8/4/11
Today we traveled to Chatham-Kent, Canada, which is three hours away from Appleby College. The next round of matches for the Nation’s Cup will be played here. The reason for this is because rugby is spreading in this part of the world, and holding the even here brings more publicity for the sport. So, in a way, we are acting as ambassadors of rugby this weekend, which is very exciting.
What was not exciting was the trip here. It wasn’t bad, just not exciting, as I spent most of it in dreamland, with the occasional trip to Disney movieland or the fictional land of Jean-Paul Sartre’s “Nausea” (a little light, existential reading for the trip).
Upon arriving in Chatham-Kent, we had, what was supposed to be, a light meal before dinner. They served us chicken, potatoes, steamed carrots, steamed broccoli, salad, pasta salad (two types) and bread for our light meal. For dinner, we had hors d’oeuvres. Apparently our match with Canada tomorrow has been dubbed the something-something-Kent-Cup, and we had a big ceremony. Prior to the ceremony, we were to mingle, and our mingling food consisted of sliders, shrimp, cucumbers, skewers, fruit and a few other finger food offerings.
Yes, they (and I’m not sure who “they” is) thought they could feed four rugby teams on finger foods. The servers were literally trying to sprint past hungry ruggers, who crowded around the entryway, in order to serve more hungry ruggers and attendees in the back of the room. When the mayor of Chatham-Kent asked, in the polite-host-like part of his welcome address, “Did you guys get enough to eat,” a groan resonated from the crowd, almost in unison, eerily echoing the sounds of our grumbling stomachs.
Despite the food set-back, we “got our eats on” when we returned to the hotel. Our awesome manager, took care of ordering some pasta for us, and now we are sated and nutritionally prepared to play Canada for the something-something-Kent-Cup tomorrow.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Recovery Day
Not much to blog about today, but here it is:
8/3/11
The pool workout first thing this morning was awesome. We talked a little about our mental recovery after breakfast, and that little workout certainly helped. It would be nice if we could spend the entire day there, sigh. Actually, we’ve been having a good time since then as well. We reviewed game tape against England, did laundry, ate lunch and just lazed around.
Then we had another meeting, had a walk through in a light mist, which I thought was refreshing, and then had dinner. The food here hasn’t been that bad, but it hasn’t been stellar either. The pasta dish was decent, but it was basically penne, some olive oil and pepperoni. And some of the players are especially upset that there is no chocolate milk. One of my teammates tried her hand at making her own, this evening, with milk and chocolate pudding, but to no avail.
After dinner we had, “mandatory fun time,” as one of the ladies called it. Mandatory or not, we did have fun, and we seem to be having more and more of it as the days go on.
8/3/11
The pool workout first thing this morning was awesome. We talked a little about our mental recovery after breakfast, and that little workout certainly helped. It would be nice if we could spend the entire day there, sigh. Actually, we’ve been having a good time since then as well. We reviewed game tape against England, did laundry, ate lunch and just lazed around.
Then we had another meeting, had a walk through in a light mist, which I thought was refreshing, and then had dinner. The food here hasn’t been that bad, but it hasn’t been stellar either. The pasta dish was decent, but it was basically penne, some olive oil and pepperoni. And some of the players are especially upset that there is no chocolate milk. One of my teammates tried her hand at making her own, this evening, with milk and chocolate pudding, but to no avail.
After dinner we had, “mandatory fun time,” as one of the ladies called it. Mandatory or not, we did have fun, and we seem to be having more and more of it as the days go on.
August 2nd--USA vs. England
I didn't get a chance to post this last night, but here's my blog from yesterday:
12:30pm
We play England in about 6 hours. We had a walk through this morning and are now just hanging out. Everyone seems to be very composed and ready for this match, but underneath there is this intensity and tension that is just chomping at the bit to be released. If you were here, you could feel it in the air (i.e. there was some really over zealous cheering during “The Price Is Right”), and you could see it in the impish grins players are giving one another.
This is the proverbial quiet time before the storm that is rugby. I’m thinking now about a line in a poem by James Wright. At the end of “Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry Ohio,” there is a line describing a high school football game (I think it more aptly describes rugby): "Their sons grow suicidally beautiful at the beginning of October, and gallop terribly against each other's bodies."
Post Match
We certainly handled our own against the #2 team in the world. Of course, we didn’t play our best rugby, but we played well enough to win, and that is encouraging.
