My Afternoon Watching the CU Buffs Play Rugby
So, the other day I found myself with some free time, which doesn’t happen often, let me tell you. I heard the University of Colorado rugby team had a match, or maybe it was just a heavy practice, down at the fields. Wasn’t sure what to expect, haven’t watched much rugby live, especially not at the college level.
Decided to just go. Got in the car, drove over there. Finding the exact spot took a minute, it’s not like the football stadium, you know? More low-key. Finally found the pitch. Not a huge crowd, mostly friends, family, maybe some former players. Felt pretty casual, which was nice.
Got myself situated on the sideline. Watching them warm up, you could feel the energy. These guys weren’t messing around. They were focused, hitting the pads hard, running drills sharp. It reminded me a bit of my own days playing sports way back when – that mix of nerves and excitement before you get started.
Then they got into it. Man, rugby is something else to watch up close. It’s not like the polished stuff you see on TV all the time. It felt more… raw. You hear the hits, the grunts, the calls on the field. It’s constant motion, back and forth, trying to gain ground inch by inch.
What really struck me was the teamwork. You can’t just be a star player running wild. Everyone has a job, everyone needs to be in the right place, supporting the guy with the ball, making tackles. If one person messes up, the whole thing can fall apart quick. You saw guys putting their bodies on the line for each other, getting knocked down, getting right back up. No complaining, just on to the next play.
I watched the CU players specifically. They seemed pretty well-drilled. Looked like they had some solid structure, but also weren’t afraid to just make a play when they saw an opening. Saw a couple of really strong runs and some tough defense near their own try line. You gotta respect the effort these college athletes put in, balancing school and a sport this demanding.
It wasn’t fancy. It wasn’t perfect. There were dropped balls, missed tackles, stuff like that. But it was real. Just a bunch of guys out there giving it everything they had. Left me thinking about how much grit matters, you know? Not just in sports, but kinda in everything. Showing up, putting in the work, even when it’s tough and nobody’s handing you a million-dollar contract.
Spent maybe an hour or so out there. Didn’t even catch the final score, just soaked it in. Was good to see something like that. Grounded, tough, no frills. Just pure effort. Made me appreciate the simple things, I guess. Might have to go back sometime.
