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connemara man wrote: »

Anyone here play rugby? Iv just started training for the first time, is there any dos and do nots I should know?

Assuming your a total beginner if your asking on boards so firstly i'd say dont worry, Rugby isn't half as complicated to play as some people think. Once you get your position you might not have to worry about a lot of rules etc and will pick them up as you go along and adapt to doing more than just your position.

I'd say 2 important things to try to pick up early in training is how to tackle and bind for mauls/rucks etc correctly. Sounds simple but just like in wrestling where you have to learn how to fall there is technique to it and if you listen to your coaches and get it right early everything else will be easier and you will avoid injury (the vast majority of injuries especially for relatively new players seem to come from these areas. Infact I always remember hearing that there tend to be more injuries in soccer than Rugby so dont worry once you learn to do the basics things right you should be ok.

In training follow the rules as much as you can but in a match be sure that your ready for opponents that know what cant be seen is legal. There are always hands on the ball when there shouldnt be at turnovers or whatever.

Play the whistle. In Rugby more than many sports the Ref will almost be telling you when you can and cant do / get away with something. take notice of this and use it as much as you can. You will here him constantly talking be it about the ball being out of a scrum or turnover situation, if someone is offside so cant interfere, or even in some cases the opposite he will be warning opponents about things like if you break now they are all offside and cant touch you or that they arent back 10 for a penalty and will be further penalised if you take it quick.

I could probably say more but im kinda just waffling here cos do's and dont's for an entire sport is kinda all encompassing. Even narrowing down to your position may help

connemara man wrote: »

I've only taken part in three training sessions, and even though im not unfit it's tough. a lot above was brought up and the lads are all helpful because they know im new so in time when I know where I might be playing it'll come easier to me.

Yeah your position will make a world of difference. Even the difference between a back and a forward is huge. For example if you were a scrum half id be talking about how you should remember you are first and foremost the link between the backs and the forwards so no matter how great you are at breaks and kicks or whatever if you can get possession and a fast accurate pass out to your out half you will be doing well and your team will be happy with you. Everything else being considerd secondary wouldnt mean they would be things your not good at though but instead your weapons to use when people then expect you to just give a quick ball each time. I'd say you can keep it with forwards or with the backs as much as you like but just make it fast.

Your no. 10 or captain will normally be calling the shots moves wise anyway so that will also often make things easier

Although no matter what the basics of making sure you can tackle and ruck/maul properly will stand you good stead anywhere. Positioning will come as will individual techniques if your a forward like how to set up for a scrum or lift properly in a lineout which are again important to avoid injuries. learning to take a tackle so that you are able to not get turned and instead place the ball back for your own side is also important as you should always have support (unless youve just made some great incisive run nobody saw coming in which case wahey) and simply placing the ball correctly post tackle can be the difference between you opponent not stealing possession each time you take a hit. There will always be little things you learn as you go on though like how if you just made a tackle in a 1on1 situation you will have to release the player almost immediately or be penalised but if there are a few bodies about you can (get away with) hold on a few seconds and maybe force a turnover if your support is the first to arrive.

Anyhoo good luck with it man, great sport and one I certainly miss as it isnt the most popular in Taiwan or Shanghai

If there is something as big as Batman or for something that seems very popular for PW regulars like BB having a series finale it makes perfect sense imo as the off topic thread could easily spoil something as the title cant mention all the potential spoilers within. So for big one offs it makes sense. Specifically with regards soccer though I think it would be a bit wrong for me to mod a board where we create a specific thread for people who maybe dont want to go to the soccer board while I am a mod of that board especially if it meant a way for people to be able to avoid having to apply for access to post on Soccer. Can still post about it in the off topic thread though.