Kathryn Gilbert, captain of Stuttgart’s women’s rugby team, explains why she gets a kick out of rugby.

Who in their right mind would willingly endure cold and muddy training sessions, knocks and bumps to every part of the body, and long journeys to all corners of the country – all in the name of chasing an egg-shaped ball around a pitch? Well, quite a lot of people actually. Women’s rugby is one of the fastest growing sports worldwide.

I was drawn to the game seven years ago when I started university in the UK. I enjoyed playing hockey but wasn’t keen to join the ultra competitive ranks of a university side. I thought rugby would be a good way to get to know people and was mainly driven by the tales of post-match partying. But within a few months, I was hooked. I loved the running, the tackling, the unsalvageable mud-covered kit, the bruises, the black eyes, the taste of post-match beer and – most of all – the sense of camaraderie within the team.

So when I arrived in Stuttgart several years ago and discovered the city had its very own women’s rugby team, I couldn’t believe my luck. One of the first things that struck me about the Stuttgart side was the number of nationalities involved. Germans, French, Brits, Irish, Finns, Canadians, Italians – it’s a bit like playing for the United Nations. The second was that Stuttgart was only playing 7-a-side rugby at the time, mainly due to lack of players. It’s only recently we’ve started playing full 15-a-side rugby.

Rugby explained

The traditional game involves two teams of 15 (wo)men, comprising “forwards” and “backs”. The forwards are usually the bigger, more powerful players on the team, and the backs quicker and nimbler (though there is usually nothing to tell between the two nowadays). Teams gain points by kicking between posts and scoring tries – in other words, by placing the ball down in delegated zones at either the end of the pitch. Here, there are similarities to American football, although for the most part that is where the similarities end, not least because rugby involves considerably less body armour. Whichever team scores the most points wins.

Of course, this is a simplified explanation. Rugby is an intelligent sport that requires you to think on your feet and it can take some time to get your head around the rules. Even now, with seven seasons under my belt, I am still learning.

Admittedly there are occasions (usually about 75 minutes into an 80 minute match) when I wonder what the hell I am doing. Running into women twice your size or pace and bringing them tumbling down on top of you isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, nor is having your head rubbed into the turf or getting an elbow in the face when every other part of your body already aches. But it’s that adrenaline rush when you make a big tackle or a good run that makes it worthwhile – and seriously addictive.

Possibly the best thing about rugby is that it is accessible to pretty much everybody. Big, small, fast, slow, athletic, not so athletic. Of course, it helps if you are fit and have some experience of ball games. But the Stuttgart team also welcomes start-from-scratch beginners.

Spurred on by some talented local players and experienced foreigners, we won Germany’s second league in my first and second seasons at the club, and we are currently competing in our second season in the German first league (Bundesliga). We are gradually developing a strong squad with lots of depth, and are always on the lookout for new players. The same goes for our men’s squad and youth team. So if you’re interested in (quite literally) getting a kick out of sport in a fun and friendly club, why not come along?

For more information:
www.rugby-stuttgart.de

Next women’s game:
1 p.m.  Saturday, November 29
Sportplatz Hohe Eiche, Degerloch

Picture: Grand final winners – Stuttgart’s women’s rugby team