is it too late?

Ginja Ninja

before i start i've read the sticky (covered in stikyness)

i'm hoping to begin playing rugby next year at college is it too late?

i'm 17 6ft 2 and about 185lb and fairly well built
my "local" club is 40 minutes drive away so joining isn't really an option for me, i'm playing gaelic so fitness aerobic fitness should be fine

anything i can be doing by myself ?
i'd have reasonable upper body strength (upside of culchiness)
any suggestions ?(thanks in advance)

RuggieBear

never too late but 185KG!!!!? Do you mean lbs?

Ginja Ninja

woopsies (new scales) i meant pounds(lb's) so 185 lb/85kg/13 ish stone

RuggieBear

lol

Do you know the rules? have any idea of what position appeals? eg running with the fairies or doing the real work up front...

i reckon watching as many matches as you can would be good too...surprising the amount you can pick up from watching top pro's playing (if you know why they are doing what they are doing)

There are one or two guys on here who have coached who would be considerably more useful for suggestions than me...

Ginja Ninja

oh yeah,
i know how to play and watch a fair bit of it just never had the option of doing it
thus, i have no f****ng clue where i'd be i wouldn't have the ultra accelaration or the stature for the "real work"

Climate Expert

My father started after me at over 35 years of age and played at a decent club level as a second row.

Its a great sport to take up at a late age and still make it at the highest level. Theres a fair few of the current prost that only took it up at 16-17 although its usually the forwards.

remus808

Climate Expert wrote: »

My father started after me at over 35 years of age and played at a decent club level as a second row.

Its a great sport to take up at a late age and still make it at the highest level. Theres a fair few of the current prost that only took it up at 16-17 although its usually the forwards.

Think Hayes was 19.

Ginja Ninja

i know for a fact john hayes never touched a rugby ball until he was 18

but ,.......just look at him!!!!

most mortals would never have the chance to compete with giant genetics like that

[Jackass]

RuggieBear wrote: »

any idea of what position appeals? eg running with the fairies or doing the real work up front...

Haha Quiet you!! Fairies put points on the board!!

RugbyFanatic

[Jackass] wrote: »

Haha Quiet you!! Fairies put points on the board!!

only cause us forwards make it possible

damnyanks

Your size won't really matter. Leg power is the most important thing in rugby upper body isnt used anywhere near as often.

Go play some GAA or something if you can. As pointed out by others - being a back is quite embarassing but someone has to do it.

If you play U20's then your ability will matter. If you just go straight into the club set up you'll end up at a level full of old, unfit fella's where skill is less relevant and fitness is king.

twinytwo

best place to start is J3... what they lack in skill they make up for in size . Cant pass for **** but they could run through a wall... nothing better for the bones than being under a 100 stone ruck.:cool:

Im 21 and only started playing a few months ago. Leg power is king though

Ginja Ninja

i'm playing GAA at the moment so the aerobics should be right back up after club kicks back in and i play midfield so ball handling might be improved by then
also, i won't be starting until college in september (have to pass the lc first)
the physical end will be much better by then (usually 30 push ups + sit-ups everyday) so squats for about 9 months would be a really good idea i'm guessing
also i was thinking somewhere round the middle (7-9)

Bryan Habana

Ginja Ninja wrote: »

before i start i've read the sticky (covered in stikyness)

i'm hoping to begin playing rugby next year at college is it too late?

i'm 17 6ft 2 and about 185lb and fairly well built
my "local" club is 40 minutes drive away so joining isn't really an option for me, i'm playing gaelic so fitness aerobic fitness should be fine

anything i can be doing by myself ?
i'd have reasonable upper body strength (upside of culchiness)
any suggestions ?(thanks in advance)

If you're interested definitely give it a go. It's a great sport and all the lads I knew were sound. I started at 17 when I went to college. At first my skills left a lot to be desired but over the months they improved and my fitness went up big time. Consistency and honesty of effort are the key factors. You're a good height for either backs or forwards and you're GAA background will give you good technical skills imo. Best of luck with it.

Sangre

Ginja Ninja wrote: »

i'm playing GAA at the moment so the aerobics should be right back up after club kicks back in and i play midfield so ball handling might be improved by then
also, i won't be starting until college in september (have to pass the lc first)
the physical end will be much better by then (usually 30 push ups + sit-ups everyday) so squats for about 9 months would be a really good idea i'm guessing
also i was thinking somewhere round the middle (7-9)

you'll want to work your legs, core and back ideally. Although complete strength is ideal.

Avoid trying to do as many sit ups and press ups as possible, you should just be aiming to lift/push/pull as heavy as possible for a few reps for a few sets. Obviously with form key.

Your best bet for this are sqauts, deadlifts, bench press, dips, chin ups, press. Google starting strength for an absolutely ideal program.

Ginja Ninja

one more stupid question when do clubs start training ?
i know the fixtures are near the end of the year so would "pre-season" be summer (july-august)
i might get a bit of a start with my local when i have acres of time after exams
also,about my back ,my dad seems to think i will be paralysed if i play rugby (being tall) but i also know that when it comes to "full body" lifting im pretty strong so ,is he right?

twinytwo

Ginja Ninja wrote: »

one more stupid question when do clubs start training ?
i know the fixtures are near the end of the year so would "pre-season" be summer (july-august)
i might get a bit of a start with my local when i have acres of time after exams
also,about my back ,my dad seems to think i will be paralysed if i play rugby (being tall) but i also know that when it comes to "full body" lifting im pretty strong so ,is he right?

No rugby during the summer the ground is too hard... unless u wanna try some tag rugby...My dad was the same but so long as you learn how to tackle and scrum properly and to protect yourself in a ruck you should be alright

CatFromHue

there does seem to be a lot of responses with exercises to do, but why not just buy a ball and throw it around with a few mates.
or even just go down the park and kick it about.
surprisingly fun.
you could try rugby league over the summer, begins in may/june i think