Mid-Ruggerfest update

Rugby today? SO MUCH FUN! Today and tomorrow (yay! I get to play again tomorrow!) are the last times playing rugby this season (there's the rookie party next weekend, but that's a totally different kind of playing). We're at Ruggerfest, which is an all-women's rugby tournament. Today I got to play all 80 minutes of our two 40 minute games, at wing. I didn't tackle anyone, but I only got one or two opportunities to, and I DID shove four or five girls into touch (that's a good thing). The more I play this sport the more I love it. The newest thing that I love? RUCKING. Oh my god is rucking FUN. Seriously! Running into people with your shoulders and pushing them back? AMAZING feeling!

AUWRFC: Ten years going strong

This weekend there was an alumni reunion for the rugby team, which has been together since 1996 (10 years!!!). It was INSANE. I am absolutely exhausted, but it was SO much fun!

It started out Friday night, when we had team dinner in TDR with some alumni and some of the team. Usually, I eat pretty fast and get out of there - but with some of the stories being told, I was laughing so hard it was impossible to eat! I stayed for an hour and a half, then somehow ended up going over to the rugby house to help set up (which was also quite fun).

Saturday I was up at 10 to go to the pitch, where the team watched the Stinger's game before our own 2:00 match of AU ruggers vs. Alumni. We were supposed to play four 15 min quarters, but ended up only playing three (because some of the alumni are old and out of shape, and they were getting injured pretty frequently). I played wing, then fullback, then wing again and had a GREAT time - I got some nice tackles in, including a most excellent back-style running tackle (i.e. their wing had the ball and was running away, and I caught up to her from behind, grabbed her jersey and dragged her down) and one where their 8man made a breakaway and I grabbed onto her long enough to stop her (though I had help getting her all the way down). At some point I also lost a chunk out of my left knee, but it doesn't hurt very badly and I didn't even notice until after the game was over.

The weather was perfect for rugby - it had been raining for hours and hours, so the ground was nice and wet and soft with several huuuuuuuuge puddles and I got quite muddy just from tackling and rucking (I think it was the rucking that got the mud in my ears). I also found that mud puddle makes excellent hair gel - it kept all the wisps out of my face! Then at the end of the game (the alumni won - boo!), a few of us (me included) went mudsliding through the biggest puddle - and then we took a big alumni and current player photo.

After a quick break to run back to campus and shower (where I just dumped all my dirty clothes in plastic bags in a pile on the floor), we all went to the rugby house for a SOCIAL!!!

But after six hours of sleep - back up to go to the rugby house! It was supposed to be a pancake breakfast goodbye for the alumni, but not a single one showed up (all too tired - and hungover), so it ended up being just a fun bonding the team members that came before we cleaned up the house.

When the house was clean, I walked back to campus just in time to watch my wife & co. in King Lear, then grabbed a bit to eat before coming to work. I've still got awhile before I can get my exhausted ass to bed - remember those muddy clothes in plastic bags on my floor? Still there! After work, I REALLY have to go rinse and wash them.

But as exhausted as I am - it's the exhaustion that comes from a weekend of PURE AWESOME.

Thou shalt not hesitate in the breakdown

The Ten Commandments of Rugby, preceded by a photo of George W. punching someone in the face.

So who wants to buy me presents?

If anyone wants to buy me rugby stuff... My favorites are "Run like a girl - throw like a girl - tackle like a girl" "Try me! Women's Rugby" "My girlfriend rucks better than yours" "I hurt it playing rugby" this one, "My mom could tackle your mom!" "My daughter is a hooker" This one, "Ruck it" Let's Hit the Maul, Real Women Drive Rucks, and Congratulations! It's a rugby injury! cards.

And some more - this one and Rossie the Rugger and Lipstick Forward (ha! I hope you get this).

So the rugby game yesterday was good. We played two 40 min games against the Furies and the Maryland Stingers, and did fairly well considering they're both much more advanced teams than us. I personally played okay - I need to work on making my tackles, I definitely missed some and a good number were pretty messy.

As far as injuries, I ended up quite well - I got a bloody nose and knocked myself silly (I had to take a knee in the middle of the field until my eyes uncrossed), but got few bruises and scrapes and I'm not even that sore today. Just one shoulder and where I bashed my nose (by the way, after the game yesterday I went back to my room and iced my FACE. I find that really amusing).

I love rugby, and rugby loves me (abusively)

Yesterday, I finally finally finally got to PLAY RUGBY, and it was brilliant.

Our game was vs. Drexel, on the same pitch as our first game last year. The weather was pretty cold and windy; the cold wasn't too bad, as it was sunny and I was wearing spandex pants and long sleeves, but the wind was miserable, especially when it picked up dust from the field and threw into our faces (dirt in my eyes, my nose, my mouth, my ears... yuck).

First we played two 40 minute halves A side, then 20 minutes B side vs Drexel, then 20 minutes B side vs GW.

I got to play the whole A side game (at wing) and the whole 20 minutes vs Drexel's B side (at outside center).

That's 100 minutes of rugby. And I played it ALL. Without breaking myself at all*! I did pretty well, too - much better than I was expecting. I guess that whole season of just watching really paid off - I almost always knew where I was supposed to be and what was going on. Now I just need to work on making my tackles and passing (and catching) the ball.

But I did get some good tackles in (the one that banged up my hand was pretty nice, actually, and another one I tackled a girl so hard that even though I landed on top of her, the momentum rolled us over and she kind of landed on my head and neck), and even though I didn't get the ball that often, when I did get it I didn't fuck up too much. PLUS I ended up in two different mauls, one of which I was actually the person with the ball, and those were intense.

As far as the team overall, we did really well - we beat Drexel's A side 19-10, and even though both B sides lost, a lot of rookies were playing their first game and the teams we were playing weren't totally B sides. As far as playing, we're doing AMAZING - not perfect by any means, but we've got a good chance of making a good showing in playoffs!

After the game, I went back to my room intending to do some homework, but ended up collapsing in bed reading National Geographic and watching whatever Anna was watching. I didn't get too tired during the 100 minutes I was playing, but afterwards I was totally beat.

Today, I woke up very sore, but not too bruised (outside of my right hand, which looks like I punched something hard). And, of course, completely euphoric - rugby is just Awesome. With a capital A. And now I get to play it all the time, not just watch.

*Notwithstanding the fact that my right index finger is swollen and bruised at the first joint and knuckle, and I have it taped to my pinkie to prevent myself from typing with it. IT'S NOT BROKEN, DAMMIT, IT WILL GET BETTER.

WHAT?!

HOLY SHIT.

So, about an hour ago, I checked my email and found a message from Deanna (our coach) listing selections. Opening it, I found -

I am starting A side in our game tomorrow.

Holy monkey Jesus on a pogo stick.

I have never, never, NEVER started before*. In every sport I've ever played, I've been one of the worst players on the team.

And tomorrow, I'm STARTING A SIDE at wing.

AND playing the whole game.

And playing outside center for at least part of a B side game.

First I was stunned. Then I started screaming. Then I called Carmen. I think I would've had a heart attack except then I wouldn't have been able to play.

I can't believe it.


To finish this up... here's my rugby face:



Note the unwashed state, the bandana covering my scary hair, and the big scratch above my eye. That last is what happens when you try to tackle someone's cleats with your face. Not advisable.




*Unless you count senior night for volleyball, but that was only because I was a senior, not because I had any skills. At all.