Looking Back While Moving Forward

When Martin Luther posted his quintessential 95 theses on the doors of the Wittenberg church in 1517, he had placed a piece of writing into the public sphere with no idea what would become of it. He knew that everyone in the town would have access his writing but he had no way of seeing the tremendous effect his writing would have. Effectively he was doing something anyone was able to do, yet the response he received was so powerful it entered the world into a new era: the Reformation.

Blogging has in some ways come to resemble what Martin Luther did in 1517. Writers compose messages they think are important and post, hoping at least someone will read them. I have found through my experiences in writing for The Rugby Pitch, however, that blogging can be as soothing for the writer as informational to the reader. Perhaps this is one reason Luther decided to post his theses on the doors of the church that fateful day.

Through writing for the Pitch I have had the opportunity to learn about myself and my own place in rugby, as well as cover the Rugby World Cup, teach the basics of the game, and interact with some local Durham Rugby clubs. I have also had the time and space to think about how rugby can be portrayed via an interface such as a blog. I hope that this site has also functioned as a useful compass, guiding you to many different resources like the World Rugby Shop and USArugby.

There have been difficulties in blogging. First and foremost was the problem of coming up with biweekly updates. When there was no current event to cover and nothing particularly inspiring, it was difficult to write about a topic readers would be interested in. Also, blogs as a medium make it very difficult to search for information about a particular topic, because they are so linear in nature. This also leads into the idea that particular posts become outdated.

Oddly enough, the most annoying aspect of blogging is also its strongest feature. With constant updates readers often feel compelled to return to see what is "new" and "current". I hope you have returned to find fresh information and new insight about rugby.

Also, I have found that blogging has forced me to DO things in the rugby community, whether attending a game, playing in a tournament, or studying up on the rules. In short, blogs work best when the writer actively engages the topic in the form of amateur journalism or through frequent participation in events. Blogging has increased my overall awareness of the game and appreciation for its different aspects because of this participation.

As I conclude this segment of The Rugby Pitch, I realize that this project is not completely finished. There will be more games to cover, people to interview, and topics to write about in the future. For at least a few weeks, this site will remain dormant. Never fear though, because if rugby has taught me anything it is that once a player, always a player. Perhaps I'll see you on The Pitch.