An open letter to Lady-Sprinters-who-Torture-your-Calves-at-Sesuai-on-the-Weekends

 

 

Dear Lady-Sprinters-who-Torture-your-Calves-at-Sesuai-on-the-Weekends (LSWTYCASOTW),

 

I’m worried that if I see another gyelfie (gym selfie), I might end up ripping my new Nike tights out of fear of your gym intensity. In the case I do not rip my tights, I usually find the next new cafe in town and order a cuppa ice latte to make myself feel better about how I spend my time. Recently, you tell me that you’re feeling lazy, as if you did not do ten sets of Pris prescribed-scissors-split-lunge-dynamic-plank-mountain-man-burpee-sprints circuit training the night before. Thanks for sharing, the feeling is mutual.

 

Don’t misunderstand me, LSWTYCASOTW, what you’re doing is admirable. However, I am confused because you all seem so high-performance, but I can’t keep my heart rate up at 180. I’ve realised that if I go any further than 160, something terrible is going to happen. Especially when we hit the fourth lamp post and Jelvin tells you its only a third through…your other Lady Sprinters trailing behind tell you to, “keep going”, “you’re almost there” and “don’t stop”.

 

The thought of never stopping only makes me think of the time we went to Holland V to take part in Yoshimaru’s Ramen Challenge and you told me that “I [couldn’t] stop now, now that [I’ve] gone too far”. The second and third bowl felt like eternity. I get that the Sesuai sprints are supposed to train my endurance, but I’m struggling to endure the last eight sets on the slope.

 

Sometimes I wonder, are there other Lady Sprinters out there who dare to join you in torturing your calves at Sesuai on Weekends, and find my answers in Wookie’s gaze out to the empty field. I’d be lying if I said we don’t compare calve sizes when we see each other. We’re Lady Sprinters after all.

 

Sincerely,

 

Dragged kicking but soon to be LSWTYCASOTW

BRFC 2014 Interview: Marian

Blackswrugby: Firstly, what made you want to pick up this sport?

Marian: During my secondary school days, some of my friends and I used to go down old PA to support our church boys during their B Division games. Watching how the boys gave their all, how the sport unites people together, and how it can be so rich in culture made me realize that this is not just a sport but something that can move big things. I started out with touch rugby in my poly days and started to appreciate the game even more.


Blackswrugby: What position do you play and what do you like about it?

Marian: For this season, i'm playing as a Flanker (i'm usually a winger). i like this position because it gives me a 'hunter' kind of feeling and challenges me to make all my tackles count.


Blackswrugby: If you could play any one position of your choice, what would it be and why?

Marian: hmm. Scrum-half? the scrum-half in Blacks are v inspiring!


Blackswrugby: Do you play any other sports besides rugby?

Marian: Used to bowl competitively...


Blackswrugby: What do you like to do in your free time?

Marian: Many things! If i can, more Artsy stuff like spending more time in music, photography, etc...


Blackswrugby: Trainings can be tough at times, what motivates you?

Marian: To be able to play the position well so that during the game, i can perform my best for the team. Also the amount of heart, time and effort that our coach / coach-player seniors have sacrificed to win the Championships motivates me.


Blackswrugby: Are your friends and family supportive of you playing rugby?

Marian: Not so much of my family because of the time it takes away from them, and my mother thinks its a very dangerous sport.


Blackswrugby: How would you describe your experience playing rugby, so far?

Marian: I think rugby has proven alot of 'life lessons' to be true. Being persistent, determined and committed to fitness/trngs do make a difference in your performance and the results from your efforts are clear. Sometimes i think that there are so many things that i can't do, but when thrown in the situation, with the support of your teammates and the right amount of pressure to perform, you might surprise yourself at times. Rugby is really not just a competitive sport but a learning journey to experience with your teammates.

BRFC 2014 Interview: Tao Jing

Blackwrugby: How long have you been playing rugby?

Tao: I think I started in Poly second year, when I was 17 or 18. So I've been playing for about 10 years.


Blackwrugby: Dream position?

Tao: I don't have one. I like what I'm playing now.


Blackwrugby: What do you find most challenging about rugby?

Tao: To look like a winger when you are a prop facing a winger with the ball, or to be able to look like the fastest player on the field when facing a backline


Blackwrugby: What do your students think about you playing rugby?

Tao: They'll be like 'wahhhh', and some boys will imitate rugby tackles and try to do it in front of me. But when I pretend to dash at them they'll run away. Sometimes there are kids who are interested to take up rugby and they ask me more about it.


Blackwrugby: Pre game meal/ritual?

Tao: I'll do visualisation the night before, watch some videos of big hits, and try to drink enough water. I'll make sure I eat enough food haha. More carbs, like pasta or rice.


Blackwrugby: Favourite post game meal?

Tao: Hawker food, like those from Newton. Ba chor mee, bbq chicken wings, fried oyster omelette, carrot cake, popiah, hokkien mee…


Blackwrugby: Favourite moment shared with your Blacks team mates?

Tao: Last year, when we regained the 15s title and Chongfu came back to coach us.


Blackwrugby: Name one country you’d love to play rugby in? 

Tao: New Zealand.

