My First Almost-Game: St. Paddy's Day Tournament

I almost got to play in my first rugby game.

I was excited and nervous to travel to Topeka for the tournament. I would have been more excited and less nervous had my rugby buddy not told me, "You'll definitely get some playing time." I wasn't sure that I wanted playing time, really.

See, I have this thing with excellence. In everything I do, I want to be excellent at something before I have to do it in public. Not sure why that is. Maybe it's just because I don't want to look like a moron in public. Or maybe it's because I don't want to offer an opportunity for anyone to correct me. Maybe I don't like being told what to do, and being unsure of what I'm doing is a prime opportunity for that. Anyway, I was nervous about being thrown into a game when I wasn't even sure about the basic rules.

I must have been sending that vibe pretty strongly out into the Universe, because I manifested a great excuse not to play.

I was warming up with the Sabres, going hard to prove that I had the athleticism to hang with the team, even though I'd barely touched a rugby ball before. The Sabres were running continuity, going through some plays and stuff, and I and another rookie were providing some opposition for them. Not full contact, of course, just light touch.

My touches were not, apparently, light enough. I accidentally got my arms all the way around the 8 man while she was running, and she ran through my right elbow. Instant pain, and a string of profanities flowed forth from my mouth. A few people asked if I was okay, and I was like, "No!" But there was nothing I (or anyone else) could do, at that point. I was so disappointed, and so frustrated. I walked off a ways in case I started crying.

The Sabres finished running their warm up series, and got ready for their first game. I walked off on my own, for a while, to feel sorry for myself. Had myself a good cry, then talked myself out of the Bad Place, and determined that I would do my best to support my friend (and her team) in the game. I walked back to our pitch past an ambulance past an ambulance into which they were loading a guy who was really hurt on a backboard with a neck brace. I felt a little better about what had happened to me.

Best I can figure, I hyperextended my elbow. I couldn't bend it more than about 20º for that first day. It bruised and swelled really badly. I couldn't bend it enough to do basic things, like take off a shirt or unzip my pants. I think I did some damage to the ligaments. By the end of the next day, though, I had a little bit more range of motion. I think it'll get better with time (and without the assistance of doctors).

Also, I served as touch judge in my first two games. Which I sucked at. Because I'd never played and didn't know the rules. So I guess the Universe still found a way to humble me that day.