For the Rugby Players – How Did You Get Into the Sport?

[p.kowalski]

I'm curious to hear your stories—how did you end up playing rugby?

In my case, I feel like I took a bit of an unusual path. Rugby isn't super popular in Poland, so it's not the most common sport to get into. I actually knew very little about it beforehand, but at 30 years old, I decided to give it a shot.

I haven't even played a full season yet, and I'm definitely not the best guy on the pitch—but I'm working on it. Compared to my 20-year-old teammates, I can feel the struggle sometimes, but I'm pushing through.

I'd love to hear from others who might have taken a less traditional route into the sport. Any late starters here? Any inspiring stories to share?

 

[McTallshort]

Ok. I was always ok at sport but was also clumsy. Everyone at my school played and loved football but as much as I enjoyed playing it I never really got it. My primary school practiced at the local park and the dads on shift at the pit (coal mine) would come and tell the teacher what he was doing wrong. My dad was a publican and would also pop down as it was the days of licencing hours. One memory always stands out was one of the star players was going for a goal and I was the defender and clattered into him and watched while he wailed around on the floor and his dad lost his **** on the touch line with my dad. My dad who liked rugby decided I needed to perhaps give it a go. I was 9 and I loved it. Got dirty, bruises and was able to sneak a cheeky half pint behind the clubhouse bar.

Played until I was 16 but Sacked it off in the end because I wasn't growing at the same pace as everyone else and I was going into the army anyway.

Left the army and moved back in with my parents for a bit but they had moved so to make a social circle I went up to the local rugby club and started playing. Have to say it's the best thing I ever did. Great days some great friends, great memories and 25 years on I am working with 2 lads I used to play rugby with.

There is nothing like it. I was working in the Scottish borders last year and went to a local game and ended up having a great night with everybody there. You simply couldn't do that with any other sport.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

No inspiring stories here. It was the only winter sport option at my school for the first couple of years after which you could play hockey if you really really weren't any good at rugby.

So rugby it was from the age of 10. Body finally decided it had had enough at 37.

 

[Mumbles119]

One evening this short, wide eyed 10 year old country bumpkin was dropped off at the local club on a dark rainy evening. With a 'will pick you up after, off you go". Pretty sure I did not know this was going to happen.

No idea of game, rules, people there, or what to expect. But 33 seasons later I enjoyed all of it, and incredibly grateful for the making of me that rugby provided.

 

[BPM]

Nothing fascinating here. My Dad simply preferred football to rugby. I enjoyed minis straight away and never looked back.

 

[BrokenWing]

Was on work experience with British Gas. Was bored to tears in the office and managed to get the last day out with an engineer. I was waiting in the van, he got in and said "do you want to play rugby tomorrow?"

I said yeah and spent four years there before joining the RAF.