Tomorrow is a Rugby day so I thought I'd tell you about my Afghan Rugby experience.
I brought a Rugby ball with me to Afghanistan (or I had it sent to me). I figured any time a Rugby player sees a Rugby ball he (or she) is drawn to it. I know I am. My plan was to inflate it and kick it up into the air from time to time. By popping it up I figured it would clear any tents or buildings and be visible from quite a way off. If any ruggers saw it they would find me and we could maybe figure out how to get a game going.
I tried it, but no one ever came around.
Eventually our staff started doing group PT in the mornings. At first it was basketball mostly. Then I finally convinced them to try Rugby. We would have to play touch, because I didn't want any LOD (Line of Duty) paperwork and have to explain why we were playing a collision sport.
We had an open, dirt field and about eight or ten of us played (after I taught them how). They enjoyed it and we played several more times.
One morning we were going to play, but it had rained and the field we were using was a mud pit. I said we should play anyway, and that the mud would just make the landings softer.
What I didn't tell them was I brought my cleats ("boots" for all you ruggers out there) as well as a ball. While they were all slipping and sliding I was running circles around them. Because it was touch I could even do "bullet time" type dodging and weaving and ducking and dodging. No one could catch me, no one could touch me.
I hope it's just like that tomorrow!
I brought a Rugby ball with me to Afghanistan (or I had it sent to me). I figured any time a Rugby player sees a Rugby ball he (or she) is drawn to it. I know I am. My plan was to inflate it and kick it up into the air from time to time. By popping it up I figured it would clear any tents or buildings and be visible from quite a way off. If any ruggers saw it they would find me and we could maybe figure out how to get a game going.
I tried it, but no one ever came around.
Eventually our staff started doing group PT in the mornings. At first it was basketball mostly. Then I finally convinced them to try Rugby. We would have to play touch, because I didn't want any LOD (Line of Duty) paperwork and have to explain why we were playing a collision sport.
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| 1SG (now SGM) Beck with the ball, not on the muddy day |
We had an open, dirt field and about eight or ten of us played (after I taught them how). They enjoyed it and we played several more times.
One morning we were going to play, but it had rained and the field we were using was a mud pit. I said we should play anyway, and that the mud would just make the landings softer.
What I didn't tell them was I brought my cleats ("boots" for all you ruggers out there) as well as a ball. While they were all slipping and sliding I was running circles around them. Because it was touch I could even do "bullet time" type dodging and weaving and ducking and dodging. No one could catch me, no one could touch me.
I hope it's just like that tomorrow!
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