Rugby Fever

We are so thrilled to be able to report that after 9 weeks or so, Little Brother has made it off the sidelines and onto the rugby field for his first game! He's been going to practice and games every week all this time, but hasn't quite made it over the scary line onto the paddock !
It has been a self imposed bench-time, (or in the case of practice he has spent most weeks up the nearest tree). He was keen as at the start of the season, and loves the kit. His new boots (smallest size possible), green and yellow Eastbourne socks (that reach righ to the lower limits of his buttocks for extra warmth on windy days) and jersey were a huge hit from day one, but watching the other kids play, he immediately voted himself off the team, telling us that he's not fast enough to get rips. Maybe when Im older, he thought. Another day he mused 'Perhaps we could go to the Library and get a book on how to play rugby'. 'Good idea,' I replied, 'but to get better at something you actually just have to practice and practice it.'
It's taken a few weeks to convince him. He's been practicing getting into his boots, climbing trees and enjoying the oranges at half time. He's also had a lot of practice drinking his aftermatch lemonade.
Last Thursday we had a breakthrough when I told them we were off for the Team photo. 'Do I have to play rugby?' he asked, 'Not today, just sit on the chair and look like a rugby player.' He was right into that idea - and lined up, marched on and sat in the front middle of the team pulling a range of serious 'rugby' faces as the camera flashed. 'That was jool' (cool) he told me.
And then, this saturday, he held Dad's hand as he toddled off to join the team for warm up. Then the inspired team manager suggested he should perhaps carry the ball onto the field for kick off. He agreed, and to his and our surprise he played the whole game.
'Rugby is jool fun' he said afterwards, as we stripped off his first-time-ever muddy uniform and scrubbed his skinny muddy knees.