North Walsham Vikings stranded on A140 when driver falls ill

The players of North Walsham RFC Vikings first team arose early on Saturday morning to catch their 9am coach from Norwich to Southend.

The ninth-placed team was due to play eighth-place Southend RFC in latest match of the Regional One South East season.

Simon Locke, the first team manager of North Walsham Vikings, says he was proud of the team's great spirit. (Image: Simon Locke)About a quarter of the way through their journey to Essex, the driver of the coach suddenly told the team manager, Simon Locke, that he was feeling very unwell and may have to pull over. 

Then once the driver reached a layby on the A140, in the area of Stowmarket, he then explained that he could go no further as he was too sick to drive.

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The team went and played a game on a nearby rugby pitch by the A140 (Image: Simon Locke) The team was then left stranded for two and a half hours and the game was eventually called off as the team would not make it in time to prepare for the game.

Team manager Simon Locke, 41, who has now worked with the Vikings for over a decade, said: "We were stuck! The transport company told us they were fully booked and there was nothing they could do.

"As you can imagine we were really disappointed with the game being cancelled, and some of the lads didn't get back until 6pm. It was, of course, very frustrating, however, the boys showed great spirit and just got on with things.

"They even went and played a little match on one of the nearby pitches and they seemed to have a great time.

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"The boys should real class in their behaviour and reflected what the spirit of rugby is all about, and I was really impressed by that.

"Plus, at least we got to watch the England game and see the last few minutes of the second team! We wouldn't have got to do that if the game wasn't cancelled."