My Passion for Playing Rugby

Rugby is my passion. Try not being able to endure the full satisfaction due to a teeny tiny minor detail. The fact that I am a girl...

I joined rugby 2 years ago, not knowing what it was, how to play or the laws surrounding it. I remember that day clearly. I went to some rugby games on Saturdays at the pitch. I had messed about with the tackle bags and the balls that were lying beyond the touchline. I asked someone to teach me about rugby. I would go home chattering with excitement and telling dad “I wanted to start rugby”. I remember Dad’s face when I told him the first time. I could read his emotions. First of all he was shocked then when he sensed the situation he became happy that I was drawing my attention away from any electrical devices to do something productive. I remember he took me over to meet the coach of the juniors. GG he’s called. Dad introduced me to GG and explained that I wanted to give rugby a try. GG was enthusiastic and encouraged me to go to training with him. I remember saying that I would and dad and I went to the car. I remember very clearly that we had a little laugh at my choice of footwear onto a rugby pitch. I was wearing my no heel, black boots with beautiful embroidered flowers on the side of them. I loved those shoes. Extremely suitable footwear for going onto the rugby pitch. Not rugby boots, not even trainers.

I remember on the Saturday that was due to be my first day at rugby I couldn’t sleep. I woke up multiple times throughout the night. I was tossing and turning through the night. I woke up early and just lay there staring up at the ceiling for what I think was over two hours. I felt my mouth go dry and my palms went cold then sweaty. I could feel the tension in the air and I was the only one in the room. I struggled to eat my breakfast. I had to force myself to eat my cereal. I remember that when we left the house that morning my legs were shaking and when I stepped out of the front door I shivered as the chill of the weather swept over me. There was only a thin layer of clouds in the sky that morning and it was making it very, very cold. The sun was shining just over the edge of the hills in the distance and the trees in my neighbours garden swayed lightly in the breeze. The water rippled in the few puddles that littered the grass. I remember walking to the car to leave. Stumbling with every step. I remember banging my head on the top of the car as I got in. I never normally do that. It hurt, alot.

When dad parked outside the rugby pitch. I remember I struggled to walk to the gates I stood and looked around. I remember my first look at the pitch. I saw the green grass mixed with the brown mud on the pitch. I saw the goals which looked like 2 big H’s stuck in the ground on the lines. I remember the smell of the mud mixed with the fresh grass. It’s not anything I will forget in a hurry. The smell was stuck in my head. I remember my first look at the brown container. It was full of all the rugby kit and people had left spare kit lying around.

On the pitch there was a cluster of boys mucking around. They were kicking the balls over the goals, passing the balls. My first impression of the pitch was that I should turn and run back to the car to go home as back as possible.

I didn’t know what to do or what to say. I was so scared. He asked if I had boots so I said I did but I didn’t want to put them on. When GG heard me say that I remember he laughed and said “It will make it easier to run and to turn” so I put them on, very slowly. I put them on so slowly I remember Dad helped me because I was so slow.

When my boots were finally on my feet I stood up but didn’t go anywhere. I just watched the boys. I remember Dad asking if I was going onto the pitch and I remember saying that I didn’t want to because I didn’t know anyone I remember a guy stood at the side, who i soon learnt to be called Alex and said “You should just go on and show the boys”. He then called a boy over called Coinneach. When Coinneach reached us Alex told him to take me onto the pitch and make sure I was alright and that I got involved. Coinneach gestured me to follow him onto the pitch. I was quite surprised when I got onto the pitch at how easy I was so easily accepted into the group. When GG finally called us together he called me to stand beside him and he introduced me to everyone. I really didn’t want to do that. I stood there very quietly and just looked at the grass. Everyone was very polite and called out welcomes.

Being part of the team has been great. It's like having another family. At least that's what we call ourselves. Everyone has been so supportive of me joining and they encourage me to continue and to do even more. They accepted me quicker than anyone ever before. IT is important that women are able to play sports such as rugby because we are able to see what we can really do and we can be rough about it. Women are able to have higher levels of confidence and improve our self-esteem levels if we play sports like rugby.