I had my first rugby game on Saturday, and I think it went fairly well. I played on the B-side team, which plays immediately after the A-side team plays, which is usually around 11 am. Both sides won their game (Whoo!) and I went the entirety of the match without making a major mistake. I didn't see much of the ball, but I figured that this is to be expected, since I am a new guy and I haven't proved myself yet. I couldn't help but notice though that those on the B-side are a lot less eager to pass the ball than those on the A-side; I feel that they want to show the coach how well they can run with the ball, how hard they can hit, and that they deserve a spot on the A-side team. They also want to (again) demonstrate their masculinity to themselves and to each other; not being on the A-side team is insulting to a number of them, based on the chatter I heard on the sideline. One player, Eddie, even considered leaving the game when he realized he would have to play on the B-side.

As far as race is concerned, I met who I think is the only other black man on the team, John. I saw him and Reed (the other black man) acknowledge each other separately from everyone else before John began to chat with a group of exclusively white friends; it struck me as a sign of solidarity that stuck out from the usual greetings that were being exchanged as everyone showed up for the game. John, tall and long legged but extremely muscular, is clearly popular in the group, so I don't want to assume that race is an issue within the team. However, Reed, who is maybe 5'6" and might weigh 140 lbs soaking wet, sits by himself and does not communicate much. He plays for the A-side and he is congratulated for a good game, and jokes with everyone else, but he does not seem to be as much a part of the group as John does. I wonder if this has to do with John having been a member of the team for longer; seniority is taken very seriously at the club, as "rookies" are responsible for all equipment and generally aren't as well accepted into the group as senior players, although the rugby club is so eager for fresh players that newcomers are welcomed with open arms. A comment made by one of those on the sideline that "There [were] a ton of black guys on the field" made me further question what role race plays in rugby; including Reed and John, there was only an additional black man on the field from the opposing team, so clearly diversity is not particularly common in the sport. That comment was not made in a negative tone, but one can't help but wonder if racism is a large part of the culture here; it is never openly mentioned or talked about, but it seems to be lurking just around the corner at all times.

I took a bunch of pictures of the game field and the school it's located behind in Pawtucket. It's near McCoy Stadium if you guys would ever be interested in coming to a game. It's free admission, although you'd have to bring chairs, as there's no seating (that in itself says something about the popularity of the sport here). The field is in rather poor condition, but I have played on worse, and it gets the job done. Check it out! I also took one of the front desk at the only rugby store anywhere nearby, Rugby Imports. Tim, a member of the team, works there, and I feel that his family owns it. I'd have to ask to find out.