Rugby Match
Rugby club is one of the most active competitive club at Thunderbird. The day I came to know about it I decided I would be part of the club. After all competitiveness is one of the attributes of the student life. Before Rugby club I joined couple more clubs at Thunderbird, but none of them caught my attention. The sense of participation is there but not the sense of belonging.On my first day at practice, I was surprised. The club embraced me to its heart. The reception was overwhelming. I find the sense of belonging and warmth of the brotherhood and gentlemenship. After the first day of practice I recommended the club to one of my friends and he shared the same experience.
Practices were going fine and then one day the club announced a practice match on saturday followed by celebrations party. I was excited. After completing my final strategy exam, I ran with excitement, curiosity and energy to the ground. But soon received a surprise. My captain said that I would be on bench and serve drinks. I was disappointed.Soon after the first quarter of the match three players got injured and I was in. Hurray!!!!
Just imagine how would one feel when he was playing his first sport match in life , that too on a ground with international students.I felt honored. Another two quarters into the match I realized my limitations : my fear to push forward, my lack of strength either to tackle my opponents or ruck over my team mates.
Our team was losing the points. We were pushing ourselves so hard to count. But nothing was happening then came heroic act by "Matthew Mcconaty alias Matt". He was ferocious, moving like a lion irrespective how many people were stopping him. He was pushing himself with all the energy and strength he had. I was just standing on the ground witnessing THE MAN.He was inspiring. In another about 10 minutes we had our cherishing point. Yay!!!
Finally we lost the match but the umpire came to us and said "great job guys you had uninterrupted play for 15 minutes without giving a point in the last quarter." We patted our backs and greeted our opponents. Now its party time.
Rugby is a gentlemen game and it has a tradition. The introduction of new players has a unique concept. Each new member should introduce himself with his name and position in the game and then run and dive on to a blanket which is already poured with beer. While the person was sliding from one end of the blanket to another, the seniors who were standing on the both sides of the blanket will be pouring beer on to the person. By the end each new player would be completely immersed in beer. Then all the players hit the swimming pool to clear themselves; followed by food and rugby songs. End result strong bonding between players and recognition in the college. :)
PS: Sports convert boys to MEN
PPS:Rugby has not only given me an opportunity to see myself how much I can take and still play but also to witness some real MEN.
Practices were going fine and then one day the club announced a practice match on saturday followed by celebrations party. I was excited. After completing my final strategy exam, I ran with excitement, curiosity and energy to the ground. But soon received a surprise. My captain said that I would be on bench and serve drinks. I was disappointed.Soon after the first quarter of the match three players got injured and I was in. Hurray!!!!
Just imagine how would one feel when he was playing his first sport match in life , that too on a ground with international students.I felt honored. Another two quarters into the match I realized my limitations : my fear to push forward, my lack of strength either to tackle my opponents or ruck over my team mates.
Our team was losing the points. We were pushing ourselves so hard to count. But nothing was happening then came heroic act by "Matthew Mcconaty alias Matt". He was ferocious, moving like a lion irrespective how many people were stopping him. He was pushing himself with all the energy and strength he had. I was just standing on the ground witnessing THE MAN.He was inspiring. In another about 10 minutes we had our cherishing point. Yay!!!
Finally we lost the match but the umpire came to us and said "great job guys you had uninterrupted play for 15 minutes without giving a point in the last quarter." We patted our backs and greeted our opponents. Now its party time.
Rugby is a gentlemen game and it has a tradition. The introduction of new players has a unique concept. Each new member should introduce himself with his name and position in the game and then run and dive on to a blanket which is already poured with beer. While the person was sliding from one end of the blanket to another, the seniors who were standing on the both sides of the blanket will be pouring beer on to the person. By the end each new player would be completely immersed in beer. Then all the players hit the swimming pool to clear themselves; followed by food and rugby songs. End result strong bonding between players and recognition in the college. :)
PS: Sports convert boys to MEN
PPS:Rugby has not only given me an opportunity to see myself how much I can take and still play but also to witness some real MEN.
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