Training hurts…

Now I’m turning up to training (usually with a ride from another player), and feeling quite comfortable. We play touch, I run out of breath (but moving more now). We then start splitting into two groups, one running through some attacking games. 4 players needing to get round individual pad holders, but only in a 5m channel (3 pad holders), then similar, but after you go round the pads, you wrap around and have to play down the line, with the pad holders becoming defenders, and playing touch.

A few muscles were pulled along the way, and when we got to the running in attack down the line bit, I was hopping and hobbling along as quick as possible, making sure my communication was on point (or in other words, yelling at the others to go outside of me so i didn’t have to run as far!). My positioning wasn’t great, need to make sure I’m deeper and wider, so the first man can pick from options, and not just have me blocking everything!

We then went into a game of contact, up and down half of the pitch. Supposedly 50% intensity at first, but it ramped up pretty soon. Managed to get my boot stuck in the ground as my leg kept going, and think I overstretched my calf. Thankfully it basically felt like a dead leg, so I kept going as best I could.

Something was definitely not right though, and that sore calf stuck with me for some time, but only really felt it when I squatted right down. Still, not much worse than the usual aches and pains after training, and no worse than the first week! Back to dragging myself to the shower when I got home again though, to the tune of tittering at my misfortune (or idiocy!).

First game! Uncontested scrums, a mixed blessing.

So my first game ended up as uncontested scrums. At first it was planned to be contested for the 2nd half, when our 2nd prop turned up. I thought that would be a great way to be introduced, half a game, so even if it went all wrong (and it would have done!) it was only 40 minutes. Along with good conditions, there wouldn’t have been too many either, especially as the question only arised with 20 minutes to go. However the opposition, who were getting hammered at that point, and were mahoosive (seriously, their tighthead was well over 6ft and generously proportioned), opted to continue uncontested.  Well, since we were far smaller, winning easily, we weren’t exactly going to force the issue when it would have potentially turned the game a bit.

The game itself was great fun, except for playing on artificial turf. I got quite a nasty burn across the top of my hand, but thankfully my knees were clear.  Our team has a number of youngsters, who are rapid as shit off a shovel. Multiple times the ball would go out, and within seconds I’d just stop and clap, there was no way I was going to keep up with that. A couple of times off lineouts I gave it the old college try, but started losing yards quickly, and just gave up as once again they shot off.  It’s definitely an enjoyable way to play though, and I guess every front rows dream, a game where the backs just disappear in the distance scoring tries!

Our hooker was a club stalwart, who’d I’d not met before. He apparently started off at fullback, when he was a few stone heavier, and he’s hardly slender at the moment! Lovely fella, and eager to help me out and make sure I was alright. The team manager had apparently told him beforehand that he may need to tell me where to stand and where to go, but not to worry about much else. Great praise in my mind! Was also a joy to watch as he moved to fullback for the last 10 minutes, stood up some of their backs, toed the touchline, and only had the fullback to beat! Unfortunately, he did actually toe the touchline (though he swears blind he didn’t) and was pulled back.

At the 79th minute, we finally actually had some phases on the opposition line (rather than the 50m breaks before). We were punching up to get to the line, and I saw my chance to give it a go too. Sod the 9 screaming at me, I was taking this one up. Grabbed it, hit the opposition, rolled and twisted, the line within tantalising reach... Kept pirouetting, no doubt with the grace of a baby elephant playing, and saw my chance, went down, reached over the line…. TRY! The real relief came when it was pointed out that I’d just carried it up when there was a 5 on 2 available on the outside… I’d have got a bit of stick if I’d not scored that!

Had a good chat with the opposition hooker after the game, he was really passionate about scrummaging, and offered a few tips of ensuring I had good low body position. He was surprised their prop had said they were happy to keep going uncontested, and was quite disappointed too, but wasn’t about to argue it (think they were all a bit blown away by that point).

We had a good amount of muscle relaxant after the game, and continued on for a while once back home. A walk home after, and a hero’s welcome at home (well, at least I wasn’t laughed at for being a wreck, which I reckon counts!). Following morning I believe I was still a bit muscle relaxed, so no hangover, and no serious pains! First game, a debut try, and a comprehensive away win. No scrums, but definitely a great start to my new career!

