so... I started playing rugby

Tefral

First off its through this forum that i put up a quick question about joining rugby in the relevant sticky...
Soon enough i was pointed to Stillorgan RFC... I checked out the website and sent off a noobie email and i got a reply within the day from a chap called mark...

I asked him all the usual "ive never played rugby before, generally unfit, couch potato" kinda questions and he answered them all diligently.

The reason i was asking so many questions is
1. Im not from dublin (moved here from Limerick)
2. Were they friendly? ( a big crux for me as i have had mates that have played rugby for years and came to dublin and tried to settle into a team and were met with very clannish "you didnt go to school with us or college with us" behaviour.

This experience had me quite frankly a little shy about the whole joining especially since i have never played before.

So i got an email last week stating if i was still interested, pre season training was starting on Thursday (02/06/09).

In truth as i drove in i was thinkin to myself "i wonder how ill get on". When i got out of the car, the lads knew i was new and everyone made a huge effort to say hello, and explain a little about themselves etc...

We did some basic fitness training, circuits, sprinting, stretching, and 2 games of Tag to warm down... Suffice to say i was sweating alot, coming from a period of no exercise, in an office enviornment, sitting down all day.

Coming away, i felt it was a worthwhile experience, and that i felt that the lads there were dead on and would genuinely help you out if they saw you were falling behind etc... Theres a really team spirit there...

The next day, i was a little worse for wear in that i was quite stiff, However ill be back down for the training next week and hopefully it will get easier...

Ill post up in here how im getting along, for those who are humming and hawing about joining a great sport and were in the smae position as me about not playing, generally unfit etc...

remus808

Great post.. inspiration for those of us who should be out playing aswell - I tell myself every season I'l knuckle down and get fit enough, hopefully it'll be this year.

funky penguin

This could be a great sticky, a kind of Rugby newbie journal. If cronin is up for updating it regularly of course!

Oh, and I've heard nothing but excellent things about Stillorgan RFC myself. Seem like a bunch of sound lads.

Tefral

funky penguin wrote: »

This could be a great sticky, a kind of Rugby newbie journal. If cronin is up for updating it regularly of course!

Oh, and I've heard nothing but excellent things about Stillorgan RFC myself. Seem like a bunch of sound lads.

I do plan on updating it after every training session etc, or at a very minium weekly...

To be honest i was always mad to see how people got on after they went down. Its hard to just walk into a fully formed team with guys being through the ups and downs together, but these lads anyway made me feel very welcome.

imaleper

It will get easier!

Amabokke

Good on you and enjoy it. It's like a drug, once you start you can't stop.

What position do you attend in playing?

keano_afc

Is it too late to join up OP?

Sundy

Amabokke wrote: »

Good on you and enjoy it. It's like a drug, once you start you can't stop.

Ive never though about it like that before but it really is. Must be why im so restless and fidgity all summer. Roll on pre-season!

mikedragon32

keano_afc wrote: »

Is it too late to join up OP?

Keano, I got your pm and responded. Looking forward to meeting you next Thursday.

This is a great idea for a thread, a bit like those Powerade ads at the mo...

OP, you weren't alone on Thursday, I think we had 10 newbs out and it's great to see. From chatting to some, it seems we've got some who haven't played since leaving school and a couple who've come from tag rugby. Great to see interest for a league season still at least 2 months away!

I think it's great to see new guys come to the game and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone progress as we get closer to the season.

OP, just remember what Doddsy said on Thursday night, you need to do stuff away from training too. Just busting a gut in Bird Avenue for an hour or so a week won't help you, you've got to get out for runs or hit the gym or something! Fridays won't be nearly so bad then! Really glad you enjoyed your first day with the Parish. You'll enjoy many more, I'm sure...

Tefral

mikedragon32 wrote: »

Keano, I got your pm and responded. Looking forward to meeting you next Thursday.

This is a great idea for a thread, a bit like those Powerade ads at the mo...

OP, you weren't alone on Thursday, I think we had 10 newbs out and it's great to see. From chatting to some, it seems we've got some who haven't played since leaving school and a couple who've come from tag rugby. Great to see interest for a league season still at least 2 months away!

I think it's great to see new guys come to the game and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone progress as we get closer to the season.

OP, just remember what Doddsy said on Thursday night, you need to do stuff away from training too. Just busting a gut in Bird Avenue for an hour or so a week won't help you, you've got to get out for runs or hit the gym or something! Fridays won't be nearly so bad then! Really glad you enjoyed your first day with the Parish. You'll enjoy many more, I'm sure...

Mike, glad to see you saw the thread. I fully intend joining the gym this week. It'll be handy after work while the traffic dies down. For anyone else sitting on the fence get down to your local club or come to bird avenue and start up.

