Following on from a thread about girls rugby I realise there are a number of current and ex rugby players out there.
I retired from the game some time ago but well recall the mixed responses I got when I talked about playing. I was wondering what reactions people have had when telling friends, family or strangers that they play.
In my day (ahem) some people got it straight away and understood why I would want to do it (because it is a better more interesting game than any other I encountered).
However some were weirded out and others positively hostile. This was the 1990's and the sport was perhaps less mainstream then.
I was told on more than one occasion that I "shouldn't be playing that game" and given various reasons including it is a sport for men NOT women. That I would get breast cancer from the various bumps and bangs to my chest. And I was frequently asked if i was not worried about hurting myself, a question that I never heard any man being asked when he discussed his sport.
And of course let's not forget the inevitable hooker jokes, every time....
What were your experiences?