People often ask me why I play rugby or how I got involved with the sport. I usually respond… “I fell in love instantly or it’s simply the best sport.” While these explanations are accurate, I often find myself neglecting the true reason I’m enamored with the sport… It creates better people.
I believe rugby is much more than a sport. A sport begins and ends within the confines of grass, white wash, or court markings. Rugby transcends these contrived boundaries. Rugby is a global culture based on community, camaraderie, and respect. These ideals are epitomized no matter your location in the world. You could find yourself treated like a family member thousands of miles from home, simply because you play rugby and share an admiration for the game. Whether home or abroad, rugby creates individuals that are bigger than themselves; they are part of a unique collective. In American sport, our veneration of the individual sometime causes us to lose sight of this important concept. The rugby community is tightly bound by implicit accountability. A fellow rugger is expected to sacrifice anything to see his team achieve success on the field. The same usually holds true off the field. It takes the selfless labor of team managers and dedicated family members to help prepare rugby teams for victory. Rugby unites the community behind the pursuit of higher standards for one another.
At the end of the day, rugby requires several people toiling in harmonious effort to achieve a common goal. Life, in general, isn’t too different. I have found that rugby cultivates a higher caliber of individual. That is why I am here. That is why I want to grow rugby. I hope you’ll join us.
6 Comments