Everyone has a topic they are knowledgeable about,  whether it be a career choice of theirs, a hobby, or even a sport. Being knowledgeable about something means possessing or exhibiting knowledge, insight, or understanding. When I interviewed my father about the sport of rugby, it was clear he knew what he was talking about.

      My dad played rugby for about 10 years, starting at the age of 22. He played for the Severn River Rugby League located in Severna Park, MD. My dad started playing this sport much older than most, but his passion for it was stronger than some who played much longer than him.

      Not many people know about rugby, and I wanted to bring awareness to it since it was such a big part of my dad’s life. I’ve been to a few rugby games myself and let me just say that it was an experience. This sport is unlike any other and one of the most entertaining things I have watched.

       I asked my dad a series of questions about when he played rugby to get a better idea of how much he knew about the sport and how much he enjoyed it. My dad claimed, “Rugby is a sport that can be played by anyone who can run, tackle, and catch and throw a ball. Anyone can play rugby, but in my opinion, you need an aggressive, but theorized mindset and the ability to work as a team.” As a follow-up, I asked my dad how someone can achieve these skills and mindsets. He replied by saying “Working out and getting exercise, much practice, working on improving ball handling skills, and most importantly form and technique.”

       But what is rugby? You may be wondering. Well, according to my dad “Rugby is a team sport typically played 15v15 on a field or pitch. It is played with a rugby ball, which is like a wider and softer football. The object of the game is to touch the ball down in an opponent’s try zone by only passing the ball laterally or backward. You can kick the ball forward and can advance by running or kicking the ball. The defending team must tackle the ball carrier and take them to the ground.”

       Then I wanted to inquire about some of my dad’s personal experiences involving his time playing rugby. For example, when asked what an individual highlight for himself was, he responded by explaining when he had the opportunity to travel to Trinidad. He played in front of a large crowd while competing against a professional team. When asked what was one of his weaknesses while playing and how he overcame it he replied by saying how his size was a challenge for him since he was one of the smallest players on the team, but he overcame it with his speed and aggressiveness while tackling.

      My dad is one of the only people I know who has played rugby, so I felt confident in asking him for information about this sport. I hope this interview helped give you a better understanding of what rugby is and the basics of what you must know to play it.