When asked this question, I sat and thought about it for a while, and considered what it truly meant to me. Over the 4/5 years I've spent playing rugby, it's always meant something to me which words can't describe.
Rugby gives me a sense of composure, a skill that I'll forever be thankful for. It helps to keep me calm and collected, and keep cool headed.
Rugby also gives me confidence. If I hadn't joined my club back in 2016, I wouldn't have had the confidence to start my Instagram account (@ashleigh.rugby), I wouldn't have had the courage to start up my very own blog, and most importantly, I definitely wouldn't have had the confidence to reach out to new people and make new relationships.
A voice was also something I lacked before playing rugby. I never considered myself to be a speaker, and I still don't feel confident enough to speak in front of a big crowd yet, but I'm working on it. However, since I joined my rugby club, I feel like I have the right to speak my views, and consequently, my leadership skills and abilities have improved massively.
The amount of friendships I've made through rugby is colossal. Whether I've met them through playing for club or county, or if I met them through social media, or even if they're people I already knew who I reconnected with, they're all friendships I'll treasure.
The obvious thing that rugby has given me is a better athletic ability, and through the years I've become fitter, stronger and healthier in my body and also my mind. When mentioning fitness, your mind is usually left out, but I truly believe that rugby has had a huge impact on my mental wellbeing, because as I mentioned, rugby has given me a sense of composure.
Finally, rugby has given me an extra family. I'm so thankful for all the girls I play on a team with, and I'm so grateful for the friends and family members of each and every girl who plays on that team, who support us week in and week out. I can't forget the amazing coaches who are always there to talk to, whether it should be about rugby or not. Lastly, the amazing team manager, who helps us all to keep safe, who organises our games/training, and who is just a lovely person. Each member of the team, whether they play or not, really help me feel like I have a second family to look to if I need help.
So, when asked what rugby means to me, I simply answer: Rugby means everything to me, because without all of those factors that I mentioned earlier on and many more reasons, I wouldn't be the young woman I am today. Rugby helped to shape me into who I dreamt of being.
What does rugby mean to you? Answer in the comments section below, or feel free to message me your response!
What rugby means to me (I don’t play and have never played) is a sense of friendship - friends I have made through rugby are priceless, is a fun thing for me to watch with husband and friends and is a way of keeping connected to other people - rugby family is so often spoken about but never really explained and I am not sure if anyone outside of rugby will understand. I love the game, the friendships and the fun days out.