Weekend project: Build a Rugby World Cup scoreboard

You can use your scoreboard during the World Cup, then after to advertise excess fruit. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Justin Newcombe has a timely project for this bumper weekend of sporting excitement.

I would not ordinarily suggest you put a scoreboard up in front of your house but these are extraordinary times at the Rugby World Cup. We are in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime event and even people who have no idea what the rules are seem to be taken away with the whole thing. Along with all the other parents, I spent half of my son's karate class crowded around someone's iPhone as we were relayed a blow by blow account of Japan vs Canada from someone at the ground via text message. As it turned out, that one was an exciting draw. May I take this opportunity to congratulate the commentator whose sterling efforts would be well worth a subscription to a certain pay TV channel.

Although having a scoreboard on the front fence may seem a little over-the-top, one thing I'm learning about this World Cup with all the flag-flying and face-painting is that we are not just a black army. I bet we'll see a lot of flags left up after the Cup. The scoreboard can, of course, be used for any contest or even as mechanism for predicting the future. Warriors 16, Manly 14 (sorry Sydney), Don Brash 0 Public opinion poll 0.5 (sorry Epsom), Happy Feet 0, Jaws 1 (sorry kids). You see, it's not just rugby; you've got your own version of a YEAH RIGHT!! billboard. I'm getting carried away here, but in the summer your new scoreboard can double as an advertising hoarding for excess fruit.

Construction is relatively simple (compared to last week at least, I promise). I used a base board to hang on the fence then made interchangeable boards with holes that could be hooked over screws in the base board. The hardest thing is making sure the base board is straight.

You can go to town with the colours as well. I went for yellow and red which I thought wouldn't pertain to any team in particular. I'm told I actually chose lemon and melon which is not macho enough to cut it as sportswear, but I'm all set for Miss World. You may want to paint it up in your favourite team's colours. The best thing about the World Cup is that rugby has become fun again. I hope it stays that way once it's all over.

Step 1

Cut a baseboard out of plywood. Mine is the length of a plywood sheet, but you may go for a different format.

Step 2

Cut smaller lengths to write the names of your competitors on, and some smaller ones for the numbers. I stacked these boards together and drilled right through all of them with a 10mm to 20mm diameter hole. The fact that the holes line up means you can easily change the signs and numbers on the backing board.

Step 3

Paint numbers and names on the small boards, and paint up the base board. Don't forget the all important Vs in the middle.

Step 4

Erect a string line and string level across the fence where you intend to hang your score board.

Step 5

Place the back board under the line and screw on to the fence.

Hold the competitors' name signs in place on the back board and attach long screws through the holes to hang them.

Step 6

Watch the game. You know what to do next.