How did you first find rugby? What made you want to join?
It was a really long road for me to play rugby. I first heard about rugby when I was 17 years old. I was on a family trip to Fiji and it just so happened that when we were there, Australia played New Zealand. Australia played New Zealand and it was a huge deal because the resort that we were in had a bunch of Kiwis and they were so excited to teach us about rugby. They were like - “How could you not know about this game? How do you not know about the Australia and New Zealand game?” And they didn’t know how to describe it so they were like “it’s like - what do you call it? The Super Bowl!” They were so excited to compare it to the Super Bowl.
It was the early 2000s so the whole resort gathered in one spot to watch the game on the big screen. And they were saying in advance - all the Kiwis - “Have you heard of the Haka?” and I was like “No - what is this?”. And they taught me about the Haka, and it was the first time I saw the Haka, and it was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.
And from that point to the point I actually joined rugby is probably a 20 year gap. But in between all of that time, I always admired the sport. And I remember the moment - probably 10 years ago - when somebody told me that I look like I could play rugby. I don’t know if they meant it as a compliment but I was so excited. And for the last decade, I’ve been thinking “I would really like to play this sport - it would be so cool.”
Finally, an opportunity had presented itself. I had been trying to chase teams down in the places that I lived and coming to Norfolk was the first chance to find a team that wanted new players and I got to play.
What have you found you love most about rugby? Why do you stay?
I think the thing I like the most is the community. I like that everyone is friends. And that we play this really hard sport and even the people that you go against - for the 14 or 80 minutes you play each other you want them to die but then afterward it’s like “Omg you’re so pretty! I love your ponytail!” And I really like that.
How has rugby impacted your life?
Rugby has impacted my life in a pretty big way. When I started playing this sport, I was in a really dark time in my life. I had moved 4 times in 4 years. And for me, community is really important. And I kept having to uproot my community [so] I didn’t really have one. And that was really difficult for me mentally, emotionally, and I was sort of in a place where I was giving up. And I joined this team; I tried to play as a last ditch effort to establish community.
I remember the first time I showed up to practice, I was shaking. I was so afraid. I was like “I’m going to fail at this. I’m going to be so bad. I’m so old. I’m 38 - 37 at the time - this is going to go so poorly.” But then it didn’t. And I feel like for a while I forgot who I was as a person. I forgot the strength and the vitality and the passion I had inside me and I was letting those things fall away. And playing rugby, for me, has helped me to find those things again. The way I say it to myself now is - “I forgot that I was a bad bitch but I remember now.”
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience playing rugby or being a part of the community?
Rugby has helped me to be more proud of myself. It’s helped me to be more comfortable with myself. One of the things you see a lot of women players in the game say is “Rugby is for every body.” And I really believe that. I think when I came into this sport, again, I was dealing with some issues. And one of those was issues with my body size. I thought I had to be a certain size to be considered an athlete. I had to look a certain way and that was much smaller than I am now or when I started. And now that I play, I feel so proud to be big. I feel proud to be strong. I feel proud to be powerful. I feel powerful now. And I didn’t for a while. I lost that power. And this is an opportunity for me to get it back. And I wish that other people who were in my position - afraid to start the game, old, young, whatever - that they would feel the courage to try. Because if I didn’t have that courage - if I didn’t push through that day I was shaking and afraid - then I would never have the friends I have now. I wouldn’t have the experience I have now. I wouldn’t have the confidence I have. All of those things I attribute to getting started with this sport.
Support club rugby! Morgan currently plays for the Norfolk Storm in Virginia. If you want to watch a match or are in the Hampton Roads area and interested in joining, find the Storm on Instagram @norfolkstorm or online at www.norfolkrugby.com.
