First time playing as 25 y/o

[jpmf7]

Hello guys. So I'm 25 years old, I always liked rugby but for various reasons I couldn't get into it. Now I want to start playing, and I wonder if it's a good time to start at my age. I play football regularly, my form is not the best but I can be an entire hour playing getting tired from time to time. I'm ~178cm tall and around 85-90kg. For what I've seen, I like the scrum-half and fly-half positions, I don't see myself as a forward (I lack strength) nor fullback or wing.
Anyways, the question is: do you think it's worth to start playing at my age? What position would fit me the best, considering I'll be a total noob and not that athletic?

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

It's always worth starting the game at any age. I've known people pick up rugby a lot later in life than that.

As far as positions go, don't worry about it too much. Get yours to training and just see how things go. New players often play a game or two on the wing just to get used to the game. But I wouldn't stress as I'm sure you'll end up playing more than one position.

Ps. If you prefer being a hero you should try playing in the forwards. The backs are kinda like the kids where as the forwards and real men!

 

[Which Tyler]

As always - turn up to your local club, watch a few, get to know the coaches and players; turn up to training, and try out a few different positions off the bench, and see which one best suits your skills / instincts, or simply where you enjoyed playing the most.

At shitty local level, there's minimal difference in body type between any of the players - certainly outside the front five, only minimally there.
For a late starter, the only positions I'd advice against until you've played a few years, are front row and halfback - the former is dangerous if untrained, the latter relies too much on game-hardened instinct.

 

[BPM]

Agreed.

Worth it? 100% yes.

Going straight in as a 9 or 10 with no experience of playing the game would be very tough though IMO. Both are key decision making roles where a good feel for the game is important. As the others have said, go to training and see how it goes before getting too set on a position.

 

[McTallshort]

Anyways, the question is: do you think it's worth to start playing at my age? What position would fit me the best, considering I'll be a total noob and not that athletic?

You will find your local 3rd team isn't brimming with athletic talent either.

Go along, do some training, play a few games and enjoy the social side. Bet you love it

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Worth it? Yes. 100%

Do not, DO NOT go and ask for a position. Let the coaches make that call for you.
Rules of thumb:
- not 1-2-3
- I guess you are not 4-5
- I would not go for 9-10. They tend to require experience. Maybe I should add 15 to that list (my take). 15s tend to have fewer interventions but more critical ones. You kinda need to know what you are doing.
- So that leaves you with 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14. I guess 11 or 14 would probably be the safest choice. But again, let the coaches decide.

hmmm....
I know I wrote the above but now that i think about it I would tell you to forget about it. Go, pass the ball a bit, sweat, etc. Just try to have fun. The only piece of advice I would give you is to pay attention when it comes to tackling. The technique. The difference can be big. Particularly head placement. If you don't know something, ask the guys there. It's not rocket science but tackling is not always an intuitive movement. Which shoulder to use, when, and where to place your head. That alone will help you. Rest comes with practice.
best of luck

 

[jpmf7]

Thank you all! I think next week I'm going to start training with a local team. Will keep you updated

Worth it? Yes. 100%

Do not, DO NOT go and ask for a position. Let the coaches make that call for you.
Rules of thumb:
- not 1-2-3
- I guess you are not 4-5
- I would not go for 9-10. They tend to require experience. Maybe I should add 15 to that list (my take). 15s tend to have fewer interventions but more critical ones. You kinda need to know what you are doing.
- So that leaves you with 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14. I guess 11 or 14 would probably be the safest choice. But again, let the coaches decide.

hmmm....
I know I wrote the above but now that i think about it I would tell you to forget about it. Go, pass the ball a bit, sweat, etc. Just try to have fun. The only piece of advice I would give you is to pay attention when it comes to tackling. The technique. The difference can be big. Particularly head placement. If you don't know something, ask the guys there. It's not rocket science but tackling is not always an intuitive movement. Which shoulder to use, when, and where to place your head. That alone will help you. Rest comes with practice.
best of luck

Gracias!! Soy argentino también, de GBA zona sur. Sabés de algún club donde pueda empezar a esta edad y sin saber nada? Por ahora se me ocurrió ir al equipo de mi facultad (derecho UBA) o a uno que según vi juegan en el torneo de rugby formativo de la URBA y hacen entrenamientos abiertos para que la gente se sume.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Buenas! Mira, te soy sincero, cada club es un mundito y la verdad que no conozco las internas de cada uno. Si me decis zona sur lo primero que se me viene a la cabeza es Lomas (athletic), pucara, san albano (este ultimo no recuerdo si es para ex alumnos o algo asi). La urba tiene (o tenia) una pagina donde ponias tu direccion y te tiraba clubes cerca. Tienen que existir muchos. Dame 5 min que la busco.
Sobre lo de la UBA se me ocurren argumentos a favor y en contra. A favor: va a ser mas relajado probablemente. En contra: la gente que va ya sabe lo basico y quizas no sea el mejor lugar para aprender de cero. Igual, proba. No seas timido, mandate. En el peor de los casos no funciona y no volves, no pasa nada.
Lo de los entrenamientos abiertos me parece un golazo no solo para probar, tambien para preguntar (club x la zona, si te conviene uno muy chico o quizas no, etc). Quizas justo te toca algun entrenador de ese club y te puede decir.
Lamento no poder darte respuestas mas concretas pero aca vas a tener que aplicar prueba y error un poco de entrada. Pero ponele voluntad que lo vale.
Ahora te busco el link.
Suerte.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

