come up to advise me that I have scored on the 5 meter line, no try, but those few seconds where amazing!
The Fat chef on and off the field
If you didn't already know, I used to play professional Rugby back in Aus... and I still live off those stories
The best show and go in town, my feet go one way and the belly goes the other!
I have always been the most approachable person on the Devils
Give em the BIFF
