I have had the privilege of writing in this space twice previously about both one young player and the greater rugby community in general. I am writing again about both as, a month on from Club 7s Nationals, I am still extremely impressed with both. (First a big “thank you” to WAC and the people of Tukwila for putting on an incredible weekend. Speaking with the organizers, volunteers and rugby folks to find there were so many non-rugby supporters responsible for the event taking place is a testament to the culture of sport, rugby in particular, that many parts of our country prize.)
My journey to the Nationals started the Sunday before game weekend. Rita (Mom) and I talked about surprising Jade (our little Scion rugby player) at the tournament. The surprise would be total as we had already spent our summer vacation with Jade, Lauren, Tyler and Connor. Living here in the UAE we generally don’t make two summer trips back to the States. Unfortunately, Mom could not escape work commitments so I set off alone on the 28-hour journey to surprise our little girl.
When I walked up to the gate Saturday morning I ran into a small contingent of Scions. I knew this was the right thing to do when Joanne (what a great advocate for Women’s Rugby, a truly special person and someone Rita and I will be forever grateful for the care she has provided our daughter and so many other aspiring athletes), Toshi and a couple players were completely shocked. I followed them in and stayed behind them as we walked over to the team area. They parted about ten yards away and the buzz of Jade’s teammates was audible. Jade had been getting taped up and when she turned the look of “what the…?” was only the third best part of surprising her. Having Mom on the phone at the time was second. The best part ? That was when she ran the ten yards and jumped into my arms. That minute she clung to me felt as good a moment as a parent can have.
Then the games began. The feeling, even sitting with just one other parent the first game, was that this mattered. I watched women’s matches, men’s matches in both divisions and it mattered. There were good games and blowouts, quality play and some stuff that needed some work, but it mattered. Listening to people in the stands as it started getting a little busy later in the day talking rugby and how much being back at Nationals mattered.
Personally, we had seen Jade and Scion at Cape Fear and Battlefield 7s on our family vacation (nothing like a rugby 7s weekend) so we knew they were solid. Watching them dominate on Day 1 was, from my perspective, a continuation of what we had seen earlier in the summer. My apologies to anyone in the stands as I “Woo-ed” after every try Scion touched down and crunching tackle they administered.
That is the background. Here is why I write.
Two years ago at the NDIT tournament I wrote:
“No, this is a story that starts with, “Jim, one of the players is hurt.”
My response to Rita was, “That’s your daughter and it’s bad. Listen.”
The trainer on the field was fast. So was a coach. I walked slowly out to help them move her off the field. Once at the aid station the trainer realized there were a couple issues. The separated shoulder we were able to put back in place (sorry for choking you with the sheet, Jade!). There was nothing we could do for the broken collarbone. When the trainer said, “We need to call an ambulance,” was the moment Jade realized what the injury meant.
Jade being injured did not bother me too much. That is sport. Her being crushed made me cry. Looking at her laying there devastated realizing her Olympic dream was over was one of the hardest things I have had to endure as a parent. The same realization struck her again when the ambulance showed up. A third time when the doctor told her it definitely required surgery and would be a long recovery.”
Fast forward to Club 7 Nationals 2021 and Jade is Scion Captain, injuries behind her (now with a matching plate to go with the right collarbone), playing more decisively than ever and looking better than she ever has. Scion rolls to the title and Jade was named Championship MVP. From where she was two years ago anyone observing would see an athlete that had returned fueled by hard work, passion and dedication. There is more though. I shot a video of the awards ceremony and there is a moment when she is handed the MVP Trophy, right after Abby Gustaitis moves out of the screen, where Jade clutches the trophy tightly with a look of sheer joy – an acknowledgement to herself of herself. It made Dad cry again to see that flame that was snuffed out in 2019 burst back to full roar.
When her rugby life started, Jade said, “my goal is to play in the Olympics.” The 2019 injury ensured that, even a remote chance of that happening for 2020, would not happen. 2021 represents a new chase of that dream, as well as, the dream of representing the USA in any form of the game. I hope Rita and I are travelling to either South Africa or New Zealand next year. Even if we don’t, we were witness to what sport is all about and it was gratifyingly, deeply personal.
As I sit here a month later I realize that I witnessed something as important as Jade’s personal triumph. I watched, at Cape Fear and Battlefield 7s, then at Nationals, Women’s Rugby in the States return triumphantly. We saw elite clubs, social teams and the military squads at Cape Fear with extra team members along for the weekend and passionate fans of the Women’s game. At Battlefield 7s different elite teams showed up and a contingent of regional social teams were on hand as well. Nationals offered a view of what to expect going forward with a fun, exciting, engaging and successful event.
As a rugby parent of a particular women’s player and a fan of the women’ game it was a tremendously successful trip to Nationals and I left knowing the future is bright for both.