B.E.L.V.O.

In case you missed it, I've started playing rugby again. I played in college and loved it. Our team at St. Mike's was the first women's club at the college. The friends I made playing there made my transition into the school in my sophomore year so easy. I am in touch with some of them to this day.

When I moved to Dublin I decided I needed to find a similar group of friends and a reason to get out and get some exercise. On the recommendation of a friend of a friend (a St. Mike's teammate, actually - thanks Meghan and Laura) I found the Old Belvedere Ladies Rugby Club. The club is an easy 2 mile walk from the apartment and they train twice a week. We have matches most weekends. I started playing in early February and I'm so glad I did.

The women of Belvo are amazing. All the girls live in or near Dublin, but some (like me) are originally from abroad. We train hard and have become a fairly good team in the past months. We play hard as well. This weekend we went to the All-Ireland Cup Final and came so close to winning. If the referee had been able to see to the bottom of a giant pile of girls he would have known that we had at least two more trys (touchdowns) than were called. Thems the breaks, I suppose. We were a division 2 team playing against a division 1 team and we dominated most of the play. It was exciting and very disappointing. We commiserated afterwards on a pub crawl that ended up in a dance club. Yes, Glenn was there and dancing.

We have one more league game this season and will play some "friendlies" with local teams to keep the momentum going. At the end of May, we will travel to Belgium to play in an international tens tournament (10 players a side instead of the traditional 15). There is camping involved, which isn't my bag but I'm really looking forward to spending a fun-filled weekend with these amazing women. I am already working on my costume for the theme night party (disco).

I was lucky when we first arrived to meet a group of spouses of Glenn's co-workers. They have been invaluable with our transition, supplying us with all sorts of information and support. I look forward to every PK Wives Club event and getting to know the ladies better. Now with the addition of my Belvo family I feel like I am at home in Dublin. I am so fortunate.

My body is a whole different story. It turns out that I am fairly old for this sport. Playing in college seemed easy. I never got sore and wondered why my teammates hobbled around so after a match. Now I get it. I am a right mess of aches, pains, bruises, scratches, busted toes, muscle tears and bumps. I spend a lot of time with an ice pak and can never be too far from the ibuprofen. On the flip side, I can run further and lift more than I've been able to in a while. That's got to count for something, right?

Glenn is wondering if I should consider something a tad less violent and he probably has a point. I just don't want to leave my new rugby friends. Speaking of Glenn, he has become our biggest supporter. He comes to every game (not so for other partners), rides with us on the team bus, and is as close to a team mascot as we have. In a good way. I suspect that if I started going to rugby parties without him I would be turned away at the door. The girls love him and he has fun chatting with each of them, learning more and more about the Irish culture and about rugby. They are campaigning to have him on their summer co-ed tag rugby team. Note: I have not been asked to play on a tag team yet, but I am not offended just yet.

So here is a big thank you to the Belvo ladies for taking me in, putting up with my not-so-mad rugby skills, and always being so positive and fun to be with.

A big thank you as well to my number one fan. I am blessed to have your unwavering support and encouragement in everything I do.