Inspired by TIAR (this is American rugby) question a few weeks ago asking "why you love rugby" I have decided to finally lay it all out as to why I love rugby so much and what it means to me. It seems so easy to write but I've held back because of fear of offending people or worrying those I don't want to worry.
Growing up I attended public schooling for elementary and middle school, or to some Junior High. As we graduated from middle school I and my older siblings where blessed to be able to attend a private school on the other side of town (San Jose, ca) called Valley Christian High School. For me entering a new school, for which I was excited to attend at first, was scary but exciting. I saw it as a chance to rewrite who I am and create a new image along with new friends and have a chance at being "cool", like any typical teen ager wants to be. My first year I signed up to play football and tried to make friends from the team, guys I could eat lunch with, hang out with after school and so on. I played football my junior and senior year, never being anything more then a player on special teams. From day one attending school I never felt like I fit in with anyone. Even after playing football and doing two a days, spring practice, summer weight training, my biggest fear every day from the moment I started school to my last day my biggest fear was "who can or will eat lunch with me?".
I was almost never invited to parties, out side school events, let alone asked out to Sadie Hawkins dances all four years. Outside of school I never was asked to hang out or let alone would receive any form of communications from those who I thought where my "friends". As the years went on I began to notice from 8am-3pm I had "friends" but out side of that I was alone. I was not privilege like many at that school to spend my time going where ever I wanted to and spend what ever money, I did have my few friends who I went to school with in middle school to still hang out with and see on weekends but with time we each would slowly become more and more busy with our ever growing lives.
Finally shortly after my senior year of football I was approached by a fellow classmate asking if I would like to give RUGBY a try. After some convincing and slight pestering I decided to attend the fallowing practices and meetings for what was then known as the SOUTH BAY EXILES RFC. From the first pass I was hooked! as the practices and season went on I found my self slowly beginning to breath and dream Rugby. I was enjoying every second of that season, every second of practice, every hit during the game whether I was giving or receiving a hit. Our club consisted of players from Valley Christian and other local public schools, what was amazing was the fact that so many of us came from different back grounds and areas but yet we were able to come together and act like brothers in Arms. In Rugby there is no one star player, it takes all 15 players on the field to score, there is no dived of seniors or freshmen if you can play then you can play regardless of experience or grade level.
At about mid way through season my coach , Mike Annab pulled me aside in practice and asked "what position did you play in football? did you start?" I explained to him that in football the coaches have there set players who are "starters" and who are basically "bench warmers" and I was the second option. What he said next I wish I was told by so many other coaches, "I don't understand , you are so good you should of started". Rugby had given me a outlet to silence the voices in my head that I was a loner, a loser, a no body in a school that prides its self on school spirit and family environment. Rugby had given me a chance to show people how tough I can be and a outlet to release all my anger. From that team I was able to build new friendships and in fact one of my best friends is a guy who was younger then me but thanks to rugby were able to bound and still find time to grab a Pint or two. From there I was able to play a little bit with SJSU Rugby , just two fall seasons, blessed with the birth of my amazing daughter I had to hang the Boots up and be a father and make the money. I am grateful for them letting me play, also growing up my father and his brothers where (and still are) big Spartan Fans. So to able to play a new sport that I loved and also play for the college that I grew up rooting for my whole life, was in some ways a Dream come true.
Since then I was given a opportunity to coach at the High school level (U19) with newly formed Los Gatos Rugby, and continue to be involved with the club. I run a twitter account @LLRugby , Life Love Rugby , with a Facebook page . Rugby has become a major part in my daily life, from subscribing to Fox Soccer Plus to purely watch rugby games to constantly checking rugby websites to read up on any new developments. Half of my wardrobe consist of some form of rugby clothing. I've bought many rugby balls for my daughter to play with as she grows older and constantly bug my beautiful fiancé with nothing but rugby talk and new ideas to some how be involved with rugby. from ideas of starting a new men's club, to compliment the San Jose Seahawks to wanting to revive my old high school club. Bless her for putting up with me.
My biggest project I am currently working on, and yes with my fiancé blessing I should add, is trying to start up a Rugby invitation to be played here in San Jose, California. I want to give back to the rugby community like it helped to give back my life when I was at my lowest point. I love Rugby very much, I want to see all youth programs grow and become big enough to start to rival many soccer (football) programs. I truly believe that Rugby is the rarest of all sports and most giving. countless stories of how rugby saved or helped change young kids lives, gotten them off the streets or helped them get to college. Rugby is if not only then the minority of sports that regardless of age or level of experience, ethnicity, religion, sexual preference, there is no separation but only family. I want to see the passion in players eyes that i grew up to see in my fellow team mates. Silicon Valley Rugby Classic is my project, my tool to help give local youth programs, new or old a chance to connect to the communities.
thank you for taking time to read, This is Why i love rugby, this is what Rugby means to me.
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