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.

Foreign rugby!

So I looked up "rugby" on the WWWJDIC Japanese Dictionary and it gave me three words for rugby:

ラグビー (ragubii): "rugby"
アメラグ (ameragu): abbreviation of "american rugby"
ノーサイド (nohsaido): "no side"

It's the third one that amuses me. Is rugby really so messy that the Japanese refer to it as the game without sides? Or is it a reference to the sense of community present off the pitch between all rugby players, even those from opposing teams?

I may never know.