Rehab - The new Chapter begins.. by Fulhamnonny

Yesterday I played my first rugby match in 8 months in the 10th anniversary of the Sue Moloney Memorial Match. The last time I played I broke myself.

I was in the starting 15 which surprised me and I was playing Flanker which i've not done in 2 years.

I was a little scared as to how I'd feel on the pitch. I had to get over the mental hurdle of playing a competitive match, and making the first tackle. I wasn't sure how my legs would feel and with Seb's words in the back of my mind how long would i last in playing.

Everyone expected me to be fast like i used to be and get in the game at every opportunity, but I found that match fitness for rugby is very different to marathon fitness.

I started to struggle after 15 minutes of the match - not because I was tired, but my calves were tightening up which was because I couldn't stretch properly before the match and I was struggling playing out of position. One of the girls suggested I be subbed which I thought was a great idea. So after 25 minutes I came off.

I started the second half playing for the opposition again in flanker, but as the team were dutch I didn't get much direction as to where to be positioned etc and scrums went from being contested to uncontested which threw me intially. I think because I was playing against my own team and I didn't want to be injured again, i didn't play as well as i could have and one of the girls in my team who was playing for the oppo as well noticed. she said to me to play better or get off the pitch as Cas wanted a good game too, which i agreed and said I wanted to be subbed about now anyway. It had been 15 minutes and my now not so injured ankle was starting to hurt and my left calf was still super tight. I came off.

I came on again for the last 5 minutes of the game in which I played outside centre. Again it's not a position I usually play, but i have done in the past and it'sin the back which is where I'm used to playing. The 5 minutes flew by thankfully.

So in the end I played 45 minutes of rugby which I'm not sure if Seb is going to be too happy about. I'm not feeling too bad today in terms of aching limbs. Shoulders are a tiny tiny bit stiff, legs are fine and i have a couple of bruises that have come up over night.

Today i plan to do my physio exercises. I've never looked forward to my stretching and foam roller session as I am today!