URBA - Busca tu club

Busca tu club cercano entre los 90 que forman parte de la Unión de Rugby de Buenos Aires.

buscatuclub.com.ar

 

[jpmf7]

Update for anyone interested on how it went.

I just went to a training to meet the team, and they were all super friendly. First training we did some workout and I could'nt keep up, but after that we trained passing, it was my first time doing so and I guess I did fairly well. Next training we also did workout but this time a little bit less, and I managed to complete it. The next hour and a half we did some passing training and open play drills. They made me play as a winger! Somehow, I look like I can run lol. For what I know, I guess that playing as a winger is a good option for a total newbie like me, since positioning on the field seems easier than in other positions (for now, they made me stick to the line and be the last man to receive the ball).
The general feeling I get is that I really like to play the sport, but I feel that I lack cardio. Also, I couldn't go to two of the weekly trainings because my legs hurt a lot. This week I think I'm going to be able to endure both trainings lol. To be fair, I left the gym in october and hardly did any sports since then.

I also bought a Gilbert rugby ball to practice passes. Any advice on how to practice by myself at home will be much appreciated!

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Update for anyone interested on how it went.

I just went to a training to meet the team, and they were all super friendly. First training we did some workout and I could'nt keep up, but after that we trained passing, it was my first time doing so and I guess I did fairly well. Next training we also did workout but this time a little bit less, and I managed to complete it. The next hour and a half we did some passing training and open play drills. They made me play as a winger! Somehow, I look like I can run lol. For what I know, I guess that playing as a winger is a good option for a total newbie like me, since positioning on the field seems easier than in other positions (for now, they made me stick to the line and be the last man to receive the ball).
The general feeling I get is that I really like to play the sport, but I feel that I lack cardio. Also, I couldn't go to two of the weekly trainings because my legs hurt a lot. This week I think I'm going to be able to endure both trainings lol. To be fair, I left the gym in october and hardly did any sports since then.

I also bought a Gilbert rugby ball to practice passes. Any advice on how to practice by myself at home will be much appreciated!

great work, first trainings are always the hardest!

https://broball.co/

Rebounder

Introducing the ultimate solo rugby training tool, The Rebounder. Practice makes perfect, and to make it to the top in any sport, athletes must be dedicated to spend hours fine tuning their skills. GILBERT have generated the Rebounder Training Ball to allow athletes to practice their skills by...

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these are great for practicing passing (or lineout throwing) on your own, most big brands seem to have a version now days

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Bien nene!! Felicitaciones.

Cardio is king! THE #1 skill.
Regarding the practicing thingie, start with the basics.

Passing; I assume you don't have a practice partner (if you do, just trot and pass the ball to each other, endlessly). You'll need a wall. Draw a circle, aim and shoot. That's it. First normal, then spiral. Then from further away. Then walking. Then trotting, Then running. Remember, inside arm sets the direction, outer arm spins. Also, when you train with other people you do not aim at the player (unless he is standing). You aim at where he is going to be. This is very, very important.

There is a special type of ball for this (see pic below). Doesnt affect the passing that much and makes the bouncing back from the wall much easier and predictable. You dont need it really, but just for you to know what is possible.

Try kicking the ball high and catching (regular ball, not the one below!). If that seems to easy kick higher and grabthe ball with your feet off the ground.

When they teach you how to tackle at training, listen carefully. Technique is key.

Congrats again and best of luck.

 

[jpmf7]

Update:

Sunday is my first game! I've been training for a month and a half now. Coach said he needs me, at least to play some minutes. I'll be playing as a winger and, to be honest, I have some doubts regarding winger positioning, mostly on blind side. Any advice you can give me will be very welcomed.
From what I know, I guess the overall idea in scrums and lineouts is to be behind the fly-half and then go with the player that gets the ball (probably a centre), and be an option for a pass or join the ruck if he's tackled. I'm not quite sure how to reposition after that.
I feel more confident when I'm on the line, and I get the basics of defense. But I guess there is no better way to learn that to step into the field and play.

