- Mandy Nurrenbern
The World is Changing... but the rugby community holds strong

I started playing rugby back in 2004. I fell in love that season. The family I felt like I was a part of was strong, and nothing could hold me back, not even a torn ACL. I am not sure what it was. My face on my teammates' butts in the scrum? Grabbing another teammate's butt to lift her above my head? Perhaps it was the face to face almost making out in the rucks? Or the other odd positions we get ourselves into in rugby? And maybe it was the socialling we do after games with the other teams? One minute we are "enemies" on the field, the next we are best friends with beers in hand! I don't know how many times I have laughed with our opponents in the middle of a scrum where we are fighting for who can win the ball!

That's what rugby is for me. This is what rugby is for so many others in our rugby community. It is more than just a game, it's our lives. Our family. Our mental health (as well as physical), so it's nice to know that during a pandemic, the rugby family really keeps the spirit up, keeps the family together, and reaches out in the best ways to keep us all connected.
The Covid-19, aka coronoavirus, is changing the world as we know it. It's affected so many of us, all of us, around the world in one way or another. From ADEDAR, we really hope that ALL of you are staying safe wherever you may be. Wash your hands. Drink hot liquids. Stay at least 6 feet away from other people. Practice self-isolation (which is hard for ruggers, I know, but you got this). Find something you can do that keeps you mentally and physically healthy. The more we all do this, the sooner it will all pass and we can start to build up from the ground where Covid-19 is putting us at the moment.
So stay well. Do what you can, and we'll see you on the other side! Building the world back up one block at a time... or one ruck at a time! Love. Peace. Health. We are all in this together. Find ways to laugh. Find the positives. Find ways to help each other through.