The very special partners of rugby players

The rugby girlfriend or wife is a special breed. For 6 months of the year they get their partners undivided attention. For the other 6 months they have to compete with their partner getting beat up on a Saturday and aching all over, thus making movement on a Sunday very difficult.

With the rugby season fast approaching, this is what is facing the partners of the players. Of course it depends at what level you play at. If you just play social rugby then you will probably kick off earlier, the level of intensity will be lower and therefore it won’t be as taxing plus the fact that you may well be home earlier so that those dinner plans that you promised may actually go ahead. There inlays its own problems for the partner. The name ‘Social Rugby’ is exactly that. It is very, very social. Normally after a game, before anyone has even taken their kit off they will have a beer in hand. This is the theme for the rest of the afternoon. If there is a big game on the tv people tend to hang around the club to watch it with their mates and enjoy a few more light refreshments. This in turn leads to quite a few guys going home sozzled to partners that have seen it all before. Normally there is just a roll of the eyes when they realise that the romantic evening with a  bottle of red and Love Actually on the tele will be replaced with slurring talk, a drunken fondle and then some snoring.

At the higher levels of the sport, there is the training to contend with as well. Most teams will train twice a week, that means no plans can be made on what is normally Tuesday and Thursday. We will usually come home around about 830ish unless there are beers at the club which means a later arrival home or if you live further away then, obviously you will get home later. Some clubs train 4 times a week. That is pretty much professional and leaves not a lot of time for anything else. They will have Friday nights off, but they won’t go and socialise with a game the next day. This is the case for all clubs that play at a high enough level. You tend not to go out on the Friday night as your performance will be hindered the next day and if you want to play your best this is obviously detrimental to that. So there goes the option of going out on a Friday. It does though mean you can have a nice night in at home or go out for a nice dinner, so there you go ladies it’s not all bad.

Rugby clubs have a reputation for boozing and nudity for a reason. It does happen. This is an understandable reason why some people may want to give them a wide berth whether their partner is playing or not (if not then what the hell were you thinking about going down there for anyway!?!). Even if they do come and watch, they may not be able to drag their other half away from the festivities when they want to go. There is very much a camaraderie feeling amongst the players. You go out, get your face smashed in by huge men for each other, putting your body on the line every time you cross that line. This leads to tightness and respect amongst each other, respect that is best shown over many a beer!

Just when they think it’s all over as you have retired, comes the sting in the tale. You are down there all day. You get there early to have a beer before the game, then during the game a few more, then you have to have a beer with the boys that you used to play with. Now instead of having only a couple of hours having a drink after the game, you have been on the source for 6 hours, get in. We don’t do it every week (well some do and how they can do it is beyond me) there are times when a night in after the game with the mrs is the perfect way to end the day. Yes they are very special people the rugby girlfriend and wife and we love you, but it’s time to play some rugger! That is the thought for the day, tune in tomorrow for something else. Laters