Who is still playing?

[Puja]

So... Looks like I'm gonna run out for Lewes vets on Saturday. Gonna be a shock after just playing touch these last few years.... May be disappointed when people don't just stop when I slap them...

You've got this! Is there a bench or are you doomed to play the whole 80?

I am still rocking up for Trowbridge 3rds. My neck hurts, my back hurts, and there are young whippersnappers around who will insist on being both fit and talented (a combination which I regard as cheating), but it keeps me moving, just about.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

May be disappointed when people don't just stop when I slap them...

My lot had a hell of a time moving from "walking" to "touch" last summer.
Not the running bit - that came naturally to us; but having to stop with a 1-handed tackle, not 2; having to pass before the tackle, rather after (in WR, the tackle creates the offside line, so you want to pass out of the tackle to put the defence either offside, or moving backwards) - and, of course, the whole "comes from league, not union" thing touch rugby has going on.

By the 3rd of our 3 tourneys we'd just about got used to it - and returned to WR again.

Club coach keeps trying to get me to play for the 2nd XV at proper rugby again (he likes my sidestep and my pass - the latter of which is still better than the 1st XV's SH) - thankfully, I'm still following my own advice.

[Mr Mwenda]

I've mixed feelings. I have been wanting to play "one last time" where it all began years ago, but it is away and I really want to go out at the Stanley T. But then it seems silly not to take a chance to play with some of the old lags while the chance is there.

[Puja]

I've mixed feelings. I have been wanting to play "one last time" where it all began years ago, but it is away and I really want to go out at the Stanley T. But then it seems silly not to take a chance to play with some of the old lags while the chance is there.

Do it! You don't know - there may not be another "one last time" available to you to play a proper game.

I am dreading retiring and I've (hopefully) still got a few seasons left in my legs.

Puja

[Mr Mwenda]

The thing that made it much easier to stop for me was joining a club that was actually quite unpleasant. Starting touch made me realise that as I started getting so much more out of it again. I think if I moved back home I would return to Lewes at least a few more times. Young master Mwenda has been saying he wants us to move to England so he can play rugby properly, it tugs at the heart strings. We had a touch tournament a couple of weeks ago, with me, him and herself all turning out for the same team and that felt pretty good. Made me think I should hang on until he makes his senior debut.

[Puja]

The thing that made it much easier to stop for me was joining a club that was actually quite unpleasant. Starting touch made me realise that as I started getting so much more out of it again. I think if I moved back home I would return to Lewes at least a few more times. Young master Mwenda has been saying he wants us to move to England so he can play rugby properly, it tugs at the heart strings. We had a touch tournament a couple of weeks ago, with me, him and herself all turning out for the same team and that felt pretty good. Made me think I should hang on until he makes his senior debut.

Played in a game this season where father and son turned out (they were actually the props either side of me for a few scrums) and it was a massive moment for them. I've got two daughters who have lost interest in rugby unfortunately, so I don't see it ever happening for me in any format of the game.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-m ... r-61284288
https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2022-0 ... seven-sons

A veteran amateur rugby player scrummed down with all seven of his sons for his last match before hanging up his boots.

[Mr Mwenda]

Quality, cheers, lads. I'll let you know if I survive.

[Puja]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-m ... r-61284288
https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2022-0 ... seven-sons

A veteran amateur rugby player scrummed down with all seven of his sons for his last match before hanging up his boots.

15 children in total. His poor wife.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

15 children in total. His poor wife.

Kinda hope the 7th son/daughter goes on to have 7 sons/daughters as well...

[Mr Mwenda]

So I survived. We copped a bit of a deserved humping. We were 16 in the squad, finishing with 14 but this involved a pack that could not win scrums, line outs or protect the ball. It makes for a long game in the backs. It wasn't helped with the opposition having a squad of 30, with clearly a respectable smattering of 1s and 2s. Felt a bit pointless for them. Also a bit shocking that we got three tries in the end, given all of the above.

I gradually got back into rugby. My first tackle attempt was definitely a touch move more than anything else but managed a few dabs and decent hits in the end. Which wasn't too bad considering I received I think two passes at 13 all day.

Great to be back though. Played alongside one 64 year old who played in my first ever senior match.

[Mellsblue]

So I survived. We copped a bit of a deserved humping. We were 16 in the squad, finishing with 14 but this involved a pack that could not win scrums, line outs or protect the ball. It makes for a long game in the backs. It wasn't helped with the opposition having a squad of 30, with clearly a respectable smattering of 1s and 2s. Felt a bit pointless for them. Also a bit shocking that we got three tries in the end, given all of the above.

I gradually got back into rugby. My first tackle attempt was definitely a touch move more than anything else but managed a few dabs and decent hits in the end. Which wasn't too bad considering I received I think two passes at 13 all day.

Great to be back though. Played alongside one 64 year old who played in my first ever senior match.

Good man. I’m glad you enjoyed the game and didn’t injure yourself. I tweaked an old back injury packing a suitcase earlier today…

[Which Tyler]

Good man. I’m glad you enjoyed the game and didn’t injure yourself. I tweaked an old back injury packing a suitcase earlier today…

[Mellsblue]

Good man. I’m glad you enjoyed the game and didn’t injure yourself. I tweaked an old back injury packing a suitcase earlier today…

Just getting a question mark.

[Which Tyler]

It's a Hot Fuzz gif
"Nasty way to go"