On a personal note, I had fun. I know that’s such a stock phrase, but I did. It was fun running against and with some of the best rugby players, it was fun playing that amazing fast-paced game, it was fun hitting some of those top-notch players and it was even fun getting hit. It was the best rugby I’ve ever played (maybe not personally), and it can only get better.
After the match, after our de-briefing, after our ice baths, we rookies got capped. What this means is that we were presented with these little beanie caps, complete with tassel (just like the one you see in the picture, only navy blue and gold), and had to “dance” (or our interpretation of dance—skipping is a more appropriate term) around the room. While the experience of earning that cap (the actual rugby) was very gratifying, the ceremony was amazing—I mean who doesn’t want to parade around a room in a little school-boy cap.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Look Out Toronto Here We Come...
8/1/11
We’re in Canada now, after a short trip across the border and past Niagara Falls. We didn’t actually have a chance to get outside and see the falls, but we definitely got a pretty good view while driving past. I got some video (not the best quality), and I’ll be posting soon.
We’re staying and playing (all of our matches but one) at Appleby College, which isn’t really a college—more like a really nice high school (boarding school style). It’s beautiful here. The campus borders Lake Ontario and the pitch is nestled in a little nook overlooking the lake. In the evening, when we’ll be playing, the field is all shadows (with maybe some ghosts here and there), with the blood orange sun fading behind the posts and light zephyrs rolling in from the lake. Ahhhhh, what great place for some rugby.
We had a good practice session and seem to be in a really good place, as a collective, to play England tomorrow. The starting line-up was announced, earlier this evening, (we had our jersey ceremony) and I’ll be starting at fullback. A part of me is, to quote the Golden Girls, “Wound up tighter than the girdle on a Baptist minister’s wife at an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast.” But I know that part is mostly just itching to play rugby—to play that game I love.
And now, it’s that time in our show for some off-the-field antics/mishaps (this time involving yours truly). I lost my room key this evening while we were all chatting down by the lake. My space pen (yes, I own a space pen) fell out of my pocket at one point during the chat, and I almost pooped my pants when I discovered it missing. After retrieving it, I was so relieved that I didn’t think to check the contents of my pockets for other possibly missing items, so I left our chat without my room key.
Luckily, I have genius coach, who concocted this brilliant idea, and awesome teammates, who implemented it and found my key. Pretty much, we got on our hands and knees and combed the area where we had been sitting. Hopefully, this tactical efficiency will carry over onto the field tomorrow.
We’re in Canada now, after a short trip across the border and past Niagara Falls. We didn’t actually have a chance to get outside and see the falls, but we definitely got a pretty good view while driving past. I got some video (not the best quality), and I’ll be posting soon.
We’re staying and playing (all of our matches but one) at Appleby College, which isn’t really a college—more like a really nice high school (boarding school style). It’s beautiful here. The campus borders Lake Ontario and the pitch is nestled in a little nook overlooking the lake. In the evening, when we’ll be playing, the field is all shadows (with maybe some ghosts here and there), with the blood orange sun fading behind the posts and light zephyrs rolling in from the lake. Ahhhhh, what great place for some rugby.
We had a good practice session and seem to be in a really good place, as a collective, to play England tomorrow. The starting line-up was announced, earlier this evening, (we had our jersey ceremony) and I’ll be starting at fullback. A part of me is, to quote the Golden Girls, “Wound up tighter than the girdle on a Baptist minister’s wife at an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast.” But I know that part is mostly just itching to play rugby—to play that game I love.
And now, it’s that time in our show for some off-the-field antics/mishaps (this time involving yours truly). I lost my room key this evening while we were all chatting down by the lake. My space pen (yes, I own a space pen) fell out of my pocket at one point during the chat, and I almost pooped my pants when I discovered it missing. After retrieving it, I was so relieved that I didn’t think to check the contents of my pockets for other possibly missing items, so I left our chat without my room key.
Luckily, I have genius coach, who concocted this brilliant idea, and awesome teammates, who implemented it and found my key. Pretty much, we got on our hands and knees and combed the area where we had been sitting. Hopefully, this tactical efficiency will carry over onto the field tomorrow.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Buffalo Part Deux
7/31/11
Busy day today. We started early this morning with some unit time—forwards working on lineouts and backs kicking—followed by breakfast, practice prep and practice. Practice, despite it being our first in over a month, felt good. I think everyone had their noses to the grindstone after camp, and we’ve come in ready for our pre-Cup preparation and the Nation’s Cup. Also, my “Skills Team” won (we had a little competition between groups of 5 to see who could get in the most skills reps), so big thanks to everyone who helped me get in some kicks and passes back at home in VA.
