Today’s exciting experience took place in Twickenham, the home of Harlequins Rugby. After many of us experienced some struggle with a train diversion, the whole crew finally arrived outside of Twickenham Stoop Stadium a bit before 11:00, at which point we were promptly taken to some open practice fields nearby. There we met some coaches on the Harlequins staff, who would lead us in a clinic to give us some basic knowledge of both rugby itself and the skills and tactics used in the sport. Due to some rain the previous evening, the grass was fairly wet and gave way to mud very quickly—perfect conditions for rugby. We started off with some simple games that really focused on passing and finding space, but every so often a new rule or two would be added, and before we knew it, we were playing rugby! We were not allowed to tackle, but even so, most people found themselves on the ground at least once. As a result, once we concluded what was a fantastic session of rugby, we were all caked in a layer of mud.

            Afterward, we walked back to the stadium, where we had the pleasure of meeting Mike Brown, a fantastic player for both Harlequins and England’s international team, who is currently nursing a knee injury. He answered any questions we had about his rugby experience and gave us some solid thoughts on his career. Next, we were allowed into the home changing room, which was “fully dressed” meaning all of the players’ uniforms and gear were set up in their locker. It may not have been quite the size and scale of the Arsenal changing room that we saw two weeks ago, but it was certainly a nice space. We then changed out of our muddy clothes (not in the player changing room, unfortunately) and got lunch in the stadium food area, which had a surprisingly large selection of different food stands. Finally, after resting a bit for about an hour, the game ceremonies began—actually, we began the game ceremonies! We had the amazing opportunity to carry the massive team flag out to the center of the pitch as the players came out and fireworks shot off behind us. This game, Harlequins vs. Saracens, was one of the most important of the year as the teams have a historic rivalry; it was truly a fantastic experience to be right at the center of it. We hurried off the pitch and moved to our seats as the game began, and what a game it turned out to be! Harlequins ran away with it, winning 41-14 in an action-packed match. The game capped off an awesome day in Twickenham, where we truly lived out the full rugby experience for a day.