BRFC 2014 Interview: Jia Yu

Blackswrugby: When and how did your start playing rugby? 

Jiayu: I started playing touch when I was in junior college from 2007-2008. After I graduated from jc, I thought I'd pick up rugby because I'd like to know what 'real' rugby felt like!


Blackswrugby: What positions have you played before and which is the position that you enjoy playing the most? 

Jiayu: I've played winger and centre. I enjoy playing centre because you sort of get the best of both worlds, I get to crash and run plays/moves at the same time.


Blackswrugby: We know that there'e many memorable moments in BRFC. Pls share with us just 1 moment, be it on or off the field, that you cannot forget 4eva.... 

Jiayu: Hmmm very difficult to just pick one moment. But it's definitely the times where we make the finals and win the finals in any tournament, even if I'm not involved in it, it's just the sense of pride, the commitment, blood, sweat and tears that the team puts in to emerge on top is something remarkable and a feeling/memory that I'd never want to lose because it's what drives us!


Blackswrugby: What are the injuries and how did you pick yourself up and continue the love for the brutal and yet beautiful game? 

Jiayu: I've picked up 2 knee injuries from the last few years of playing rugby. The more severe one would be a torn ACL in my left knee which required surgery. I stuck to rehab and was determined to get well mainly because I felt like I'm not ready to give up the game yet, mainly the love for the game and the great team camardarie of Blacks motivated me very much. Also there are many other girls in the team who've bounced back from torn ACLs as well, so their success stories also made me feel like it was possible for me to get back into the game!


Blackswrugby: We all know that BRFC has come a loonggg way, how would you describe BRFC ?

Jiayu: We are made up of committed, passionate and fun-loving individuals!


Blackswrugby: Describe Rugby in 1 word. FANTABULOUS~

Jiayu: Any random super power that you wish to have? Read minds perhaps?


Blackswrugby: If you could do 1 thing to change the world, what would that be?

Jiayu: Not sure what I can do to achieve this but definitely less work and more fun hey!

BRFC 2014 Interview: Elly

Blackswrugby: Before you joined BRFC and contact rugby, did you have any expectations of what the sport would be like? Have they lived up to your expectations?

Elly: Sortof, because before I actually joined contact rugby I was just busying touching random strangers at turf city every Saturday morning during STL & WTL…which I often get penalized and forced-sub for my hard touches, hence I wanted to explore that (dark) side of me, and thought that contact rugby would be the next best thing.


Blackswrugby: Do you remember your first rugby training? When was that?

Elly: My first rugby training was actually during a SRU's Rugby Clinic that was introduced during my third year in Republic Poly.

Blackswrugby: Given a choice of 3 options, would rather
a)   Commit yourself to never ending sprint sessions that have been identified by 3 words - “behind the line.
b)   Sacrifice your body to countless full-on tackles as part of a defence drill comprising of blitz and blitz only defence pattern.
c)   Spend an infinite amount of time in mini-fabulous-grid, the size of 5m by 5m, with three others.

Elly: I would go with the infinite amount of time in mini-fabulous-grid, the size of 5m by 5m, with three others. Besides the fact that it highlights three fabulous player's team effort, we all know that after some hits, mini-grid makes everyone go cray cray and hungry for the try line. LOVE THE ADRENALINE!


Blackswrugby: What are your aspirations for the upcoming season and what words of advice do you have for newcomers of BRFC?

Elly:  For the upcoming season, I hope that regardless the results we have to promise to be pull through all the way till the final whistle and always remember that we've got each's back! My advice for the newer girls? Actually I just saw this in Instagram last night, on Splitspits' profile which I think is relevant to both new, young, old or ancient "Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always." -Stay Humble.


Blackswrugby: What is your favorite drink?

Elly: I love my Nata-de-cocosssssss


Blackswrugby: You look like you stepped out of an indie film. Describe your style and how they share similar attributes to the values you place when playing rugby.

Elly: Awwww... Staphhhh it you! I don't have a particular style; I'm pretty much your typical "lepak" Malay girl. I think in a way it may have helped me when under pressure in a game situation to be able to filter negative thoughts or trash talkers because the "lepak-ness" in me just can’t be bothered. My friends call me the selective listener.


Blackswrugby: What is the most embarrassing situation encountered during your time with BRFC?

Elly: Most embarrassing? Was believing that Radika was actually from Kenya! Kidding.... Maybe that one time when I wore my shirt inside out after training and throughout dinner no one told me that it was actually reverse.


Blackswrugby: How do you “tackle” stress and describe your most stressful period when playing rugby

Elly: Usually I will divert my focus on other stuff that I enjoy as well like listening to great music, catching up with old friends or just nua-ing all day long. Basically, I try not to over think about the stress too much but instead appreciate on another part of my life! My most stressful period its an annual occurrence because fitness and fasting don't rhyme for a reason.


Blackswrugby: Create, in 3 sentences, a motivational paragraph that describes your relationship with rugby or BRFC (stringing together lyrics from your favourite tunes.)

Elly: So La da, di, da, di, we like Black's Rugby, dancing with Shaoing. Doing whatever she wants. This is fitness, Back to the line! And we can't stop, And we won’t stop.


Blackswrugby: Can you sing it for me?

Elly: Anytime babe!