 

[AlRums]

congrats, don't forget to enjoy your game

 

[BPM]

Good luck for tomorrow @jpmf7

 

[Saintjay]

Enjoy it. Ask you team mates to point where you need to be. But most of all have fun, you'll pick up the rest as you go.

 

[jpmf7]

Update:

So I've been playing for almost 6 months. In total I wouldn't say I played more than two entire games on the pitch, being the most I played on a single match the entire first half. Thing is, though I enjoy playing, I don't really enjoy the winger position, to the extent that I'm not having the same excitement I had when I started. I rarely even touch the ball since it's amateur level and wingers don't get involved that much, and on the defensive side on two times the rival team scored a try on my side, I just couldn't do anything since I was 2v1 or 3v1, not enough confidence to tackle the carrier. In general, I feel that playing as a winger makes it so all I can do is too sporadic, not enough attacking situations and in defense I always feel like I get outnumbered.

I'm seriosuly considering asking the coach to play on another position, but on the backline there's no position I consider I could fit in besides maybe centre. The other option is to play forward, maybe 6/7, I guess that it's going to be tough but it would really help me gain confidence in tackling since I won't get outnumbered and also I find it to be more straightforward in the sense that for the most part you tackle the player which is in front on you, and though it may be stronger than you, it doesn't come running like a train. After all, I think that I'm not used enough to tackle and be tackled, and for that, if I keep playing winger no more than 20-40 minutes per match it will take too long to get used to, and in the meantime, decrease my interest in practising the sport since I don't enjoy playing that much.

I don't know what you guys think, any advice or experience you can share with me would be much appreciated!

 

[Al Bangor]

You never know until you try, so play as many positions as you can. You might fit in better at a new spot or you might not. So I say think positive and...

 

[BPM]

Update:

So I've been playing for almost 6 months. In total I wouldn't say I played more than two entire games on the pitch, being the most I played on a single match the entire first half. Thing is, though I enjoy playing, I don't really enjoy the winger position, to the extent that I'm not having the same excitement I had when I started. I rarely even touch the ball since it's amateur level and wingers don't get involved that much, and on the defensive side on two times the rival team scored a try on my side, I just couldn't do anything since I was 2v1 or 3v1, not enough confidence to tackle the carrier. In general, I feel that playing as a winger makes it so all I can do is too sporadic, not enough attacking situations and in defense I always feel like I get outnumbered.

I'm seriosuly considering asking the coach to play on another position, but on the backline there's no position I consider I could fit in besides maybe centre. The other option is to play forward, maybe 6/7, I guess that it's going to be tough but it would really help me gain confidence in tackling since I won't get outnumbered and also I find it to be more straightforward in the sense that for the most part you tackle the player which is in front on you, and though it may be stronger than you, it doesn't come running like a train. After all, I think that I'm not used enough to tackle and be tackled, and for that, if I keep playing winger no more than 20-40 minutes per match it will take too long to get used to, and in the meantime, decrease my interest in practising the sport since I don't enjoy playing that much.

I don't know what you guys think, any advice or experience you can share with me would be much appreciated!

A few things.

1) As a winger, you can 'look for work' in attack which basically means you don't have to stay stationed out wide waiting for the ball (which often never arrives). Even if your side doesn't have set moves to involve the wingers more, you can create opportunities for yourself, particularly on blindside moves. If you're quick enough you can create options around the ruck where you'll probably be quicker than forwards who aren't expecting you to pop up. A good current example to look at is Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

2) I am biased but flanker is the best position on the pitch. However, you did mention you're not particularly strong or athletic. I think you need both strength and stamina to get through the volume of work you would need to as a 6 or 7.

3) Centre is tricky. 12 doesn't get much time on the ball so needs to be really alert and skilled. I thought I might be quite good at 12 but I was surprised at how hard it was. 13 is possibly a bit easier in attack but MUCH harder in defence. On the handful of occasions I played there I always felt very exposed and a bit powerless to do much to stop attacking moves where I just didn't know who to tackle.

Overall, I would persevere playing on the wing and see what you can do to get yourself more involved. Try flanker, but don't underestimate how hard it is!

 

[Saintjay]

New players with no experience are more often than not likely to start on the wing. It's where you can learn the game and get experience.

As harsh as it sounds there's a pecking order at most clubs. Players that regularly attend training, How long they've been at the club etc will impact a coaches decision making. It's tough for a coach if it's a play for pleasure side depending on squad size. It can be incredibly difficult to give everyone the game time they want. If it's a competitive league side the coach will pick his best players in there best positions. Then they'll think about game time for others.

Speak to your coach, captain, and senior players your 10, and 9 are a good choice. Ask how can I get better, tell them what you are telling the forum.

I know it sucks being stuck on the wing. But all the clichés apply, stick with it, work hard and gain experience. You'll get where you want to be, your team will let you do that but it'll take time.