Taking up a sport for the first time can be a challenging and scary prospect for children, let alone an adult. We spoke to one of our Gilbert employees, about the expectations vs reality of her first game of rugby.
Expectation
Starting anything as a newbie is a daunting prospect. After 4 weeks of training and enjoying every minute, my coach asked if I would like to play a match for the first time…
Leading up to the game nerves were flying as expectations soared through my brain: what if I got injured? What if I was in the wrong place at the wrong time? What if I made a mistake and the other team scored? Is my fitness up to scratch to play a game? Do I even know all of the rules properly? The list was endless.
Nonetheless a small spark of excitement spurred me on to put on that number 11 shirt and head out onto the field.
Reality
In reality, my expectations were almost entirely wrong. The team knew that I had never played and were incredibly friendly the moment I arrived. We arrived an hour and a half before the game, to warm up and prepare. This time is perfect to chat to, and relax with your team mates, ask any questions and go through any parts of the game that are worrying you.
When it came to playing the match, although the adrenaline hit hard, it was a huge amount of fun - ‘attempting’ to tackle, learning from others where I should be on the pitch and surprisingly scoring tries as well! As for mistakes, lots of people who have played for years make mistakes so yours are quickly forgotten.
After the game everyone sat together to eat, drink and chat about the match which is a great part of being with the team.
All in all, I would highly recommend anyone joining a rugby team or any new sports team and I can’t wait for the next game, and just remember you’re playing for a local club side to have fun, you’re not trialling for England – not yet anyway!
Female Rugby Player
Age: 23
If you would like to find out more about joining a rugby club in your local area - please see below:
- England Rugby - Find a Club
- Welsh Rugby Union – Club Finder
- Scottish Rugby – Club Finder
- Irish Rugby – Find a Club