Goodluck2me

keano_afc wrote: »

Is it too late to join up OP?

Id doubt it.


Word of advice to anyone joining, stay away from the pretty boy of the club "sickpuppy" on here, mick by name, he'l have you doing your hair before matches and looking to do pina coladas instead of beer.

Joe C

I have to admit it is tempting to get back into it

Depp

Are the stillorgan grounds close to ucd?

KnackerPants

Depp wrote: »

Are the stillorgan grounds close to ucd?

Yes, the grounds are in CUS secondary school on bird avenue beside the big red-bricked churc. The same road as the Spar shop opposite the gates to the Clonskea entrance of UCD......no excuse now !

GiftofGab

Keep us updated on your progress. I would seriously consider going back to rugby. I've many doubts thou. My size for one - 5'7 and about 65kgs. My speed has deterioated. My fitness is a serious problem. Used to play the odd astro football but recently broke my ankle so I havn't i've just become a couch potatoe. My ankle wont be fully functionally for about another 6 weeks. Plus I havn't played since I was about 16. Is there any clubs available for so called beginner adults, even thou I played in school. Im 23 now.

Great thread thou. Fair play to you.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself last week Cronin, I was gutted to be standing on the sidelines injured . As Mike said, keep yourself active and fit and you will enjoy the training sessions even more

Stev_o

GiftofGab wrote: »

Keep us updated on your progress. I would seriously consider going back to rugby. I've many doubts thou. My size for one - 5'7 and about 65kgs. My speed has deterioated. My fitness is a serious problem. Used to play the odd astro football but recently broke my ankle so I havn't i've just become a couch potatoe. My ankle wont be fully functionally for about another 6 weeks. Plus I havn't played since I was about 16. Is there any clubs available for so called beginner adults, even thou I played in school. Im 23 now.

Great thread thou. Fair play to you.

That's what J4 is all about really, it's the league for people who are only taking up the game or getting back into it after a very long time away, a social experiment and olds farts . Where abouts in Dublin do you live?

accensi0n

GiftofGab wrote: »

Keep us updated on your progress. I would seriously consider going back to rugby. I've many doubts thou. My size for one - 5'7 and about 65kgs. My speed has deterioated. My fitness is a serious problem. Used to play the odd astro football but recently broke my ankle so I havn't i've just become a couch potatoe. My ankle wont be fully functionally for about another 6 weeks. Plus I havn't played since I was about 16. Is there any clubs available for so called beginner adults, even thou I played in school. Im 23 now.

Great thread thou. Fair play to you.

Don't worry too much about your height and weight. I'm 5' 7" and 68kgs. I'll be starting back with stillorgan this year, I havn't played properly since I was 15 and I'm now 23 like yourself.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

GiftofGab wrote: »

Keep us updated on your progress. I would seriously consider going back to rugby. I've many doubts thou. My size for one - 5'7 and about 65kgs. My speed has deterioated. My fitness is a serious problem. Used to play the odd astro football but recently broke my ankle so I havn't i've just become a couch potatoe. My ankle wont be fully functionally for about another 6 weeks. Plus I havn't played since I was about 16. Is there any clubs available for so called beginner adults, even thou I played in school. Im 23 now.

Great thread thou. Fair play to you.

What part of Dublin are you from? You should come down to try Stillorgan

Davei141

Reading this thread has made me finally want to join a rugby team, i have always loved the game but due to having no clubs near me its been hard to find a connection to get some tryouts or whatever, im from D11 does anyone know any clubs near?

d'Oracle

Davei141 wrote: »

Reading this thread has made me finally want to join a rugby team, i have always loved the game but due to having no clubs near me its been hard to find a connection to get some tryouts or whatever, im from D11 does anyone know any clubs near?

Swords & Malahide both have clubs.
Probably more around.

Tim Robbins

Bryn wrote: »

Glad to hear you enjoyed yourself last week Cronin, I was gutted to be standing on the sidelines injured . As Mike said, keep yourself active and fit and you will enjoy the training sessions even more

I hope I don't end up sending Stillorgans players off again this season, there seems to be a few of you on the boards :-)

Tim Robbins

d'Oracle wrote: »

Swords & Malahide both have clubs.
Probably more around.

Coolmine (train out by Ashtown), Unidare (train out in DCU). Then there's also Contarf.

Peter B

Brilliant thread. Might be looking to get back into it again after reading this.

