The addictive love affair with rugby

 

This is my last season!…

We’ve all thought or heard this phrase multiple times i’m sure, it is the equivalent of… “arghh i’ll only have one more” then sure enough… you can be seen struggling on the pitch and hurting all the way through to the next week when you do it again.Exhausted, limping, & the stinger in my right shoulder has temporarily paralysed the movement of my right arm, however i do my best to hide it so i don’t get taken off the field. My good mate stands beside me & at a glance i can see he’s hurting as much as i am, but its the last 5 mins of the game & we need to push harder even though we have no chance of winning, a slight nod of the head confirms we will…

Why would someone put themselves through all that?

I recently coached a team where a player had to drive 3 hours just to make training with no financial contract or even guarantee of a starting position…

Why would you inconvenience yourself for nothing in return?

All Black legend, Wayne “Buck” Shelford returned to the field in the infamous “Battle of Nantes” test match against France in 1985, after stitches were required to repair his scrotum…

It’s only a game, how is that acceptable?

Every rugbyhead can share extreme examples of sacrifice,.. So why do we do it?

 Arguably symptoms of an addiction yeah…

Is it an addiction?… if so is it such a bad thing?

As a competitive teenager i lived for Saturday’s because Saturday was rugby day!, it was 80mins where i could escape from all problems and my actions where a form of communication and acceptance amongst my peers. The physical intensity of rugby provided me with a sense of confidence & ownership, the adrenaline hit added to the euphoria of earning a sense of belonging in a team and ultimately a level of respect that every rugby player aims to achieve.As I progressed through the grades i learnt very quickly the value of respect, not just for my teammates and coach but also the officials, club expectations, the volunteers, opponents, seniority and most importantly values embedded in the game’s heritage. It didn’t matter where you were from, what you believed or your stature in the community, you are measured by the effort given to the cause, in fact those same differences often empowered my understanding and acceptance off the pitch and allowed me to grow some amazing friendships.Late teens I moved into the higher/intense levels of the game, i liken rugby to a roller coaster of emotions in a short period of time (80mins of anger, fear, joy, pride, excitement, disappointment, revenge) which can be argued is applicable to the majority of sports. However i believe the difference lies in the intense combative element and respect values of rugby, that are instilled in us at a early age. The ride can make or break you as a person although it is a stern message that you are expected to harness your emotions and control them, as the consequence could see you sent from the field forcing the workload of your punishment on to your teammates, & the kicker is;.. you are made to sit and watch, preying your lack of discipline does not impact the game too much, plus you know you will be held accountable for your actions later.But the time does come & 2 years ago i decided to hang up the boots and took to coaching, a side of rugby that had never interested me previously. However i found myself re-invigorated as i felt it was my time to give back to the game as many have done for me over my 30 years of playing. I feel like rugby played an integral part in my upbringing not just as a rugby enthusiast but in my day to day interactions outside of the rugby environment. Although i miss the on field challenges there is sense of fulfillment in coaching and witnessing the evolution of the rugby mistek grow in Junior players.I can appreciate the stigmatic view’s that rugby could be perceived as a brutal and time consuming sport that some take far too seriously, that it is only a game to which i agree, however; as I analyse my experience’s to answer the question, i realize even though a individual works hard to promote and develop their own ability it is in fact arguably the fading attribute of selflessness (def. is when your care for something is so strong that you would do anything for it) that drives rugby enthusiasts to addictive behaviours. The fact that the game is so intense & physically demanding means you are literally putting your body on the line for someone else, (which is almost unheard of in today’s dog eat dog society) this same behaviour can be seen as selfish & reckless as loved ones worry for your physical well being and compete for your time.So in summary; Yes the body is affected by the physical nature of the game,… Yes rugby is potentially a dangerous sport,… and yes the commitment does take up a lot of ones time, however;,. i believe it is exactly those attributes that make the boys & girls/woman & men who play the game feel alive and build essential skills on and off the field.I think about it this way, when I tune into the news or social media and see societies major issues (of equality, mental health, prejudice, racial issues, obesity, anti social behaviour, entitlement & greed) i can honestly admit to my addiction, and only now reminiscing in my own experiences i am thankful for the 80min escape every saturday even though it is… just a game.