After practice, we had a brief lifting session, concentrating mostly on explosive movements (power clean stuff) followed by a team meeting. There we learned that we were “freaks.” Kind-of funny, but definitely true when applied to the explanation our Specialist coach gave. He said that what we do is abnormal—that most of the population wouldn’t choose to do this—so that made us freaks. I suppose I’ve always known that there was something a little different with rugby players, and I suppose that’s why I was drawn to them and the sport.
The meeting was followed by our second practice of the day, in which we worked a lot on defense and the game plan versus England. I’m super excited about playing in my first international match, especially against a really good team.
In off-the-field happenings, there was some accidental food stealing. One of the players is Jewish and eats only kosher foods, so she has brought some of her own meals. Last night, a couple of the stragglers (some of the ladies from further west, who got in a little later than the rest) made a meal out of her chicken and potatoes, and then stuck the picked-apart chicken carcass back in the refrigerator. As a consolation, one of the culprits offered, “Well it was really good.”
Busy day today. We started early this morning with some unit time—forwards working on lineouts and backs kicking—followed by breakfast, practice prep and practice. Practice, despite it being our first in over a month, felt good. I think everyone had their noses to the grindstone after camp, and we’ve come in ready for our pre-Cup preparation and the Nation’s Cup. Also, my “Skills Team” won (we had a little competition between groups of 5 to see who could get in the most skills reps), so big thanks to everyone who helped me get in some kicks and passes back at home in VA.
After practice, we had a brief lifting session, concentrating mostly on explosive movements (power clean stuff) followed by a team meeting. There we learned that we were “freaks.” Kind-of funny, but definitely true when applied to the explanation our Specialist coach gave. He said that what we do is abnormal—that most of the population wouldn’t choose to do this—so that made us freaks. I suppose I’ve always known that there was something a little different with rugby players, and I suppose that’s why I was drawn to them and the sport.
The meeting was followed by our second practice of the day, in which we worked a lot on defense and the game plan versus England. I’m super excited about playing in my first international match, especially against a really good team.
In off-the-field happenings, there was some accidental food stealing. One of the players is Jewish and eats only kosher foods, so she has brought some of her own meals. Last night, a couple of the stragglers (some of the ladies from further west, who got in a little later than the rest) made a meal out of her chicken and potatoes, and then stuck the picked-apart chicken carcass back in the refrigerator. As a consolation, one of the culprits offered, “Well it was really good.”
Saturday, July 30, 2011
First Leg of My Nation's Cup Trip
7/30/11
My first international rugby experience has begun. Actually, we’re still in the states, but will be traveling to Canada in a couple of days to play England.
I arrived in Buffalo, NY around 3:30pm and arrived at the University at Buffalo (most of us are wondering why it’s the University “AT” Buffalo instead of “OF”—if anyone knows, share) in time for a team meeting, followed by a long overdue dinner and getting our new kit. Our kit includes two pair of shorts, two pair of socks, a bag, a track suit and a mouthguard. I believe my mouthguard was switched at birth. It doesn’t fit—those aren’t my teeth impressions and it’s too wide—but I’m sure I’ll get that straightened out tomorrow.
In our meeting, we talked a lot about our challenges and opportunities. Some of the non-rugby opportunities I like the best are possibly getting a chance to see Niagara Falls and maybe trying some genuine Buffalo hot wings.
Right now, I’m winding down and getting ready to hit the sack. We have two practices tomorrow and a couple of meetings.
My first international rugby experience has begun. Actually, we’re still in the states, but will be traveling to Canada in a couple of days to play England.
I arrived in Buffalo, NY around 3:30pm and arrived at the University at Buffalo (most of us are wondering why it’s the University “AT” Buffalo instead of “OF”—if anyone knows, share) in time for a team meeting, followed by a long overdue dinner and getting our new kit. Our kit includes two pair of shorts, two pair of socks, a bag, a track suit and a mouthguard. I believe my mouthguard was switched at birth. It doesn’t fit—those aren’t my teeth impressions and it’s too wide—but I’m sure I’ll get that straightened out tomorrow.
In our meeting, we talked a lot about our challenges and opportunities. Some of the non-rugby opportunities I like the best are possibly getting a chance to see Niagara Falls and maybe trying some genuine Buffalo hot wings.
Right now, I’m winding down and getting ready to hit the sack. We have two practices tomorrow and a couple of meetings.
Friday, July 15, 2011
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