Starting Rugby at 19?

Dutybelt

Hey guys, I just turned 19 recently and I have always had the thought of joining a Rugby in the back of my mind. I have been on a Judo team before and that's about it. I honestly miss being on a team and just the camaraderie.

I attempted to join my college's Rugby team at the beginning of the first semester but the team was dropped because it didn't get enough people to sign up which was a huge bummer. I guess that's a con of being in a relatively small college.

I'm 5'10 and 82kg. I'm not sure if my height is a big issue.

While my strength is decent and I can run pretty fast, my endurance is terrible.

Any suggestions for Dublin based clubs?

instagram.com/ayman_frihatt/

Don't worry about your height or weight, rugby welcomes all sizes.

What area of Dublin are you based around?

Once you find somewhere local, show up on day 1 and pick a fight with the biggest, meanest looking guy on the team. Everyone will respect you after that.

The Lost Sheep

Dutybelt wrote: »

Hey guys, I just turned 19 recently and I have always had the thought of joining a Rugby in the back of my mind. I have been on a Judo team before and that's about it. I honestly miss being on a team and just the camaraderie.

I attempted to join my college's Rugby team at the beginning of the first semester but the team was dropped because it didn't get enough people to sign up which was a huge bummer. I guess that's a con of being in a relatively small college.

I'm 5'10 and 82kg. I'm not sure if my height is a big issue.

While my strength is decent and I can run pretty fast, my endurance is terrible.

Any suggestions for Dublin based clubs?

instagram.com/ayman_frihatt/

Where in Dublin are you based? Lots of clubs with large variety of levels to play oat. Your height isnt an issue at all.

FACECUTTR

Just turn up with your gear and you will be fine. Don't worry about height or weight. Great for fitness and friends and the social life. Where are you based ?

salmocab

There’s not a club in Dublin that wouldn’t be glad of you, size doesn’t matter. I hear! Let us know here where you are and how your fixed transport wise and you’ll get good advice on a club

LeinsterDub

FACECUTTR wrote: »

Just turn up with your gear and you will be fine. Don't worry about height or weight. Great for fitness and friends and the social life. Where are you based ?

And gear would be boots, gum shield , shorts , socks and a top.

If you really want to fit in I suggest an old battered Ireland jersey from 10 years ago

salmocab

LeinsterDub wrote: »

And gear would be boots, gum shield , shorts , socks and a top.

If you really want to fit in I suggest an old battered Ireland jersey from 10 years ago

Real rugby players buy new gear and put it away balled up at the back of a wardrobe then take it out years later and claim it’s just an old top I forgot I had. An old style plain all blacks top with a small steinlager logo is the creme de la creme.

Dutybelt

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Where in Dublin are you based? Lots of clubs with large variety of levels to play oat. Your height isnt an issue at all.

FACECUTTR wrote: »

Just turn up with your gear and you will be fine. Don't worry about height or weight. Great for fitness and friends and the social life. Where are you based ?

salmocab wrote: »

There’s not a club in Dublin that wouldn’t be glad of you, size doesn’t matter. I hear! Let us know here where you are and how your fixed transport wise and you’ll get good advice on a club

I'm based in South Dublin, Dublin 8, in the Portobello area.

Would you guys suggest any workouts in particular for my endurance/conditioning? That's my biggest hurdle right now. I have been going to the gym pretty much since I was 16 so my squat is 150kg, bench 135kg and deadlift 170kg so I think I'm gonna lay off on strength training and just maintain it right now and focus on building my endurance.

Thanks for the responses everyone!

salmocab

Dutybelt wrote: »

I'm based in South Dublin, Dublin 8, in the Portobello area.

Would you guys suggest any workouts in particular for my endurance/conditioning? That's my biggest hurdle right now. I have been going to the gym pretty much since I was 16 so my squat is 150kg, bench 135kg and deadlift 170kg so I think I'm gonna lay off on strength training and just maintain it right now and focus on building my endurance.

Thanks for the responses everyone!

Well from portobello your close enough to old Belvedere, old Wesley, landsdowne, bective, wanderers and railway union. All within a few minutes cycle or drive and walkable if your bothered. A few of them have grounds elsewhere also that they may use for training and some games so worth finding out where they actually train. They’ll all have teams at a level that would suit you and somebody will probably be able to tell you more about their setups. Look them up on social media would be the next thing I’d say, season is well on now so maybe aim to get down soon and train get to know lads maybe play a little against touring teams etc get involved socially and then hit the ground running next season, possibly play a bit of tag over the summer for a bit of skills training.

The Lost Sheep

Dutybelt wrote: »

I'm based in South Dublin, Dublin 8, in the Portobello area.

Would you guys suggest any workouts in particular for my endurance/conditioning? That's my biggest hurdle right now. I have been going to the gym pretty much since I was 16 so my squat is 150kg, bench 135kg and deadlift 170kg so I think I'm gonna lay off on strength training and just maintain it right now and focus on building my endurance.

Thanks for the responses everyone!

Lots of clubs as salmo says are near by. Look at playing tag rugby to help prepare for the new season. There is loads of leagues nearby. IRFU spring tag will be starting in a few months
ITRA is another association that run tag leagues and they have leagues in Terenure, UCD and these are much more regular than the IRFU competitions. Check tagrugby.ie for more info. They can help find you a team as well if you want

Losty Dublin

Dutybelt wrote: »

I'm based in South Dublin, Dublin 8, in the Portobello area.

