El Vice Capitan

So tonight at training, the venerable and wildly shifty David Hughes was announced as our captain for the 2010 season, and I’m excited to play along side of him and hopefully play some great rugby under his leadership.

Also announced at training was the vice captain for the season (in the event of David not making a game or injury) and I’m very humbled to say that yours truly got the nod.   Although I definitely don’t feel I rank enough for the honor, I’ll do my best to lead if called upon and will undoubtedly learn a lot in the process.  Most of my rugby career has been spent with my head down running my ass off, and it will be good for me to use my conscious mind in the game a bit more.  If nothing else, the “title” will make me work harder and play smarter, as I feel so unqualified I will do everything in my power to play into the role.

It’s crazy to think that I’m now (I believe) the 4th most veteran active first-side player on the team.   It seems like just yesterday Adam Hahn came up to Mike Miller and me in the North Dodge weight room asking if we were interested in trying out rugby.   Rugby has given me a lot.   I’ve got a few seasons left in me, hopefully I can make them count.

Away game this Saturday in Vegas.  In the words of my good friend/semi-spiritual-leader/flying-yoga-aficionado Whakapiangia, “Rugby is a game for warriors, and if you’re not a true warrior you’re weeded out verrrry quickly.”   Hopefully I can come out on the right side of that equation again this year.