I look up to see the lights illuminating the pitch, the grass green and freshly mowed, the lines freshly painted for our rugby match. The other team is setting up to kick the ball off to us... and Go! Game on. I’m getting ready to catch the ball, standing with my feet ready to run, my hands in the shape of a W. I catch it and take off, running by all my teammates so they are back on-sides. I keep running as fast as I can with my knees pumping to my chest, making it harder for the South Burlington girls to tackle me. When their biggest girl tackles me, I hit the ground on my right side. I quickly throw my arms over to place the ball towards my teammates. Like a reflex, my arms are over my head, and I hope that no one in the ruck steps on me, until the ball is out of the ruck.

My teammates have the ball and now the back line is sprinting down the field. We quickly pass the ball so South Burlington doesn’t know who to tackle, until they knock Hailey out of bounds with the ball in her hands. We get into formation for South Burlington’s throw-in. My legs are staggered, knees bent, arms ready to prop Lilli into the air. The South Burlington thrower yells, “Blue-4-2!” and Izzy and I prop Lilli into the air as high as we can. She is trying to grab the ball out of the air, but South Burlington’s flyer gets a hold on the ball and throws it to their back line. They are trying to make up some ground, but they only get about ten yards before we tackle their player. We quickly form a ruck, giving us the advantage.

We push South Burlington’s ruck back, stepping over their player and opening up the ball to Sarah, who starts running up the field. We hear, “All clear!” and the ruck dissipates with all of us running to catch up with Sarah for support. Katie is the first to catch up to Sarah; she doesn’t go past her, but stays slightly behind and to the side, making herself available for a pass. A big South Burlington girl is hurtling towards Sarah, and right as the girl wraps around Sarah’s legs, she passes the ball off to Katie. Katie bursts onto the ball, catching it and running until she is in the center of their try zone, where she touches down the ball. TRY!

To get the two extra conversion points, Sarah has to kick the ball through the uprights, while we get a quick drink and try to catch our breath. She sets up the ball, steps two steps back, three to the left, focuses, and kicks perfectly. It goes through the middle of the uprights. We set back up in our staggered stance, and it all starts again. For ninety minutes with only one break (half time), we run, tackle, ruck, and power through until we’ve won the match!

We don’t shake hands and say good game like some sports; we invite them to come eat with us. We sit down at the picnic tables with our food and compliment each other on “that great tackle” or “that was a good hit, I can feel it starting to bruise.” In what other sport do opponents talk to each other like that? That’s why I love playing rugby.