Would you guys suggest any workouts in particular for my endurance/conditioning? That's my biggest hurdle right now. I have been going to the gym pretty much since I was 16 so my squat is 150kg, bench 135kg and deadlift 170kg so I think I'm gonna lay off on strength training and just maintain it right now and focus on building my endurance.

Thanks for the responses everyone!

CYM are up the road and will be glad to have you. Drop me a PM and I'll get you sorted

Dutybelt

salmocab wrote: »

Well from portobello your close enough to old Belvedere, old Wesley, landsdowne, bective, wanderers and railway union. All within a few minutes cycle or drive and walkable if your bothered. A few of them have grounds elsewhere also that they may use for training and some games so worth finding out where they actually train. They’ll all have teams at a level that would suit you and somebody will probably be able to tell you more about their setups. Look them up on social media would be the next thing I’d say, season is well on now so maybe aim to get down soon and train get to know lads maybe play a little against touring teams etc get involved socially and then hit the ground running next season, possibly play a bit of tag over the summer for a bit of skills training.

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Lots of clubs as salmo says are near by. Look at playing tag rugby to help prepare for the new season. There is loads of leagues nearby. IRFU spring tag will be starting in a few months
ITRA is another association that run tag leagues and they have leagues in Terenure, UCD and these are much more regular than the IRFU competitions. Check tagrugby.ie for more info. They can help find you a team as well if you want

I see, I will definitely look into those. Thanks a lot for the info!

Tim Robbins

Losty Dublin wrote: »

CYM are up the road and will be glad to have you. Drop me a PM and I'll get you sorted

+1

As everyone has said any club would welcome you but I think it's easier to go for a smaller club as it is easier to remember people's names etc and they tend to have more a track record of bringing players in whereas some of the bigger clubs have a culture of bring players in from the schools.

E.g. a lot of Mary's lads go to Marys; a lot of Terenure lads go to Terenure RFC.

Whereas the clubs like Stillorgan, CYM even Bective tend to contain more of a mix.

Either way, it's all very exciting and you'll have a great time. If you need any help understanding particular skills or rules (laws) just post here.

The Lost Sheep

Tim Robbins wrote: »

+1

As everyone has said any club would welcome you but I think it's easier to go for a smaller club as it is easier to remember people's names etc and they tend to have more a track record of bringing players in whereas some of the bigger clubs have a culture of bring players in from the schools.

E.g. a lot of Mary's lads go to Marys; a lot of Terenure lads go to Terenure RFC.

Whereas the clubs like Stillorgan, CYM even Bective tend to contain more of a mix.

Either way, it's all very exciting and you'll have a great time. If you need any help understanding particular skills or rules (laws) just post here.

Not as true as in the past that lots of Marys go to Marys. Very much true of Terenure though. And i dont necessarily agree and plenty here will say the same that its easier to go to a smaller club. Clontarf are one of the largest clubs in the country with 6 mens adult sides, two 20s sides and plenty here will say very welcoming...
And all schools have culture of bringing in players from schools. That is natural when so many clubs in the city dont bother/cant field at age grade below under 20s level

Dutybelt

I've got in touch with Trinity College and asked if I could join and they said it's possible, what do you guys think? They'd be the closest to where I live

EDIT: I got in touch and I'll be attending training next week.

salmocab

Dutybelt wrote: »

I've got in touch with Trinity College and asked if I could join and they said it's possible, what do you guys think? They'd be the closest to where I live

EDIT: I got in touch and I'll be attending training next week.

Do they not train out in Santry?

Dutybelt

salmocab wrote: »

Do they not train out in Santry?

The team I'm going to train with trains in Monkstown RC. I assumed they'd train on the Trinity grounds (which is closer to me) but eventually I decided to go through and just go there.

GavMan

salmocab wrote: »

Do they not train out in Santry?

I think they sold that and have investing in Guinness' Iveagh Grounds on the Crumlin Road. Not sure when the move is. Prob next season. Very accessible as a number of buses go past it.

Dutybelt

Had a ~2 hour training session on Wednesday and loved it. Tried the role of a tighthead prop and it seemed to work well. The lads were very helpful and welcoming. Got smacked in the face with a ball, and tackled quite badly around the knees which made me limp a little (Still hurts a little but okay now).

Definitely going to stick with it!

Do you guys think I should follow through with being a tighthead prop at 5'10'', 88kg and with a 170kg deadlift, 135kg bench and a 150kg squat behind me?

Big thanks for the help in this thread!

irishbucsfan

Give it a bit of a go and see how you like it. You’ll know fairly soon where you’re most comfortable playing. Never hurts to try a few positions anyway.

salmocab

Just give it a lash dont get caught up in the strength thing as no matter how strong you are a grizzled fat veteran will turn you inside out. Fair play on going down Im sure you'll get a lot out of it

sydthebeat

if your able to do your core duties at THP then excellent (youll always be guaranteed a game LOL)
if you find yourself more comfortable on the ball and tackling you might move to flanker at some stage, as 88kg isnt huge for a THP

youll find your position best suited after a while, dont get pigeonholed just yet.

The Lost Sheep

sydthebeat wrote: »

if your able to do your core duties at THP then excellent (youll always be guaranteed a game LOL)
if you find yourself more comfortable on the ball and tackling you might move to flanker at some stage, as 88kg isnt huge for a THP

youll find your position best suited after a while, dont get pigeonholed just yet.

really depends on the level and technique. Very often can see fairly light props at lower levels and its only going to be 1.5m push for most people anyway.