Honestly? I never planned on touching rugby. Saw a clip online, some women absolutely smashing it, looked kinda wild but fun. Figured, why not try? Signed up for this “absolute beginner” session near me, totally blind. Showed up in my regular gym gear – big mistake, but we’ll get to that.
The “What Did I Sign Up For?” Phase
Coach blew the whistle first thing, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. Straight into this running-drill thing, passing the ball backwards. Felt backwards in every way! Kept wanting to chuck it forward like a football. Coach just yelled “BACKWARDS ONLY!” every time. Felt like an idiot.
We gathered around a weird thing on the ground called a scrum machine. Coach explained it’s where the big pushing contest happens. Looked heavy and slightly terrifying. They showed us how to bind arms together, heads tucked in safely. Tried it, felt super awkward and unstable. Like being in a really sweaty, confused huddle. Coach said, “Don’t push until the ref says ‘engage’!” Got it… sort of.
Next up, this thing called a ruck. Basically, when someone gets tackled and everyone piles in. Sounds chaotic? Oh, it was. Coach said:
- You HAVE to come from your own side (your “gate”) – trying to sneak around the side? Instant penalty. Rookie move, totally got caught.
- Can’t just dive in – gotta stay on your feet, lean on the bodies, and try to hook the ball back with your feet. Sounds easy? It’s not. Nearly tripped over myself.
- No hands in the ruck! Saw the ball sitting there, instinct was to grab it… nope! Blew the whistle on me fast. “FEET ONLY!” Coach yelled. Felt like my hands were tied.
Then came the tackling practice. My stomach dropped a bit. We started on pads, practicing wrapping arms tight around the legs, head safely to the side. Getting tackled back? Coach stressed “Don’t fight the fall,” just tuck and roll. Easier said than done! That first time someone gently brought me down onto pads, I still tensed up like a board. Landing was fine, but the fear was real.
My Gear Disaster & Why It Matters
Remember my gym gear? Midway through the drill, sprinting, my thin leggings shredded on the turf. Snagged, ripped… mortifying. Not to mention my shoulder took a proper knock in a low-impact drill, felt that bruise for days. Coach pulled me aside: “Mate, you need proper kit.” Learnt the hard way:
- Mouthguard is non-negotiable. Clenched that plastic between my teeth all session after seeing someone get an accidental elbow nearby.
- Rugby shorts are thicker, tougher. Bought some proper ones next day.
- Padded top for shoulders. Yeah, should have worn one. Lesson learnt.
The Weird Rules That Threw Me
Played this weird little practice game at the end. Managed a decent tackle (felt weirdly proud!), but then someone knocked the ball forward. Coach blew the whistle instantly. “Knock on!” What? Apparently, dropping the ball forward towards the other team’s goal is a huge no-no. Stops everything. Seems obvious now, but in the heat of it? Easy mistake.
Also got pinged for being in front of the ball carrier. I was trying to support, ran too far ahead. Coach called it “offside in open play”. Felt like I was getting penalized for trying to help! Need to stay behind the ball like a sheepdog.
Why It Stuck (Despite the Awkwardness)
Yeah, I looked clumsy. Yeah, the rules felt baffling. And yeah, my leggings were destroyed. But the absolute camaraderie was instant. Everyone was just as new and shaky, everyone laughed (kindly) at mistakes. That feeling of making your first legal tackle? Actually understanding why the whistle blew? Unreal. It’s physical, tactical, and surprisingly addictive once the confusion starts to lift.
So if you’re curious? Do the beginner session. Embrace looking silly. Listen for “Backwards!”, “Feet Only!”, and “Stay Onside!”. Gear up properly – trust me. And be ready for bruises, both physical and to your pride. Worth it? Absolutely.
