What position did you play?
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@Stargazer said in What position did you play?:
As a little kid, I started at halfback because I was the smallest player in the team. A few years later, I was the first to get a growth spurt and managed to convince the coach to move me to the outside backs, because I had quite a bit of pace and I didn't like playing at halfback. I mostly played at fullback, but also on the wing.
Then we moved to the Netherlands and there was no rugby club to find in our area at the time, so I played football, mostly as a striker. I also did a fair bit of ice speed skating in Winter and swimming and road cycling in Summer.
When I was 16, we moved to France, where I started playing rugby again, mostly at fullback or first five. I moved back to the Netherlands to go to Uni, played rugby (fullback & first five) and sevens, even got some interest from national coaches and ... then I made the mistake of going on holiday to England.
In England, an idiot thought it was a good idea to ignore a red light, hit me with his car while I was crossing a street and I ended up in hospital with multiple broken bones, a skull fracture and spinal damage. That took a long time to heal, and I tried getting back into rugby a few years later, but other health problems forced me to abandon rugby completely and take up non-contact sports (which I still do back in NZ).
Quite unusual travel pattern. Did one of your parents work for a multinational?
That is horrific. What happened to the driver?
Do you have many longer term impacts, other than having to be careful?
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@Catogrande said in What position did you play?:
One theme that runs all through this thread is the number of positions we’ve all played. I believe there is a correlation along the lines of: more positions played = the shittier you are at rugby.
To back this up I can tell you that whilst I spent most of my “career” in the back row, I have played every position barring 2 and 9. Case proven.
Speak for yourself
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@pakman said in What position did you play?:
Quite unusual travel pattern. Did one of your parents work for a multinational?
No, we moved to the Netherlands for family reasons (both my parents are (partially) of Dutch descent). My father took the opportunity to work and do research at a Dutch university during those first years and was then offered an opportunity to work at a research institute in France for a few years, before they returned to NZ.
That is horrific. What happened to the driver?
He spent a short time in prison, had to pay a fine and reparations. I can't remember the details. Most of that time is a blur.
Do you have many longer term impacts, other than having to be careful?
@ACT-Crusader said in What position did you play?:
Amazing story @Stargazer
Your passion for the game that was seemingly taken away from you prematurely is to be admired.
How’s the body holding up these days?I never entirely got rid of my back problems, but I'd say that the lasting impact is more psychological in nature. My main health problems are caused by several autoimmune diseases.
I think anyone who's been reading my posts on the Fern can now understand why I sometimes get frustrated when players get injured, or aren't getting or taking opportunities to play and develop their game.
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Lock/6/8 (pretty sure thats what most locks say when they want to not play lock)
Loved my footy growing up played most of the age group reps from 9-12 years old. Got to play with and against some really good players growing up in HB in what was a pretty good period for HB rugby.
Played 3 years of 1st 15. Coach had sat me down in 5th form and outlined what big aspirations he had for me and how he thought I could be the next big name to add to his Taine Randall/John Timu list. God knows where he got that idea from.... I was always really fit but never had any type of acceleration or top-end speed. I could just keep up my average sprint for a whole game. I just generally looked like I was more places because I was alright at reading the game. I think he was excited because I was 189cm at 15 and he thought I would still grow and then fill out my frame (was 72kg)....
I certainly filled out the frame but didn't grow another CM taller. Plodded along after that and career highlights were few and far between. Literally the list is 50+ games for a mediocre 1st 15, playing a colts game for Tech while on high school holidays and getting play of the day over future World Cup Try scorer Karne Hesketh, and making a Canadian Provincial Training squad a day after I landed off the basis that 'he's a kiwi so he must be alright'.
After high school just played a bit at uni and then here and there overseas while travelling. Had much more success as a physio than a player haha having worked with some cool teams in both rugby and other sports.
Rugby is a sport I watch now basketball and golf and the sports I play...or attempt to.
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Also just a disclaimer. If I ever catch up with any of you in person there is a high likelihood after a few shandys I will be a lot better than my explanation. Every year since my last game I get 4.5% better.
Statisticans have run the numbers and in 7 years I would have been better than McCaw, DC, BBBR and Scott Hamilton Combined. -
@mariner4life said in What position did you play?:
@Catogrande said in What position did you play?:
One theme that runs all through this thread is the number of positions we’ve all played. I believe there is a correlation along the lines of: more positions played = the shittier you are at rugby.
To back this up I can tell you that whilst I spent most of my “career” in the back row, I have played every position barring 2 and 9. Case proven.
Speak for yourself
Can you see the Pyramids from there?
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Played soccer most of my life but played hooker for Te Kawau at age 11. My soccer skills helped out but I was a weed but brave. When I returned home in my late teens played wing in Nelson and did most of the kicking. My first year playing was interesting. I was targeted because I was a soccer player and the first preseason against Wanderers I got on the bottom of a ruck and some jerks boot was directed towards my face. I was able to avoid and she was on. One of the forwards pulled me away from the scene and said they would take care of things. I learned that you can not tackle without your arms after a classic well timed shoulder to shoulder. I also seemed to incur the wrath of the Rackley brothers except for Jeff who was the brightest bulb in the family and a good guy. Good memories and sorry for waffling.
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I spent pretty all my career as a hooker. I was really good actually apart from lacking any size, was really really slow, had no ball skills, was blind without my glasses and was a coward in contact. As you could imagine I hung up my boots very early !
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@Snollygoster said in What position did you play?:
I spent pretty all my career as a hooker. I was really good actually apart from lacking any size, was really really slow, had no ball skills, was blind without my glasses and was a coward in contact. As you could imagine I hung up my boots very early !
These qualities pretty much sum up Scotland Hooker Fraser Brown to be fair.
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Fraser-Tech and Kaikorai junior rugby - I was a slow outside back with flashes of mediocrity. Wanted to play halfback at Fraser-Tech, having perfected the reverse pass at home but Kevin Greene's son was playing 9 (and was pretty good anyway). Battled away when we moved to Dunedin and finally scored a try when "dashing" 40m against the now-defunct Peninsula club (at least I think they're defunct).
Didn't play at high school due to back issues and returned to the field for university social rugby, playing a wide range of positions - all of them poorly, and most of them sans tackling. Scored a couple of tries by being on the end of the line, and managed to pot a left-footed droppie (I'm right footed) at one stage which has to be the highlight of a very average career.
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@Smudge said in What position did you play?:
managed to pot a left-footed droppie (I'm right footed) at one stage which has to be the highlight of a very average career.
That's actually quite impressive. I'm assuming that you were way out on the right wing at about 50m?
Right in front at 20 is also pretty good. -
@Snowy said in What position did you play?:
@Smudge said in What position did you play?:
managed to pot a left-footed droppie (I'm right footed) at one stage which has to be the highlight of a very average career.
That's actually quite impressive. I'm assuming that you were way out on the right wing at about 50m?
Right in front at 20 is also pretty good.I was abused by my team mates because we were down by 30 at the time. Then again, those were the only points we scored.
It was on the 22, right in front. I went to kick it with my right foot, but a guy shaped to charge, so I stepped, and went on the left. It wobbled over like a partially lame duck, but I'll take it...