Injury list (will try and get photos of the more interesting/visual ones!):

Nasty turf burns on the back of my hand.

Numerous bruises on limbs.

Pulled quad.

*Tiny feet - Still no DBS clearance, so still on the sidelines enjoying my son running circles round the other coaches (I knew my turn would come!). He’s still enjoying himself immensely, which is all we can ask for.  Better turnout this week too, probably due to the nicer weather! Some parents/grandparents do seem to treat it a little bit as a cheap daycare service though, I have to say it was a bit of a shock to see someone bring the child along in jeans… However overall, we’ve got a great group of kids, they all seem to have fun, and whilst there’s obviously a range of ability, they’re all pretty positive so far!

Each week, the coach gives out a player of the week award, which the child can obviously take in for show and tell etc, and my boy hasn’t had it. This time the coach told him that he’s really close, and he just needs to keep trying. I went upto the coach after the session and mentioned the player of the week, think he was a bit defensive, and said that he’s always close. I pointed out that I’d rather he didn’t get it, he can be cocky enough dancing as he wins/comes close to winning the rats and rabbits games etc, doesn’t need his head expanding further!

*********** As always, any advice on propping is more than welcome! Please comment here or contact me on twitter. Or if you know someone that could help, please link them in. **********

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What to do when it goes wrong…

So my primary focus, after knowing I was moving into prop, was keeping myself safe. So I talked to the 2nds manager (ex/current if he gets fit again prop) along with another prop at the training session. The entire idea was to basically find out what to do when things went wrong. I figure I can work out what to do when things go right by myself, but when things go wrong, it can get serious.

Now everyone in that front row seemingly has the same worries, so I understand that everyone is going to be looking out for each other, but we’ve all heard the horror stories. They gave me a bit of a breakdown, and we did some controlled going down in one on ones. Nothing will be like the live thing, but still, it feels good to have a better idea.

The training session itself was quite a good one. Got stuck in, and even got a few words of praise from the 1st team coach for giving the 1st team a hard time in the team run. For now, I have no intentions of playing for the 1sts, but I’m happy to give them a bit more of a tough time in the team run, since it’s important they don’t just go into games without having had some competition in training.

*********** As always, any advice on propping is more than welcome! Please comment here or contact me on twitter. Or if you know someone that could help, please link them in. **********


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Prop it is!

Another Wednesday comes along, and another start of touch. I’m actually starting to feel a bit more comfortable at this point, defending the edges of the “rucks” to some degree, actually able to breath a bit more comfortable. I’m still not keeping up as such, but no longer feeling completely lost.

As per usual, I’m getting tweaked muscles all over the place, but still trying to keep up with the youngsters, and getting stuck in. More ruck practice means more stray boots etc, and another sharp twinge in the back.

Once again we move to the scrum machine, and I’m feeling a bit more comfortable there, and get a bit of a better position when setting up, manage to shove the machine back a bit, and feel strong whilst doing it. The problematic muscle in my back has no effect on my scrum positioning, or driving through, can’t even feel it, so it’s nice to be able to work freely as such.

Another team run to finish, and again, in the defence, but once again, a few more people about, so we had a few to oppose. I decided that I was going to hassle the 9 as much as possible, and I think I managed to fluster him a little which was nice, he took it in good spirits though.

This time however, I didn’t drag myself to the shower! I walked, with semi-reasonable mobility! My body was beginning to get used to physical activity, but still rather battered, and still woke up very sore. Worse still, my back started tightening up, and wasn’t getting better as the days went by. It was an off week in terms of games, but it just kept getting worse. Managed to get a recommendation for a good physio/sports injury type, and booked myself in. I skipped the following weeks training (so I’ll not bother doing another post on it!) and went in on the Friday to have some acupuncture in the problematic twinging muscle, and gua sha, which is Chinese for evil metal scraping device (well, it probably is). There was a game on the Saturday, but they’d already told me to just take it easy, so no pressure to recover. A few days later, and my back felt better than it has in a long while! The suspicion is years of poor sleeping position has caused the issue, but now I am working to improve that, so hopefully it’ll improve, and not repeat as often.

