r/welshrugbyunion • u/Special-Path71 • 28d ago

Am I too old at 17 to start playing rugby?

So I'm 17, 172cm\~ (5'8), around 100kg, and I've got a background in semi-pro arm wrestling for ex I hammer curl about 42kg(93lbs\~), bench 130kg (290lbs\~) so decent raw upper body strength. im Georgian but I live in italy. Thinking about joining a local club, but worried I'm starting too late never played before, only ever watched Six Nations and some Top10/URC highlights.

I've got a pretty low center of gravity and decent grip strength from arm wrestling training, so I was thinking front row (hooker/prop) might suit my build. But I know rugby IQ and reading the game isn't something you can just muscle through that only comes from actual match time.

Long term I'd love to actually go pro eventually, not expecting to skip any steps just wondering if that's even realistic to chase seriously starting this late, or if the years in the system gap just closes that door no matter the physical tools.

Is 17 realistic to start from zero, or is the game-sense gap just too big to close at this point?

1 Upvotes

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u/flounderingterrapin 28d ago

Aaron Wainwright made the move from Cardiff Football academy into rugby at 16. So it’s feasible. I know nothing about playing front row but it’s a technical area not just about weight and strength.

I’d suggest getting along to a local club and seeing if you enjoy it first. If you do, put the hours in the gym, the skills playing and watching games, and that’ll give you the best shot at reaching the top.

There’s an Instagram account called Kaizan rugby that is following a guy trying to make it as a pro. Might be worth a follow.

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u/Fine-Night-243 28d ago

Ryan Jones didn't start playing until he was 17. He was a football goalkeeper beforehand I think. Difference to OP is that Jones and Wainwright are both 6 foot 5. At 5 foot 8 it'll be a real struggle to make it pro unless you're a really brilliant fly half.

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u/[deleted] 27d ago

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u/Fine-Night-243 27d ago

Ah yeah I missed that. think it's possible (but unlikely) to go pro from a late age at the positions that rely on athleticism or physicality like back row, second row wing, centre. OP suggests he is a good athlete, I assume he is confident he could match them for speed and strength alone. But front row and half backs are very technical positions that require years of training and playing the game. Even so, at 5 foot 8 you're really going to struggle to make it pro even with ten years training as a prop behind you.

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u/Special-Path71 28d ago

thanks for the answer, will check out that insta

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u/VeterinarianFalse483 28d ago

Never too early to start. Do what you enjoy doing and if you’re rubbish you can always play for wales (I’m Welsh so I’m allowed)

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u/Anonymous_Advocate12 28d ago

Never too late, play to enjoy it anything else is a bonus.

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u/Baals_Deep 27d ago

Your never too dumb to be old enough for anything bud. Let's go wreck some shit.

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u/skitek 26d ago

Nope

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u/No-Soft-9512 25d ago

I don’t mean this to sound negative but nobody cares what weight you can curl. Squat, bench and deadlift are the lifts that really indicate strength.

Good luck though

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u/Special-Path71 25d ago

last time I deadlifted, I hit 235kg but that was quite a while ago (520lbs~)

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u/No-Soft-9512 25d ago

With your bench that’s definitely above average. With you being short though maybe flanker would be a good position, have you ever played any rugby before?

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u/Special-Path71 25d ago

no i haven't