On April 11 2012 15:33 BoxingKangaroo wrote: I got asked to join an amateur Union team recently. The only rugby I've played is some Touch Football with a corporate team. We were semi-serious but only competed in lower divisions. My fitness let me down, but could sprint fairly fast to score often.
I'm 27, 5'7" and 68kg. Currently lifting, but still a beginner. What do you think my chances are of:
a) Actually learning the game and being able to contribute to the team (being short and light)? b) Not getting smashed and injured every game?
I miss playing touch, but Union seems like a world apart, and the tackling does worry me somewhat.
As has been mentioned, size is only really important when you play at a high level. At club level, it helps but is definitely not necessary. Even at international level, there are quite a few small players. Gio Aplon has been one of the best wings in SA for the last few years, and he is 5'9" and 75kg. Will Genia is also 5'9" while Francois Hougaard is 5'10". Point is, these are some of the top players in the world in their positions, and they are all roughly your size. The only reason they weigh more is because they've been lifting for a while, but that shouldn't be too important at club level.
Won the Midwest championships this weekend, 99-5 first game 31-20 second game. Probably some of the most fun i've had playing rugby, so much team chemistry and athleticism nobody could touch us.
On May 11 2012 23:24 sJarl wrote: Only a light training yesterday, was showed how to tackle and recieve tackles.
Goddamn, I'm sore today!
Haha, is it just a case of different muscles being used? I would have thought that your exercise would prepare you for most light workouts.
Yeah mostly that, having to use the abs for once lol. Also traps sore as hell. I've been a little out of shapa lately because of schoolwork but it hopefully gets better soon.
Thought this was quite impressive. From the game this weekend:
Also, I'm not sure if you guys saw this, but the Stormers purchased one of the bearded Canadians (Jebb Sinclair) a few weeks ago and he's already had game time. So far he's done a decent job without really standing out. It makes me happy seeing American players play for South African squads (like Todd Clever for the Lions a few seasons back) and I wouldn't mind getting a few more.
Has anyone here played tens before? To be honest I didn't realise anyone played tens, but my uni has a tens tournament coming up and it's kind of come out of nowhere. There's a 5 man scrum but I assume it still plays like 7s.
With two more forwards I'm guessing you could actually ruck and suck some people in, but then again there still aren't a lot of backs so they'll still be spread a bit thin. I guess it's time to youtube some games, that's if tens is even played at a level where it's aired.
Rugby preseason started today. We have a guest coach, who pretty much worked us on hitting and defense for four hours (two practices today) and kept preaching Sh
about core strength, although he never explained that.
now its a hower and an hour of film, then do it again tomorrow. Good God, I missed hitting people all summer.
EPT