As suggested earlier, the internet is full of kind hearted and connected strangers. Being a bit of a rugby stats geek, had led me to being in contact with a few folk, including the https://twitter.com/thedeadballarea who’s kindly hosted some of my ruck stats work on his website https://www.thedeadballarea.com/ . When I posted up that was getting back to rugby, and was going to be at prop, he kindly linked in a number of very experienced front row. Suddenly I was connected, and given lots of very good advice by a lot of kind folk. I’m hoping to be able to take on as much as possible, and keep asking them questions! Plan on going slowly, but I intend to get reasonably good at this propping malarky!

*Tiny feet - I’m actually starting to get itchy feet myself here, I want to get coaching, but still waiting on my DBS clearance.

This was a bit of a reality check on our numbers, the ultimate test in a way… first training day with rain!  It was actually a pretty good turnout, surprisingly so, and clearly the rugby gods favoured us, since it stopped raining just before practice, so was fairly nice to train in. Still doing simple practices and games, but it’s clear that most the children are really enjoying themselves, which is great to see.

**********!!!!!!!!!! Please! Anyone with any tips, advice, hints, ideas, suggestions etc etc for playing prop, please feel free to comment, either here, or tweet me. These are historical posts for now, so I’m playing prop now and loving it, but am happy for any advice I can get! Or if you know someone that could help, please link them in.!!!!!!!!!!!!************

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Prop perhaps…?

The following Wednesday, I was actually feeling fairly healthy. Again, we started with various revisions of touch rugby, slowly becoming grab rugby. Once again, I was blowing within a few brief minutes, and quickly retreated to the wing, but managed to do a bit more, and was slightly more organised (or at least I thought I was!). 

We then ran through a few drills, practicing rucks etc, I managed to get a shin to the skull, and whilst it wasn’t enough to hurt my thick skull, it did trigger some pain in my back, but it’s a normal twinge for me, so I wasn’t worried about it. Pulled a few muscles along the way too, nothing too surprising for an “old” guy coming back to sports. 

After we split into backs and forwards again, this time the forwards headed down to the scrum machine. To start with I was providing valuable ballast on the back of the machine, I like to think I did a good job ;). Then the firsts pack moved aside, and they called up the 2nds hooker and prop that was there, then asked if anyone fancied stepping in at tighthead… my fate was decided! Being happy to give anything a try (though I really don’t fancy hooker), I put my hand up. Started off with just the front 3, then 2nd row, then flankers. We managed to move the machine, and I felt quite comfortable and strong. I’ve never done any heavy lifting etc in the gym, but know the basics of keeping a strong back, and I’ve always had reasonable strength in my legs (and that fat arse I mentioned earlier). 

Another team run at the end, this time with a few extra defenders, and I even got a few words of praise from a coach for making a nuisance of myself against the firsts. Another lift home, another broken body dragging myself through the hall to the shower (and no sympathy again! Heartless lot!). A few days later, I was listed in the 2nds team (reserves of course)! Thankfully, the game was cancelled, as the opposition couldn’t get a team together, but I was actually quite excited about getting out on the pitch again! 

*Tiny feet - 2nd week for the youngster. Thankfully he was excited to be going back, hardly surprising though, he was running round most the other youngsters, and the coaches. Bit arrogant (I suppose I could be kind and call it confidence!). No DBS check for me yet though, so another week of enjoying spectating. Some of the kids are really handy, and one in particular seems to be making a great bond with my boy. They couldn’t really look much different, my boy is a real shortarse (as I was), thin, fast and agile, the other is tall and big. He runs faster than you’d expect though, and picks some good lines, always with a smile on his face though (although he’s apparently rather disappointed there’s not real tackling for a while!). 

**********!!!!!!!!!! Please! Anyone with any tips, advice, hints, ideas, suggestions etc etc for playing prop, please feel free to comment, either here, or tweet me. These are historical posts for now, so I’m playing prop now and loving it, but am happy for any advice I can get! Or if you know someone that could help, please link them in.!!!!!!!!!!!!************

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First day (well, evening).

Unsurprisingly, everyone was friendly and happy to see a new face. Started off with some touch, where I watched everyone run around far faster than I could manage, being very organised (at least compared to me!) and generally looking rather fit. After a few minutes, that seemed like 20 to me, the coach yelled to stop, thank god for that I thought, however it turned out it was just to change the rules, and that now the attacking team needed to start committing a man to the “ruck”. I quickly found myself on the wing, where I could suck in a few deep breaths whilst the wingers went past at pace.