26, 78kg used to be a scrum-half.

mikedragon32

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I hope I don't end up sending Stillorgans players off again this season, there seems to be a few of you on the boards :-)

Huh? Sure we're all angels....

helimachoptor

Guys.. are you still looking for players?
Never played before but pretty fit 5'11 83kg and relatively fast and don't like to lose . I'm not the prettiest so dont mind my face getting messed up

Stev_o

Can we change the title of the thread to "Stillorgan RFC Recruitment Office"

sickpuppy

Tim you that fat canadian guy? about 32 stone
fair play to anyone trying it for the first time
guys came out last year with no experience and made the j 3 panel sure if nothing else great social scene and some exercise.

[Jackass]

Well done OP, good to see a first timers experience and hopefully will encourage more people to get involved.

If I fancy taking the boots out of the shed, I'll be straight over to Stillorgan!!

GiftofGab

Bryn wrote: »

What part of Dublin are you from? You should come down to try Stillorgan

Im from Walkinstown, pretty far away from the grounds but I have a car so its not a problem. I used to play for CUS in them grounds so I know them well. Can you tell me about Stillorgan? How often and what days they train in? Do they have a J4 team?

funky penguin

Gah. this is all making me want to start again....but theres too much change of me damaging a finger or some other limb and I need them for my career.

Maybe I'll take up banking over near Stillorgan or something. It seems like the unofficial boards.ie club. :P

uRbaN

Inspiring stuff cronin fair play. in the middle of the Tag League and absolutely love it. There is a 3rds Team locally but am struggling to take that step, even though I would love to play.

LeopoldButters

GiftofGab wrote: »

Im from Walkinstown, pretty far away from the grounds but I have a car so its not a problem. I used to play for CUS in them grounds so I know them well. Can you tell me about Stillorgan? How often and what days they train in? Do they have a J4 team?

Walkinstown aint too far at all once you have the car. Stillorgan have a J4 and there is some serious work going into entering a J5 team in the league if the playing number are there.

Pre-season training started on Thursday July 2nd and this will run each Thursday in July, from August we will then start training on Tuesday and Thursday of every week from 7:30pm to 9pm in CUS Bird Ave.

Come up on Thursday and give it a shot and see what you think.

LeopoldButters

helimachoptor wrote: »

Guys.. are you still looking for players?
Never played before but pretty fit 5'11 83kg and relatively fast and don't like to lose . I'm not the prettiest so dont mind my face getting messed up

Yes we are still looking for players and don't worry that you are new to the game, come up on Thursday and give it a shot.

www.dublinrugby.ie has more information or you can email the club at info@dublinrugby.com

GiftofGab

LeopoldButters wrote: »

Walkinstown aint too far at all once you have the car. Stillorgan have a J4 and there is some serious work going into entering a J5 team in the league if the playing number are there.

Pre-season training started on Thursday July 2nd and this will run each Thursday in July, from August we will then start training on Tuesday and Thursday of every week from 7:30pm to 9pm in CUS Bird Ave.

Come up on Thursday and give it a shot and see what you think.

Might pop up some time. The thing is im just recovering from a broken ankle at the moment. So im only starting jogging this last while. It's going to be about 6 weeks to get back playing sports. Little bugger kept me out for months. Thanks guys, stillorgan seem very welcoming.

mikedragon32

GiftofGab wrote: »

Im from Walkinstown, pretty far away from the grounds but I have a car so its not a problem. I used to play for CUS in them grounds so I know them well. Can you tell me about Stillorgan? How often and what days they train in? Do they have a J4 team?

I come to training from Greystones, so Walkinstown shouldn't be a worry!

d'Oracle

mikedragon32 wrote: »

I come to training from Greystones, so Walkinstown shouldn't be a worry!

Would you not just head down to G/S J4?

Oisinjm

GiftofGab wrote: »

Im from Walkinstown, pretty far away from the grounds but I have a car so its not a problem. I used to play for CUS in them grounds so I know them well. Can you tell me about Stillorgan? How often and what days they train in? Do they have a J4 team?

If you're not up for making the trek theres St. Mary's which is just in Templeogue. I'm not a member myself (still in school) but its close enough to you

mikedragon32

d'Oracle wrote: »

Would you not just head down to G/S J4?

Played briefly for them, but following injury and having spoken with a couple of mates playing with Stillorgan I switched.

Crash

mikedragon32 wrote: »

Played briefly for them, but following injury and having spoken with a couple of mates playing with Stillorgan I switched.

Cronin_j - i should hopefully see you thursday - was away last week and only gonna get to wander up this week

Tim Robbins

GiftofGab wrote: »

Might pop up some time. The thing is im just recovering from a broken ankle at the moment. So im only starting jogging this last while. It's going to be about 6 weeks to get back playing sports. Little bugger kept me out for months. Thanks guys, stillorgan seem very welcoming.

