Aspen Ruggerfest

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Aspen Ruggerfest

"Momma don't let your babies grow up to be ruggers"

A quotation from the 40th Aspen Ruggerfest program...

"Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be ruggers.

Don't let them scrum, ruck or maul in the mud

Make them stay home, help them save all their blood."

"My granddaughter is a hooker and I'm proud of it!" Irene's quote. (Hooker is a rugby position)

The game of rugby is very intense and chaotic. The scrum which happens as a result of a penalty of some kind is an amazing amoebic pile of bodies resembling a large turtle's shell. Heads tucked under, shoulders locked together pushed from behind, opposing forces wait for a ball to be thrown inside this teaming mass of humanity. Teammates wait for the ball to pop out and then it is thrown backward to a flying wing of men who make their way to their goal. In the meantime the ball gets kicked forward back and forth and kicked out of bounds. When the ball goes out of bounds then the two teams prop up a very tall player from each team and the ball is thrown in and that player flys aloft and diverts the ball to his teammates. This is the point of view of a woman who really knows very little about the game except that it is very exciting and fun to watch. Be sure to notice the thighs of rugby players if you have a chance to see the game on TV or in person.

Another aspect of the game is the camaraderie which develops between players. A player from anywhere in the world can find his way into a game at a tournament like the Aspen Ruggerfest. I met a woman from England whose husband talked with a local referee travelling through England and a spot was found on the Boulder team. Ruggers play well into their 50s.

Really a joy to see John's smiling face this morning at Rio Grande Park in Aspen. He is limping with a very sore bandaged knee but otherwise he looks trim and fit. John's Kudu team won their matches with Boulder and the Denver Highlanders, but lost their third match of the day to Mountain Select A.

Two "small world incidents".

Today I met the mother of one of John's teammates, who was born and raised in Gloversville NY. Mom, she was the daughter of the pastor at the Kingsbridge? Presbyterian Church. Then Bill met one of the fellows who came in with the women's team from South Dakota who knew Tavis Ve'e from college football.

On Sunday, John's team played for 3rd place and won. Everyone was very happy and...wet. During the afternoon the lightening started flashing in front of the mountains all around us and the rain and hail came in torrents. The game went on and everyone else took cover, I found the far side of a blue spruce high up on a corner landscaped garden. This downpour lasted about 10 minutes and everyone came back out from whereever they went. I congratulated myself because I had run around the corner to my favorite consignment shop and bought a rain jacket.

Sunday was the last of four fest days. Lots of crutches were in evidence, lots of black eyes, scrapes and taped knees. Heard on the field this morning. "How are you today?" Really great! I just went to my massage therapist and she put my rib back in place..."

The fellows left for Denver tonight and Bill and I will follow tomorrow morning. We've had a great time in a beautiful city.

Next Saturday will be a very big game at the new stadium in Glendale CO. This is the first city sponsored rugby stadium built in the US. Bill and I will probably camp next week and return to Denver to see this game before heading on.