After about 3 hours of touch with various variations (I may be exaggerating, slightly, but I’m fairly sure it’s only slightly), we separated into forwards and backs. When asked which I was, I said I didn’t know anymore, one of the backs said there was a simple question “Do I like running?” simple answer there, NO. Forwards it was. I now think this was actually a bit of a bad question, because as a forward you’re constantly bloody running from one ruck to the next, whilst pushing the backs away from anywhere they may break a nail, however, a sensible question of “Do you run fast?” would have elicited the same answer, and eventual outcome.

We started off doing lineout practices. Not having a clue what I was doing, I was obviously on the defensive side of things, which meant just standing there. Being an enormous 1.74m, I wasn’t an obvious choice as a lineout option (add in 93kg more or less), but when asked if I jumped, I said I’m happy to give it a go. Actually went up a few times, it was good fun, once you remembered to lock out your core. Had a few complaints that I wasn’t jumping enough, but pointed out that I was heavier than I look (most people peg me for 80kg or there abouts, it’s all in my arse/legs) I think I was forgiven a little.

As the firsts started practiced some moves, I figured we need to at least put some challenge in, so I started tackling the runner as he came through the lineout. Unfortunately, it’s the biggest guy on the team, and whilst he wasn’t running with any real venom, it was definitely a shock to my unaccustomed body! Made a bit of a mess though, and when they formed a maul, I could use my short size and strong legs to actually slow them down a bit.

After that we moved to some group practices, and was cheerfully informed that this was the first week they’d have full contact (joy!). Then onto the team run at the end of the evening. Again, I was just a defensive forward (there were about 3 of us in the opposition), but tried to at least make things a bit awkward, ripping balls in the tackle etc, if I could.

On the walk back to the clubhouse, I cheekily asked for a lift, since otherwise I was on the bus, and I really don’t think I’d have made the 5 minute walk to the bus stop, before the buses stopped running (I only had a few hours…). Thankfully there was someone heading in the right direction, and that was that. I got in through the door at home, and was generously welcomed, with a great deal of sympathy for my aching broken bod… I wish. I was laughed at, as I dragged myself to the shower, then back in front of the computer to finish work up, then bed. The following day saw some very very sore muscles, and the first thing I did was go and buy a new memory foam pillow! Things were only worse the day after (I’m sure you’re all familiar with that). There was only an away cup game for the firsts, so no mention of playing was even raised (thankfully), so I had a full week to try and recover! 


*Tiny feet - My boy had his first session, and when there, myself and most the other dads, got invited to sign up to help with coaching. Since I plan on being there anyway, it seemed like a good idea. There were a few guys from the club too, with their children involved. My son thankfully loved his first session. He’s as elusive as I was, my nickname back then was jammy dodger, age (and jammy dodgers, and other confectionery) has rather made a mockery of that now! He’s also blooming quick (something I didn’t have). It’s so much fun watching him have fun.

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Back at 34…

*This post is about what happened August. Not current day.*

So I last played rugby at around the age of 17, for my school 2nd XV. I was a scrumhalf (not too bad either, but nothing special). I took a gap year, and when I went to university, I really didn’t fancy all the daft initiation rubbish, so never got back involved.

After university I travelled a bit, and eventually moved to Israel. Although there is a small rugby scene in Israel, I don’t drive, and public transport and work, would have meant I’d not have seen my son at all on training days, and I wasn’t happy with that.

During my time in Israel I started following rugby a lot more closely, going from an internationals only sort of guy, into following a club (Wasps, the season after they just avoided relegation), and watching a lot of the games as they were on/available. We’d always check to see what games were on when visiting home in England, and try and catch a game at the Ricoh, so I’ve seen a few home games too, one was as a friends and family guest. Turns out random internet strangers can actually turn out to be not only nice people, but also connected, this comes into play a bit more soon.

We moved to England in August, so my now 6 year old son would have time to meet some of his new classmates before school started. I settled in as well as possible (my wife’s visa was delayed), and started looking up training for him, and also myself! Checked on Facebook when training was, and went along.

*Tiny feet - although I’ve played with my boy in Israel, he’s obviously not actually been to any rugby practice, very nervous for his first training session, and desperately hoping he enjoys himself.


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