Jewish rugby

by Ian Rosmarin

Sometime ago I started thinking I wanted to write an article that would be unique and talked about how different sections of the Jewish community work together. I wanted it to be catchy and funny and I wanted the series to be non-political. Then an idea came into my head why not do something that I would never usually do in my adult life? We could involve the community and which would get more people to read these posts. One lonely day reading through Facebook I came across a group called ‘British Zions Rugby Club’. At first I had no idea who they could possibly be I then did a bit of research. It turns out they're part of Maccabi GB.

So what is the plan? Well the plans is for the first time in 10 years for me to play rugby. So the first thing you have to ask is why have I not played the game in 10 years? When I was at School at Mount Grace I was in the school rugby team. However I decided it was more important to concentrate on my studies so I left. After I left school I was run over by a car and ended up with a quadruple fracture in my right leg so I couldn't do any running for over three years. By the time I'd finished my degree I'd totally forgotten I'd ever played rugby in fact I may very well forgotten even how to play!

The good news is I actually have the body to play rugby - my grandfather on my mother's side was a keen rugby player himself. He was 5.9 tall (I am 5.10) but we both have in common is the ability to run very fast and in short spurts so I should be able to genetically be a good forward player. Apart from that I have a fairly white chest a slim build and I am fairly hardly. Then I found out I had yet another problem...

I checked when the trials were they were on the 1^st of June 2008. The problem here was there on the same day I had a training for my new part-time job. In order to see if I could still take part I contacted the coach ‘Jon S’ told me that anyone could join for the trials and I do not need to go to the one on that Sunday. I informed him why I intended to take part. All I needed to do now was register at www.maccabigb.org which had cleared ball he didn't tell me was that it would cost £20! I applied to the open part of the form answered a few questions. First were the usual questions your name your date of birth your next of kin then came the medical questions.  I am as fit as a fiddle apart from type 1 diabetic and filled in the form and sent off the slip. Within minutes an e-mail came from the Maccabi website.

This leaves me with a number of questions? When do I buy that new mouth guard I'm obviously going to need for playing rugby? When should I start training? What diets should I have? The fact I'm diabetic how will that affect my health and playing in a competitive sport? 

Then there's other questions the fact I'm doing this as a blogger will I be able to talk to my other colleagues? That if I get past the trial stage which at this stage seems highly unlikely as far as I am concerned. One last thought that comes through my mind as I see the e-mail from Maccabi website is purely personal. None of my friends are in a big way into sport apart from my mate Jason from university and he's not up to a professional level. One of my reasons for leaving the Mount Grace rugby team all those years ago was that I never ever seem to socialise with people who played in competitive sports now I am testing myself to the limit. There are so many questions of what could go wrong at this point I just want to leave it to my imagination and ask other people.

 So now I find myself looking at my screen having almost finished the first of a series of blogs which can be called as a group ‘ my rugby blogs’. All I need now is a coach to show me how to play rugby again! The good news is I only need to be ready by September!

Comments

[Rugby Dan in Florida]

Ian if you are 35+ join my Old Boys group too keep up w/things

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/worldmastersrugby/

Dan

[Ian Rosmarin]

Thanks I am 26 so I am a bit young for you also I live in England!

But Thanks I need a team for the under 30's any ideas?