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So how was the Edinburgh rugby clinic guys?

So how was the Edinburgh rugby clinic guys?

Oliver Birrell28 Nov 2014 - 20:14
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Just two of the 25 strong team of new recruits have a chat about their trip up north. Including their first taste of the game, tour and club antics!

Below, the club 'proudly' presents the ramblings of some of our newest members! After letting them loose for the first time on the pitch, (and across the boarder) they reflect on their time away. The KX Steelers are proud of our tradition of welcoming any and all to the wonderful game of rugby, we'll let their words speak for themselves:

John: So, how are you?
Charlie: I am good.

John: We have been asked to write an article about ourselves, and to mention something about our recent newbie rugby tour to the Edinburgh Rugby Clinic, run by the Caledonian Thebans. Since you joined the King’s Cross Steelers this summer how’s it going so far?
Charlie: Watching Scotland v New Zealand in my tracksuit pants. I recently discovered that the best way to learn how to play rugby is probably to watch it. It really helps. Who knew?

Charlie: Had you done much sport beforehand, or been in a team?
John: The sportiest thing I had done was pretend to be in the kickline of A Chorus Line. I’m not a natural dancer, so it only lasted about 30 seconds.

Charlie: Are you suggesting that a kickline isn’t a team sport? I wore the thickest glasses and spent most of my teenager years reading books and painting my nails black. Imagine if 16 year old us met us now?
John: They would think I was an alien imposter.

John: You are from Australia, so I imagine rugby comes very naturally to you?
Charlie: Sadly I came from the one state that doesn’t actually have rugby. Why, cruel geography?

Charlie: Right, on to the Edinburgh event. How did you think the train ride went?
John: It was lovely. Initially we all went to Waitrose and bought mid- to upper-tier price range snacks and drinks. We had quite a lot to drink really, if I’m being honest. Which the other train passengers didn’t like. Someone ate an entire quiche stood in the aisle and caused a bit of a quichestorm. It was generally very fun, and we toned the rowdiness down after a while.

Charlie: Did we? Because I’m still picking quiche out of my hair.
John: That’s actually dandruff.

Charlie: By the way, do you feel like we’re not talking about rugby enough? Should we mention rugby more? I feel like people expect that.
John: Yes, you’re totally right. RUGBY RUGBY RUGBY! (Is that enough?)
Charlie: I think so, yeah. That being said, we trekked Murrayfield in the frigid (puns!) Scottish morning, as nauseous from the Friday night welcome party as we were from the Friday night welcome party. We kicked off the day with a series of drills with some Scottish gentlemen who were a sober 7/10 and a drunk 12/10. When a Bristolian dude spear tackled me with more force than a semi-trailer in a Bruce Willis film, before 9:30am, I realised it was going to be a long day. Before long, the actual matches began.

Charlie: Did you play with the 1st or 2nd team to go on to the pitch? Because I feel like it would’ve been easier to play first, rather than watching your mates get hit super, super hard, and knowing I had to go next.
John: I was in the second team up to play. Watching the first group play was pretty brutal, but also felt quite exhilarating, and I found a vivaciousness and drive that was a bit of a pleasant surprise. I really wanted to get into a game. I also discovered that when you’re on the field, you hurt less and feel so alive that nothing is really that frightening. Even massive bruisers from Newcastle running very fast straight at you.

Charlie: Absolutely! The thing that stuck with me was realising that all the bits I’d worried about in training melted away the second we hit the pitch, and that getting hit hurts about 100 times less than it does when Scott is yelling at you. Because Scott does yell.
John: Indeed. So shouty. But I like it. And I had a feeling we had been trained well, even as newbies.

Charlie: Right, gossip.
John: God, where to begin? The tour was a bit of a boyfest really, for some of our teammates. But, you know what they say - ‘What goes on tour stays on tour’, so I can’t say anything.

Charlie: Who knew we had such moral integrity?!
John: Not I! It’s a nice surprise.

Charlie: By the way, how incredible was your hair at the Grease Is The Word party? I’ll tell you how incredible. Too incredible.
John: Thank you! So, what now for us?
Charlie: For me, building up some upper body strength?
John: You have nice slender arms. Don’t change. I’m planning on buying loads of sexy (loose-fitting) sportswear. And will soon play a bit of a game with the Steelers 2nd team. I will probably watch from the bench for a bit, but I’d love to play at least part of a full game. Also, continue with twice-a-week training, watch loads of pro rugby, and trying to get a bit fitter generally.

Charlie: Yeah, convincing the 2nd’s to allow us to play with them is absolutely on the to do list. What do you think our chances are? We do make good bench warmers. It’s our Streisand-like charisma.
John: You go for a Streisand reference, but I prefer Celine. Can we agree to disagree?

Charlie: If the last three months with the Steelers has taught me anything, it’s that there is room for everyone.
John: You’re totally right. I was a bit trepidatious about joining, but the welcome and encouragement has been phenomenal. The training is fun (and hard work), and the social side is awesome.

Charlie: And thanks to everyone who helped us get to Edinburgh, including Tim, Eden and Drew. You are all the best humans. Fact! Go team?
John: Go. TEAM!!!

Any views or opinions presented in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the organisation or its members (but some of what they say is quite nice so we'll take that!).

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