Why Rugby?
I was trying to explain to someone the other day what I get out of playing rugby.
This little 4 seconds slice of one year of rugby I think sums it up.
I just run cross the field chasing someone when the ball goes out of bounds. I am panting, out of breath, it will be good time for a little breather. I look around for Dave to lift him for the throw in. I turn back and look at Toru our hooker standing on the sidelines. He nods at me and then pitches the ball too me.
"WAIT my brain screams as the ball flies towards me, is this legal?"
Too late for questions now the ball is in my hands, I do not hear a whistle. I tuck the ball into my chest. SMASH through 2 guys standing together.
WTF I am still standing RUNNING!
I run harder at the time there is nothing but go forward and run harder going through my mind. I can see the try line, I can feel it this is the one. When I replay the whole thing through my mind my skin gets goosebumps, and my hair tingles. I can hear everything, I can feel my hand pushing against the third guys jaw as he comes in too high on the tackle.
I can hear Andy's voice over the everything screaming "Go Erin RUNNN!" Everyone else is screaming hysterically, like at a Pentecostal Church. I cant hear it as much as I feel it. I hope my Eric is watching, I wish his mom could see this.
I run hard there is a line on the ground SHIT it is the 5 meter line. I can see the try line I am going to make it. SMASH I am caught, still moving forward but a guy has me around the waist and has hooked the arm that is holding the ball. I hear Joffa. He is right behind me. I am over the 5 meter when my tackler takes me down. I fighting to get the ball free as we go down to the ground.
OFFFFF! I land with the ball in my sternum. It knocks the wind out of me, I know Joffa is right there I just have to get him the ball and he will score. I CANT GET IT OUT! Finally I peel the ball out from my tacklers arm that I am laying on and shove it in Joffa's direction.
I hear a thud about a meter away, then look up and then turn to my right just in time to see Will, smash his way across the try line. Joffa and I briefly congratulate each other, then get up and play more. The war is not over it is just one battle.
That is probably one of my best experience as a Rugby player thus far. No matter how good or bad next season goes. I will always have that.
I just run cross the field chasing someone when the ball goes out of bounds. I am panting, out of breath, it will be good time for a little breather. I look around for Dave to lift him for the throw in. I turn back and look at Toru our hooker standing on the sidelines. He nods at me and then pitches the ball too me.
"WAIT my brain screams as the ball flies towards me, is this legal?"
Too late for questions now the ball is in my hands, I do not hear a whistle. I tuck the ball into my chest. SMASH through 2 guys standing together.
WTF I am still standing RUNNING!
I run harder at the time there is nothing but go forward and run harder going through my mind. I can see the try line, I can feel it this is the one. When I replay the whole thing through my mind my skin gets goosebumps, and my hair tingles. I can hear everything, I can feel my hand pushing against the third guys jaw as he comes in too high on the tackle.
I can hear Andy's voice over the everything screaming "Go Erin RUNNN!" Everyone else is screaming hysterically, like at a Pentecostal Church. I cant hear it as much as I feel it. I hope my Eric is watching, I wish his mom could see this.
I run hard there is a line on the ground SHIT it is the 5 meter line. I can see the try line I am going to make it. SMASH I am caught, still moving forward but a guy has me around the waist and has hooked the arm that is holding the ball. I hear Joffa. He is right behind me. I am over the 5 meter when my tackler takes me down. I fighting to get the ball free as we go down to the ground.
OFFFFF! I land with the ball in my sternum. It knocks the wind out of me, I know Joffa is right there I just have to get him the ball and he will score. I CANT GET IT OUT! Finally I peel the ball out from my tacklers arm that I am laying on and shove it in Joffa's direction.
I hear a thud about a meter away, then look up and then turn to my right just in time to see Will, smash his way across the try line. Joffa and I briefly congratulate each other, then get up and play more. The war is not over it is just one battle.
That is probably one of my best experience as a Rugby player thus far. No matter how good or bad next season goes. I will always have that.