Trying a hand on rugby

Over the years, I had come up with a promise to myself that I would do at least one crazy thing/ something out of my comfort zone every year. Last year thing was giving rugby a go. The year before was surfing and snowboarding, and before that was coffee making and bartending. Team sport has never been my thing, as well as getting physical, so I decided to throw away my shyness and introvert ego, and joined Melbourne Chargers. It is a gay rugby team in Melbourne. By the ways, the team is raising a fund to compete in the Bingham Cup 2012 in Manchester, and they are selling a calendar if you're interested.

The joy of contact sport :)

So far I have been to several trainings, and it has definitely pushed my limit. The training is roughly 2 hours, and I am knackered at the end of every training. Also it looks like I have found my 2012 resolutions: doing a "nude" calendar to fund raise for veterinary student graduation dinner, and doing the Tough Mudder course at the end of March. Nothing relates to rugby, but to fitness and physique, I suppose. The nude calendar has became a vet tradition, since most of us (the final year students) are too broke to afford the dinner ticket. We will be revealing our body with an artistic twist for our own good cause, except the private bit/bits will be covered by things like dogs, cats, sheep, horses, turtles, stethoscopes, x-ray films, wool, etc. Well... I'm hoping to pick up a good six-pack before the calendar photo shoots.

Not only my fitness has improved, I have gotten more comfy with my sexuality, and gained a confidence boost. I was surprised that I can be slightly homophobic sometimes, despite being gay myself. This perhaps would have arisen from years of self-compartmentalisation and suppression. Sometimes I feel like there are so many gay stereotypes. It is a good change to see gay guys in a masculine environment, breaking free from the stereotypes. Though there are some good gay jokes throwing around the circle.