Come what may

The ladies' meeting on Sunday was strangely comforting. Despite the sad number of players available (of which two was brand new rookies and two was increasingly pregnant) everybody seemed to agree that we'll play in whichever form the union decides. We'll play as Uppsala - come what may (saying that - we DO have some suggestions for league structure tho).

On my way home I cruised by a guy on a MTB. This was clearly offensive to him - he got so annoyed he had to overtake on the uphill, pedalling furiously, and then block my path all the way home. Congratulations you retard - you just won against a six months pregnant woman riding a bike without gears!

The escalating want for contact

As autumn is creeping upon us so is darkness. This effectively cuts down our training time at Fyrisfjädern, where the local council hasn't yet bothered putting any lights up. The hour that we spent yesterday evening was however used well - the ladies practised some unopposed back line reforming during multiple phases, and pod movement for us forwards. I hope the newbies felt it was worth all the shouting and confusion - I might've sounded more murderous than usual in my struggle to get to the ball in time. (There seems to be a direct correlation between the amount of frustration over lost mobility and the escalating want for getting involved in every contact situation possible!) The trip home from training was less enjoyable as my body was screaming for a painkiller and a hot bath. This little comeback maybe wasn't the best idea - but at the time it felt worth it!

I'm very much looking forward to this saturday, and might even squeeze myself and the bump into the smart dresscode with dress, heels and all later in the eve. For all rookies that want a bit more understanding of the game AND a bit more socialising there's a chair down at the club house with your name on it!

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ps. The bet is STILL ON at the club - when will rugby baby Devine arrive? 20 sek for each date you want to guess on. Everyone that bets on the right date gets to share the pile of money!

Clenches

So I've temporarily stopped playing rugby and found another tuesday hobby... Instead of lying semi-paralysed in bed after every session, not being able to sleep because of the weird pains in my loosening pelvis, I'm now losing sleep because of italian grammar (or rather, because of my feeble grasp of it).

I have not yet gone so far as to sign up for a yoga course...which otherwise seems to be "the thing you do" to stay active and flexible in preparation for childbirth. I'm just not ready for the total lack of action and serene faces. I did experience something training-like today tho that was defo on the far end of the surreality scale - synchronised vagina clenches with six other strange women and a nurse. (No, we weren't naked and no, I don't think anyone enjoyed it much...but thank you for asking). Won't be going to any more of these group meetings me thinks...

Despite the bump

I have to say, you're still pretty fast - despite the bump someone told me last week. Bloody right I am. My legs are still fond of crashing into a defensive line, just like they used to. Let's not even mention the twitch in my shoulders every time I see the opportunity to ruck someone in half but have to hold back. It's just as well we had to withdraw from the league as I would've been unbearable on the sidelines...

So I can't tackle, but I can still run. When I lose that to this baby cracking up my pelvis, what do I do then?  

(Retorical question, my plan B is already in motion. Practical Italian 7.5 hp at the Department of Modern languages. Davvero!)

Shiver shiver

This might be the coldest I've even been. Like the very core of my body is made of Piggelin. I was so cold I couldn't even be properly happy after the final whistle when we'd won our first game of the season! It took hours of hot water, 5 layers, full blast car heating, microwaveable pillows and a fiancé to bring me back to life...
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Glad we didn't play Exiles away today - unofficial rules at Årstafältet apparently give the men's first team unlimited access to the only changing room with working showers. For listening to music and complimenting eachothers muscles BEFORE their game that is...despite any number of ladies teams waiting to clean up AFTER their battle.

Comeback

Ja jävlar. Ska det vara så svårt att göra comeback i sin egen blogg?

Tackles - no thanks!?

I felt great yesterday! Our Sävja session included both rucking and mauling - how I’ve been waiting for this! Managed to work myself up to proper rugby rage and eventually started bellowing instructions right, left and centre so as to get things happening (preferably my way).

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I wasn’t always this fond of contact training. In fact, I remember vividly my first ever tackle experience and how big a brain freeze I got just then. It was early spring 2007 and I’d been on the team for a few months during winter season, practicing ball handling and playing touch. I’d FINALLY realised what Bettan wanted when she was screaming DEEP, go DEEP for heaven’s sake! (and was pretty pleased with that too). In the middle of our touch session, coach Richard suddenly shouted OK, full contact now everyone!

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WHAT!?

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The killer faces on these people when they were suddenly allowed to take eachother down! God, that scared the shit out of me… For the next ten minutes I was skulking around in the background, pretending to be planning my next move but really just desperately hoping that no one would come up with the stupid idea to pass the ball to me. It wasn’t even tackling someone else that was my biggest fear – it was being tackled. After training I cried because I was so disappointed with myself. Why did I suddenly become such a bloody delicate flower when, a year earlier, I was perfectly happy to have people kick me in the face down at the dojo? (Well, at least happy to have them try…)

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My point is, even if you think you don’t have it in you to start with, even if you’re scared of hurting someone else or just reluctant to let five teammates pile up on top of you, you can start to love it. Just like I did.

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(By the way - I haven't seen the men's team do tackle training since...ever. Are ya' scared? No wonder that opponents slip through the defense!)