There
were
so
many
other
activities
I
could
have
engaged
in
on
a
Wednesday
evening
—
preparing
to
watch
“Lost,”
vacuuming,
clear
coating
my
nails
or
just
laying
around
being
fabulous.
Instead,
I
was
on
my
way
to
a
place
where
out-of-shape
gay
boys
go
to
die:
Atlanta
Bucks
Rugby
practice.
Players
and
potential
team
members
bring
proof
of
insurance
and
a
waiver
of
liability,
essentially
handing
the
team
permission
to
injure
them.
I
like
my
legs,
damn
it,
and
they
are
not
to
be
used
for
sport.
My
papers
went
to
Bullett
Manale,
an
aptly
named
player
who’s
known
for
his
strong
kicks.
Born
with
a
competitive
spirit
and
always
involved
in
various
sports,
he
now
admits
rugby
is
his
favorite,
even
with
the
constant
injuries
and
grueling
practices
immediately
following
difficult
weekend
competitions.
“Rugby
is
a
series
of
continuous
plays
for
80
minutes,”
Manale
says.
“Unless
you’re
out
on
the
field
for
80
minutes,
I’m
not
sure
you
understand
how
long
that
is.”
But
it’s
clear
how
long
it
is:
too
long.
 |
Atlanta
Bucks
Coach
Nancy
Tomelleo
played
rugby
in
college
and
in
Atlanta
before
joining
the
Bucks.
(Photo
by
Sher
Pruitt)
|
A
woman
with
a
whistle
and
clipboard
emerged
from
the
crowd
of
guys:
Coach
Nancy
Tomelleo’s
tiny
frame
was
a
surprise,
since
I
expected
some
fierce
butch
lesbian
with
arms
and
legs
comparable
to
those
of
her
readied
players.
“Thanks
for
coming
out,”
she
says.
“You
look
like
a
back.”
A
back?
Is
that
a
position?
I’m
not
usually
in
the
back
of
anything.
Should
I
have
been
offended?
She
may
have
been
the
smallest
person
on
the
field,
but
the
Bucks
respect
Tamelleo.
Her
playing
experience,
first
in
college,
then
with
the
Bucks’
sister
team,
the
Harlequins,
trumps
that
of
nearly
every
player
on
the
pitch
(that’s
rugby
for
playing
field).
“I
never
considered
getting
back
into
rugby,
but
this
group
of
guys
…
I’ve
never
met
anyone
like
this,”
she
says.
“They
were
so
determined
to
learn
the
game
and
so
dedicated
that
I
just
couldn’t
say
no
to
helping
them.
“Rugby
is
one
of
those
games,”
Tamelleo
adds.
“It’s
cult-like.
It’s
always
in
your
blood.”
Chad
Pifer,
president
of
the
Bucks,
which
is
also
a
non-profit
group
that
raises
funds
for
groups
like
AID
Atlanta,
says
that
before
Tamelleo
joined
the
Bucks,
the
team
was
in
rough
shape.
“Nancy,
I
would
say,
is
the
tipping
point
that
turned
the
team
around,”
Pifer
says.
There
was
barely
time
to
col-lect
my
thoughts
before
the
whistle
blew
and
everyone
lined
up
for
a
couple
of
laps
of
long-strides
across
the
short
side
of
the
field.
It
took
less
than
five
minutes,
and
I
was
ready
to
hit
the
ground.
I
didn’t
know
whether
to
pass
out
or
throw
up.
“You
can’t
be
intimidated,”
says
Jody
Weaver,
a
financial
controller
by
day
and
rugby
animal
by
night.
“It’s
very
grueling
playing
40
minutes
without
stopping.
You
have
to
be
tough.”
An
admitted
Advil
junkie,
Weaver
says
new
players
can’t
be
afraid
to
be
roughed
up.
“When
you’re
in
the
rugby
zone,
whether
that
be
a
practice
or
a
game,
you’re
going
to
do
whatever
you
can,”
he
says.
“We’re
known
to
play
with
injuries:
broken
thumbs
or
sprained
ankles.
You
get
out
there
and
play
anyway
because
you
want
to.”
After
regaining
my
composure,
I
went
into
throwing
techniques
with
a
group
of
other
“backs,”
the
smaller,
quicker
players
who
are
responsible
for
running
the
ball.
 |
Southern
Voice
Reporter
Bo
Shell
learns
a
passing
technique
during
an
Atlanta
Bucks
practice.
|
Considering
my
long-time
aversion
to
football-shaped
objects
and
sports
in
general,
I
did
pretty
well.
But
I
was
beginning
to
drag
when
we
started
a
second
running
exercise,
back
and
fourth
over
about
10
yards,
sprinting
and
setting
down
the
ball,
volleying
it
on
fingertips,
then
throwing
and
catching
it.
To
kick
the
ball,
players
first
set
it
on
the
ground
on
its
end,
then
kick
it
before
it
falls.
Not
an
easy
task.
The
result
was
supposed
to
be
a
low-lying
roll
effect,
but
at
best
my
right
foot
launched
it
too
high,
and
at
worst
my
left
foot
missed
it
completely.
Most
gay
men
would
rather
run
marathons
in
heels.
Thank
goodness
for
water
breaks.
Some
may
be
surprised
to
...
