Why do we play rugby?
There's something about rugby that we all love. Winning or losing, it's the love for the game that keeps us all playing no matter what the level. Many of us will play injured, hungover (sometimes drunk) and even past retirement - with our love for rugby often overruling our common sense!
I play for a pub team. It's not a particularly tough league but the banter and camaraderie is unbeatable. There is a social side to the game that bonds us all, often continuing into the 3rd half in the bar afterwards.
For me it starts Saturday morning. Meeting at the pub (always a bonus) we find out final numbers and arrange who is travelling in what car. After a pint of some pre-match protein we then head off in convoy - despite this there's always someone who gets lost along the way!
After arriving at the ground we proceed to the changing rooms where we are greeted by a strong smell of deep heat and a lack of bench space. Still, spirits are high and the banter is in top form, especially when someone has forgotten their shorts and has to borrow a pair 2 sizes too small! We then begin to dig our through the shirt bag - some players requiring a specific shirt to fit their....um.. 'physique'. When leaving the changing room we must look a right old motley bunch, with shirts bearing no relation to our position and the more 'experienced' guys held together with gaffa tape.
Our 'warm up' could be more accurately described as a wives meeting. It usually consists of around 10 mintes of chin-wagging to find out the gossip from the previous nights events, a lot of aimless kicking (including front rowers practicing drop goals??) and eventually a quick game of touch to warm up the old legs. A few drills are run - mainly to remind the boys of their line out calls as too many knocks to the head can lead to a forgetful forward!
Game time. This is what we live for. That 80 or so minutes where we give it our all. Numbers aren't always on our side so we can often be playing out of position but that just adds to the fun. When initially asked where I'd prefer to play, I replied 'flanker', at which point my captain then replied, 'how'd you feel playing full back?'. This sums up the attitude of my club. We are all prepared to play where we are needed. So far I have covered all positions bar the front row - and I pray that day never comes!!
The role of touch judge is often performed by a spectator or or family member and one of the subs will act as water boy. If we're really lucky we may get some orange segments at half time!!
I find that the level of respect you find in rugby is unparalleled by any other sport. Often described as a game for hooligans played by gentleman, this philosophy is epitomized by the respect shown towards the referee. One minute a rather burly 19 stone prop can be... 'expressing' his opinion to his counterpart (using some rather well chosen expletives), the next he can be as gentle as a kitten whilst replying to the ref's commands, 'yes sir, sorry sir, wont happen again'. There may be a few scuffles here and there on the pitch but that's really just a player's passion boiling over. A player wants to give everything he has to the team and will play his heart out for the man next to him. On the pitch a punch or two may be exchanged but off the pitch a pint or four are exchanged in their place, all 'disagreements' are forgotten and everyone becomes good mates.
When the final whistle blows the excitement turns to relief as 30 blokes are blowing out their arse. Only one team emerges victorious but all leave the pitch happy. After the usual 3 cheers and tunnel rituals we all head to the showers where the banter recommences.
Back at the bar we all turn professional pundits now we have the power of hindsight. Here the congratulations are given out and the MOM is announced and the drinking begins. I remember my first game having to stand on a bar stool and down a pint of ale, not what you'd the best recovery drink!
To end, rugby is a hard game. Ask any player how he feels on a Sunday morning and he'd tell you the same. However the aches and pains are worth it, the feeling you get playing 80 minutes alongside your mates far surpasses the feeling of a battered body. Why do we do this to ourselves? - because we love rugby and we have odd shaped balls.
