Rugby is definitely one of the toughest sports, if not the toughest. Rugby is a fast, rough, and continuous 90-minute game that involves full tackling without pads. Running full force at each other for 90 minutes can take its toll, both mentally and physically. Only those who have a mix of love for the game and personal grit can really stick with and enjoy rugby.
I joined a women’s rugby team with absolutely no experience. It kicked my butt and I got quite a few injuries on the field; however, I am so glad I joined. Despite the shock of just jumping right into the sport, it felt great to work so hard on something. Rugby has taught me that my body can endure more than I think, and it has brought me some great friends.
Rugby can be dirty, grimy, and gross. On the first day of try-outs we practiced in the almost 90 degree heat of late summer, and were dripping with sweat, and we were also covered in grass and dirt. It was hard. We ran, and we ran, and then we tackled someone, got up, and we ran some more. Before rugby, I had never pushed my body so hard, but I had grown to love it. It was an amazing feeling. I was terribly sore, but I was proud that my body had done so much. Since then, I have continued to push past the boundaries of what I think I am capable of. Tackling without pads can leave some bruises, but it is liberating to feel the adrenaline it gives you and know your body is that powerful.
Rugby has sparked multiple epiphany-like moments for me when it came to body acceptance. Rugby is a sport that has positions for, and also values, every body type. On the rugby team, my height is something to be proud of. Only on the rugby pitch do I exaggerate my height and tell people I am six feet tall, when I am really 5’11". My height, still unusual even in the context of rugby, is something that is unique and gives me a certain skill on the field. Off the field, my height makes me self-conscious and as result I often slouch. On the pitch I stand up straight.
Due to the intensity of the sport, there is no time to fix my hair or worry about how anyone looks. It would be more likely that a team member would be ridiculed or even yelled at for trying to look presentable while playing. Just being around people who see so much value in themselves, not for their appearance, but for their ability to play, is such a great atmosphere. Playing and being around my teammates has taught me that getting grimy and disgusting is a good thing and that there are so many more important things than looking nice all the time.
Rugby has been both the most valuable and the most challenging set of experiences I have endured since starting college. Balancing a sports team along with my course work, personal life, and other extracurriculars is sometimes a struggle. Physically, I had to work really hard to be a valuable part of the team, but all of the effort has paid off. Rugby is now something I really enjoy, and I have a great team to share my passion with, which makes all of the blood and sweat worth it.
