Our exchange student Rodrigo has been chomping at the bit to play rugby again. He went to a couple of practices with my Metropolis club back in the fall. I think he would prefer to play with Metropolis this spring, but for several reasons, I think he would be better to play with kids in his age group-even if he has been playing the sport for 10 years. I have no doubts that he could hold his own as a scrum half or fly half on the B-squad for Metropolis, but the social aspect-after the games- would be awkward, I think, for a 17 year old. I know when my son Ian was with Metropolis, it was tough for him to feel integrated with the team on social occasions-and he was 19 last year when he and I played together during the spring season.

So, Rodrigo will find himself a Plymouth Panther this spring.
http://www.ballcharts.com/PlymouthPanthers

It’s a unique opportunity for him. He still gets a chance to play, but as I joked with him  the other day, he can almost be a player-coach while he is out there on the pitch. As I am writing this, he should be finishing up with practice.

On a semi-related note, and keeping with the “Panther Theme”, I thought that as it is “Black History Month” here in the USA,I would add a link on the Black Panther Party. People my age group and older will know who they were, but for those of you under the age of 45, here is today’s Black History Link on the Black Panther Party:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huey_P._Newton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_Party