W
e hear it all the time in sports, “it’s more than just a
game.” Rugby is no different. Rugby is blood, sweat,
and tears; it’s commitment, hard work, and sacrific-
es. Rugby is a competition. A competition in skill, teamwork,
strength, and fitness; and fitness is key.A rugby game is 80 minutes long with one brief halftime
stoppage. There are 15 players from each team on the field
at one time, and each team can have up to seven substitutes.
Players that sub off the field are not permitted to re-enter
the game; therefore, fitness is very important. Most start-
ing players play the entire game. Rugby players not only
need good stamina; they also need to have endurance and
strength from their necks to their ankles. Although sprinting
and running are a given, what sets the fitness required in a
rugby game apart from that of other sports is the tackling.
Unlike football, where there is a stoppage after each tackle
and each dropped ball, a rugby game continues on. Both
the tackling and tackled players must get up immediately
and continue to play; this adds a challenging aspect to the
physical and mental fitness involved that sets rugby apart
from other team sports.In Edmonton, due to the long winters, the rugby season only
runs from May to September; but any rugby player will tell
you that they are more fit in those four months than they
are all year. Players practice twice a week and play at least1 game a week. Keeping up cardiovascular endurance and
their strength training is important. Players find that they
are faster, stronger, tougher, and more confident than when
they first started.It’s a bit if of a rugby cliché, but it is 100 per cent true when
someone says that there is a rugby position for everyone.
Regardless of size or ability. Unlike other sports, where a
particular body type is preferred for athletes, a rugby team
needs athletes that are big and strong just as much as it
needs athletes that are small and fast. Big and strong play-
ers are needed for scrums, tall players are great in line-outs,
and small, speedy players make excellent backs. What one
needs to get started in the sport of rugby are determination,
resilience, and effort. The fitness and the skill will come, in-
evitably. If you were not fit before joining, you can be sure
that you will be by the time you leave. New players are of-
ten hesitant to try rugby because it is a full-contact sport.
Although contact sports are not for everyone; most people
that give rugby a chance stay part of the rugby community
for years and years to come.Rugby is much more than “just a game”. However, it is a
game, and it is a game that is dynamic, physical, inclusive,
and fun to play. I love rugby because being a good rugby
player isn’t all about speed or strength or skill; it’s about
heart, hustle, and tenacity. It’s about running without fear,RUGBY – It’s More Than Just A Game
BY ANGELA LIEU
PHOTOS BY CHAN RIN
VIVID RIBBON PHOTOGRAPHY