When I was at school I would be the one that got chosen last in PE; I would dread Tuesday….PE day. I never watched sports a day in my life, just didn't get it, thought it was boring and for other people. Then I met my husband who was an Ossett rugby player. As the doting wife I went to watch him play, but always through my hands as I couldn't bare to see the tackles and if I wasn't doing that I would be watching the clock wishing the time away. But over time I realised that actually this sport thing isn't all that horrific, the beers after sure helped that. I even went to Twickenham to watch a game and secretly loved it (don't tell him that). But still though playing was for other people, you know, the ones that loved Tuesday PE day.

Well, then, with a huge and terrific bang, I hit the bug 40! When the hell did I get that old? 40, me? Well if this is where I am in life then I am sure as hell going down fighting! So, what better way than to do something completely out of my comfort zone? Attending my first ever rugby training.….the thing I have avoided for all of these 40 years of mine. I figured, what the hell, if I go once and hated it what had a lost? At least Id have done something crazy and would have a funny story to tell, ‘The girl who hated sport goes to rugby training’. But something really peculiar happened to me. I actually enjoyed myself; running around a filed with a group of other women made me smile. I found I wasn't as totally useless at it as I though for all of these 40 years (did I mention that I was turning 40). So, I went back the week after thinking it must have been a mistake. And then I decided to go training on our wedding anniversary and got home to a beautifully cooked meal with rose petals and all I wanted to talk about was rugby tactics. Who the hell was I becoming?

I kept on going back week after week, and each time I found I was a little fitter, a little stronger, knew a little more and found that I was becoming part of something totally new to me, I was becoming part of a team. A team of people who simply accepted me for who I am, no questions, no judgment even though I was a 40 year old complete novice (did I mention I was now 40!). They welcomed me and supported me week after week and you know what, I get it now, I get why people enjoyed those Tuesdays, why my husband went to play in sleet, snow, storms and always came back with a smile on his face.
So if this is what being 40 is ….. then I'm damn proud to be 40 and to be part of the Ossett Ladies RUFC.