Tallaght have a J4 team also. I reffed them at the beginning of last year and they looked very good for a J4 team. They have a South African coaching them and have a lot of lads from the Tallaght area as well as (I think) some lads who switched from Mary's. They have lads new to Rugby and lads who played for quite a while.

I nominated them for club of the year last year.

castie

Ive just recently moved to Sandyford for work and Id love to start up playing again. Main fear is that id get lost trying to find the place .

If someone could pm me with times for j4 training and really detailed directions from sandyford id be there!

mikedragon32

PM sent.

stephen_n

Fairplay to the OP scarey as feck that first night in training, I remember my first night training with stones at 19's and even though I knew a good few of the lads from school it still felt horrible but rugby is a friendly sport and it soon gets better!

Jaysus do all the mods on here play for Stillorgan, best be carefull who I hit if we play you this season :pac:

Davei141 wrote: »

Reading this thread has made me finally want to join a rugby team, i have always loved the game but due to having no clubs near me its been hard to find a connection to get some tryouts or whatever, im from D11 does anyone know any clubs near?

Unidare would probably be the closest and they are always looking for players!

GiftofGab wrote: »

Im from Walkinstown, pretty far away from the grounds but I have a car so its not a problem. I used to play for CUS in them grounds so I know them well. Can you tell me about Stillorgan? How often and what days they train in? Do they have a J4 team?

Mary's on templeville road would be closest but Tallaght may better for starting off, they play in the postal club in killtipper!


Getting itchy for a pre season to start now can't wait although this will be my last season playing probably!

2nd Row Donkey

I know how you feel Stephen n
I watched the waterboy on E4 last night... now itching to get out and start hammering some skinny outhalfs!

omb0wyn5ehpij9

GiftofGab wrote: »

Im from Walkinstown, pretty far away from the grounds but I have a car so its not a problem. I used to play for CUS in them grounds so I know them well. Can you tell me about Stillorgan? How often and what days they train in? Do they have a J4 team?

I was also in CUS. Judging by your age I was 2 or 3 years ahead of you. What's your name, I probably know you? Pm me with it if you want!

mikedragon32

Bryn wrote: »

I was also in CUS. Judging by your age I was 2 or 3 years ahead of you. What's your name, I probably know you? Pm me with it if you want!

Bryn the stalker!

omb0wyn5ehpij9

mikedragon32 wrote: »

Bryn the stalker!

Ah i've been called worse things :P

ALH-06

stephen_n wrote: »

can't wait although this will be my last season playing probably!

Why is that? What age do people usually stop playing???


I recently took up rugby again aged about 22, having only played pretty briefly in school. Was more into racket sports back then for some bizarre reason

Would just like to say to anyone who is even half-thinking of taking up rugby - DO IT, YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!! Please, please give it a try because if you don't, you'll regret it for many years to come... I finally bit the bullet and got involved, and I've never looked back.

itsallaboutheL

ALH-06 wrote: »

Why is that? What age do people usually stop playing???

When things start to break too often!!

20 is a pretty good age to retire imo!!

Gelio

cronin_j wrote: »

First off its through this forum that i put up a quick question about joining rugby in the relevant sticky...
Soon enough i was pointed to Stillorgan RFC... I checked out the website and sent off a noobie email and i got a reply within the day from a chap called mark...

I asked him all the usual "ive never played rugby before, generally unfit, couch potato" kinda questions and he answered them all diligently.

The reason i was asking so many questions is
1. Im not from dublin (moved here from Limerick)
2. Were they friendly? ( a big crux for me as i have had mates that have played rugby for years and came to dublin and tried to settle into a team and were met with very clannish "you didnt go to school with us or college with us" behaviour.

This experience had me quite frankly a little shy about the whole joining especially since i have never played before.

So i got an email last week stating if i was still interested, pre season training was starting on Thursday (02/06/09).

In truth as i drove in i was thinkin to myself "i wonder how ill get on". When i got out of the car, the lads knew i was new and everyone made a huge effort to say hello, and explain a little about themselves etc...

We did some basic fitness training, circuits, sprinting, stretching, and 2 games of Tag to warm down... Suffice to say i was sweating alot, coming from a period of no exercise, in an office enviornment, sitting down all day.

Coming away, i felt it was a worthwhile experience, and that i felt that the lads there were dead on and would genuinely help you out if they saw you were falling behind etc... Theres a really team spirit there...

The next day, i was a little worse for wear in that i was quite stiff, However ill be back down for the training next week and hopefully it will get easier...

Ill post up in here how im getting along, for those who are humming and hawing about joining a great sport and were in the smae position as me about not playing, generally unfit etc...

Well done, could be boardie of the year by the end of the year, wait is their a such thing?:D