Is there a rugby mums chat?

[YesitsBess]

I've looked in sport, and as it's the start of the season I'd love to congratulate/commiserate/complain about the quality of the coffee?

Anyone else with a rugby kid?

DS and DD have been playing for 2 years, we'd just moved to the area and knew no one and everyone at the club was so welcoming. DH now helps coach DDs U9 team.

DS (U14) also plays for school, so usually ends up training at least twice a week and then has matches/training Saturday and Sunday. We had an unusually free weekend as no school match and both DS and DD club matches were cancelled due to water logged pitches.

I am a rugby mum in NZ (hence the username!)

It's our off season at the moment, but one of mine has just made a representative Touch Rugby team, so no less busy than winter!

I have a DS who is just moving up to school 1st xv next season (he's an open side flanker but only weighs 8.5 stone, so that's going to be interesting, he gets v grumpy if he gets put at 9 or 15!)

My DD is the only female rugby player in her school so she has to travel 30 min to the school she is dispensated to play for. She loves it and was lucky enough to play in the 1st xv final as an u15 player. They lost, but the next day 4 of the opposition were named in the senior county team, and shortly after that one of them got named in the Black Ferns development side! So she felt pretty special to be sharing the field with them!

Late to the chat but I'd like to join please! DD plays in a lovely mixed U11s team. She'll have to find a women's team for next season but luckily there's a few choices around here

@grammy46 sportsdirect sondico base layers have been good here. The club might well sell hats? I agree on wind cheater, again, club might have second hand? Gloves are a must too, we got ours from Amazon

DS is now U12’s and loves it. His club is so supportive which has made all the difference. It’s very social too so great for all of us.

Re: County rugby. What’s the process in England? We’ve not long moved from Wales where County starts at U11 but it appears to be much later here. Is it done at club or school level?

Our club and school are very careful about injuries, but we’ve noticed quite a lot at the start of this season. It’s a much more physical game now which is what DS enjoys (and I don’t!)

There are a selection of exercises the boys do during warm up which apparently reduces the risk of head injury significantly. I wish I could find it but the clubs safeguarding officer will have them. It’s definitely worth starting early to get them in.

This time of year I’m grateful for dryrobes! Mine lives in my car and it’s the best money I’ve Ever spent.

Ooh can I join, please?

Have a son in u12 and a DH who has started playing for the third team (late 40s) after a gap of over 20 years. It's such a social sport and sadly declining which is a shame.

@WicketWoo yes we've lost a few good clubs. I was absolutely gutted about Jersey Reds, we went on tour there earlier this year, the club, and indeed the people of the island were so incredibly welcoming.🙁

❤️ Jersey

@Thosesummernights I've just bought fleece lined leggings. SO good 😊

Despite being part of an active mini and youth it is clear it is declining. There is a thread currently about the dangers of rugby wrt concussion.

My experience is that concussion is taken much more seriously in rugby than it is at school/football/other sports and whilst injury is always a risk the benefits of a supportive team/people that look out for you/fitness/team/mental wellbeing far outweigh the disadvantages.

Absolutely agree. My son really struggled in lockdown, and when his PE teacher suggest he try out for the city team it changed his whole life. He has a squad of 'brothers', all from different schools and a whole gang of supportive parents who have formed a social group. It's given him a future direction that he lacked and it's become a massive part of our lives.

He was always a rufty tufty kid, and rugby has given him an outlet for what we call "cheerful fighting" as well as taught him that you keep that aggression for the field, afterwards you slap on a shirt and tie and go and eat a meal with your opponents. He could get an injury falling off his bike, but the life skills he gets from rugby far outweigh the risks for me same as you @BaconEggAndCoffee

Yes I love the shirt and tie element! Ours have just started doing that and (after the giddiness at the novelty of having a shower and taking forever to get changed) they all looked so smart after their first match.

For other positives- as a mother of a pre teen DD, the body positivity in rugby is inspiring. Every woman of every size and shape has a place on the pitch and can have a positive impact on a game. Seeing that is important for a young girl I think.

I agree @whoami24601 but not just for girls. All children need to know that they fit in and that they should celebrate who they are. My boy struggled as he isn't very quick, school seemed to measure everything in speed not strength. Rugby made him realise that his strength was an asset (and than salad doesn't make props)

YOU DON'T WIN SCRUMS WITH SALAD!

Hehehe. Currently hoping tomorrow's friendly isn't cancelled. Even though I hate cold early mornings, driving a car full of cheerful lads snarfing down egg Mcmuffins to has brought me more happiness than I thought. * *

Myself and one of the other parents sharing tomorrow as between us we have one working car, he spent 3 hours fixing mine today bless him so the pitch better bloody drain! * *

Totally agree about the body image comments, our W&G now have a new champion who is forming a Barbarians league so hopefully that will drive engagement.

And yes @BaconEggAndCoffee similarly my son didn't "fit" athletically anywhere in particular until rugby.

Weve just realised we have a 9.30 KO tomorrow. An hour away....

My DS used to swim - nothing rugby can throw at us feels like an early morning in comparison!

Not that we have any rugby this weekend because the pitch is a swamp. DS has new boots and is itching to get them covered in mud but he’ll have to wait.

Been a rugby Mum for 16 yrs.

DS started in U6s , all the way through to U18 plus County representation.

Now plays at University.

I remember the long ( and often wet) days at the Mini Festivals ! Made some great friends. 🏉

@IncomingTraffic I swam so yes in that regard Rugby is relaxing! However DD is not a morning person!

(On the off chance that there's any proud mums of girls with Yorkshire trials tomorrow... Good luck! DH is currently bricking it as he's referring an U16s girls game tomorrow on the pitch just before the trails! )

I think if mine had taken up swimming I would have put them up for adoption...

I just survived the Horsey/cadet one. And I am so glad the rugby parents are as lovely as they are.

Except our head coach who is fuming at my predicting the Boks taking the trophy about 3 weeks ago!* *

Everything cancelled this week so far. Everything is flooded. I may have to get the boy a hamster wheel before he goes mad!

My DD plays u11 and we really love being part of the club family! The kids are a great bunch, and I genuinely look forward to a Sunday morning catch up with the other parents. I also think rugby is a rare sport where there is a space for anyone regardless of body type or athletic prowess.

On another note, DS took part in one of the training camps Northampton Saints were running over the half term and had an absolute blast! They said they are planning on putting more on in Feb across northants, Cambs and Suffolk, I think the age range is u9-u16. Highly recommend!

My DS really enjoyed the Exeter Chiefs holiday training camp too. Recommend for those in Devon/Cornwall!

We’re a rugby family. Boys have both played since 5 and are now u8 and u12. Dh is the coach for my older ds group, and also plays himself though has stepped back from first team this season to focus on ds1’s school matches. I play and coach a different sport so it’s a busy house! Love rugby though, the culture is fab. We’re going on tour in the spring - can’t wait!

Same! We're off to Bath.