We de-bussed at a random field in the middle of downtown Philly, which was courtesy of the wettest month in Philly history, essentially a swamp. Providing amusement to onlookers, I trekked across the muck doing my best Sherpa impersonation owing to my short stature and strapped down with a 50lb kit, crutch bag and back pack. The 500 geese occupying the field were less than thrilled by our arrival and they showed their appreciation by crapping all over the field as they flew away, adding a nice lumpy texture to the swamp.Quick warm up, a few thumbs taped and it was time to start. I must admit, I was nervous given the unique position I found myself in covering a sport in which I had ZERO idea what the hell was going on, and with the chance of decapitation, unconsciousness or ambulance much higher than any sport I've ever covered. Add to that the fact that injury be damned, rugby games are a running clock until the ref stops it. So if someone goes down, I'm expected to wait for the play to clear, run out there and hope the play doesn't come back my direction. When I asked what the protocol is for that situation, it was simply "Duck and Cover and watch out for cleats". Awesome...... However, after the game started I was lucky enough to have one of the guys on the sideline explain the rules/objectives as they were happening which was clutch. This also helped calm me down a little, although worse case scenarios were still dancing in my head. The more I saw of the game, and the more explanation led to actually having a working understanding of the basics, which led me to the realization, "This is actually a really fun sport to watch". Its like a cross between football/soccer/basketball and nothing you've ever seen before. When someone gets tackled the ball is still live, but their teammates form this crazy little wall around them called a "ruck". They then continue to throw the ball until they score, have a turn-over or penalty. When theres a minor penalty or a turn-over, instead of in hockey where theres a face-off, they have whats called a "scrum". I dont know how exactly to describe it, so I'll use visual aids.
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| Some Scrummage (Its fun to say, try it) |
Essentially they put the ball under a large pile of people. Each side is trying to push their section of the mob over the ball, and kick it back to their scrum half at the back of the pile so he can grab it and throw it. Pretty sure anyone who knows rugby would be dismayed at my grasp of the rules and the attempt to explain them, but hey at least I have a faint idea of whats going on now.
We played 2 games and won both, so that was awesome. I didn't have to avoid any thundering cleats by running on the field that was even awesomer. Quick change of clothes and we were back on the bus. A few minutes after we leave, we stop in the middle of what can best be described as the 'hood or Will Smith's neighborhood from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air "Innnnn west philadelphia born and raised...." Ok I'll stop. 2 of our guys run off the bus into a Quicky Mart and emerge 3 minutes later with, yep you guessed it, 2 cases of frosty cold beverages. Apparently this is tradition, and when one is a club sport, one can do whatever pretty much. So as were leaving the sketchy neighborhood they start into another rugby tradition. Singing songs, verrry interesting songs. I will edit them and say they're about sunshine and kittens and how much they enjoy each others company, and leave you to your imagination to what a group of college male rugby players would sing about while re-hydrating on a bus. ** A note to my father and grandmother who I'm sure are both imagining the worst. It was all in good fun, I only took my top off for a minute and only a few people saw. JK JK JK.... The guys really are great, they're all very friendly and respectful, and are already keeping me entertained.
All in all, a pretty good first outing. I really enjoyed watching the games, and I think I'm going to develop a taste for watching Rugby. As predicted, this was just the start of what can be nothing less than a unique personal and professional adventure, that I'm sure all of you will tune in to hear about. You're going to have to wait a few weeks though, we're home for the next 3 weekends. So perhaps you can whet your appetite by watching a little of the Rugby World Cup thats currently going on in New Zealand.
Back again October 8th for a weekend series against Penn.
