Back: Derelyn Chua Jia Ling
Blackswrugby: How long have you been playing rugby (Touch and Contact) and when did you join BRFC?
Dereyln: Touch nearly 12 years now; Union 10 years. Joined Blacks 10 years ago
Blackswrugby: We’ve heard about your unquestionable calling as a debater in secondary school. What made you switch from Toastmaster to Rugger?
Dereyln: I was in Speakers' Club which did debates and a host of other school-related activities; and in Touch back in St Andrew's Junior College -so there wasn't exactly a switch. Debate season also ended early, like first quarter of the year, which made playing touch manageable. And really, I didn't enjoy exercising so Speakers' Club was my first choice. I joined Touch purely out of peer pressure -my *only* friend in the first week of school joined touch.
I started playing Union when Serena Yeoh, my coach back then, invited the touch team down after A-Levels, and I've never looked back since.
Blackswrugby: Based on a general consensus, you are known to be the omniscient one in the club. Describe your divine power and how your influential pronouncements have saved many team mates who were unawares of their eventual downfall.
Dereyln: (o__O) I never knew I wielded such power -thaaanks for the new information, I will use such influence accordingly WUAHAHA kidding. And no, I've since been overtaken by the information superhighway in the form of a few younger players. So really, go ask them, not me.
Blackswrugby: Describe your top 3 favorite tours in the past 10 years.
Dereyln: I don't even think I was on tour with Blacks that many times over the 10 years -I swear!!!
(1) Sydney: We had an EIGHT-HOUR TRANSIT in Brunei ok. That's like the total flight duration to Sydney -I started on the Harry Potter series during the transit because there really wasn't much to do. And to emphasise how long 8 hours really is, I finished the series (up to the Order of the Phoenix cos that was the latest book out then) during the transit. *never again friends*
(2) Bangkok: It's always fun being in BKK -I think my first tour was to BKK and there was an initiation on the last night of the tour. What little memories I have of that night include waking up feeling extremely sick, dragging my sorry ass to Chatuchak in a tuktuk which made me hurl more than once, and oh yes, I remain extremely adverse to Bombay Blue even till today.
Blackswrugby: What was your most memorable tournament under BRFC?
Dereyln: The first Blacks RFC Midnight 7s -we won the Jane Lee Challenge Trophy then. I still remember parts of the game as if it were in slow-motion, and the flood of emotions after the ref blew the final whistle.
Blackswrugby: You have played for many state and club tournaments as well as led teams in the various touch wings to glorious wins. What are the differences between the top teams and the worst teams you’ve played in?
Dereyln: It's a different type of pressure that I put on myself. With the top teams, all I'm telling myself is not to screw up, do the simple things rights, get the ball to the right person and they'll work the magic -I'm really more of a support player for the top teams I play for. But for the "lesser" teams, I tend to have to work harder as a playmaker, a role I've never been entirely comfortable with, and just hope for the best.
There really isn't a difference between a top team and lesser team, just disparity in the skill-level. The truly worst teams are those that I find I'm killing myself over during the game, and the rest just aren't trying -these teams make me want to throttle someone and then retire altogether.
Blackswrugby: Its time to come clean Derel…what is your secret to becoming top try scorer?
Dereyln: Actually these days (past few years) I haven't been scoring very much. I'm heavier and slower now, and find the try line usually a bit too far away. I still do try to break the first line of defence, and that happens because I fear very much for my life. AHAHAHAH I find that I've become better at avoiding tackles when I started playing in Australia because everyone else is bigger and they could *seriously* end me in a tackle, easy. So, if I tried really hard to just get out of their arms' reach, and find the smallest opposition player to run into, my life would be glorious cos I would have survived. Survival was something I tried to accomplish every Saturday in Perth.
Blackswrugby: Wookie leads The Simple Life. Describe his struggles as your companion, apart from having to walk himself while you attend to rugby trainings.
Dereyln: He doesn't like walking so stop taking him on walks when I'm training (-___-). I think he gets car sick so I don't think he really enjoys car rides to games; it took him a while to get used to being on my bicycle too. Game days are too hot -he much prefers game nights. He's quite into astro cos he wouldn't get dirty and the grass isn't long enough to tickle his underbelly. He wishes people wouldn't try to cuddle him when they're all dirty and sweaty -the list really goes on but he's too patient to want to complain that much (^___^)
Blackswrugby: What is your kryptonite?
Dereyln: Wookie -I turn to a puddle of mush when I see him!!! Also, not good with dairy before games.
Blackswrugby: Who motivates you to become a better mentor (to your team mates), rugby player and friend on the rugby field and how do you balance these three roles?
Dereyln: Mostly the senior players -I know what it feels like what you have more experienced players looking out for you both on and off the field, so you know what needs to be done better. I don't really differentiate between the roles, but I do try to be more accommodating about differences in personality and playing styles.
Blackswrugby: Please complete the following sentences
- Rugby to me in the next 5 years mean SEA Games GOLD
- I solemnly swear to be more patient towards my own teammates and release the beast only on the opponents.
- The best thing about playing in Blacks is we always look out for each other. On most weeks during the season, I see the team more than my own family and this forced time together coupled with crazydemonfitnessmasterwingslavedriver helps bring the team closer.
