My name is Ariel Rathell and I'm from Memphis, Tennessee. I started playing rugby in 2022. I fell in love with the game and the supportive community that came along with it. When the game was first introduced to me I was flooded with many emotions. I knew this was a high contact sport and majority of the players had been playing rugby for years. I was nervous, anxious, and petrified because in my mind there is no way I can play, and think I’m half as good as my teammates. All of the nerves ceased to exist when my teammates flooded me with encouraging words and showing they were willing to help me whenever I needed it. My coach made sure practice was a fun, and friendly space to be in. Practice wasn’t always drills and running. My coach included fun activities to help us get to know each other and the sport. After I got the hang of everything, the support never stopped. During my first ever game, I learned the importance of self-control. Rugby is a high level of contact sport that I wasn’t fully prepared for. During the game, I got tackled by a player much bigger than me and I didn't have the ball. Frustrated at this outcome, I started to stomp and kick my legs across the field. I heard one of my coaches laughing at me. One of my opponents pulled to the side to inform me I have to learn to control my emotions because what I did could lead to me sitting out. Things like that happen all the time in rugby. After receiving advice from my opponent before my own teammates, I knew rugby culture was unique. Stepping back on the field, I was ready to go harder with a changed attitude. After that game we lined up to shake each other's hands as you would traditionally in any other sport. The only difference between rugby and other sports is that rugby players came together with their opposing team, putting all differences aside to better one another. When I played basketball after losing or winning a game, we loaded the buses and went about our day. There wasn’t any association with your opponent. Leaving the losing team angry, causing fights at the end of the game. I enjoy playing rugby because the coaches made sure we all came together in a circle to do lows and highs. You could pick one person from your team and another person from the opposing team to give them a high and a low. Doing this after every game created a safe environment, loving community, and most importantly a sisterhood. Rugby is the first sport I participated in that ensured the players come together as a family no matter what side we are on.

Hey, my name is Ariel Rathell and I'm 17 years old turning 18 on July 13th. I'm the first girl in my family of four. It has always been my two older brothers, my younger little sister and my younger brother. We were all raised by my mother with our father in and out of our lives. Even though I felt like I needed a father growing up my feelings had certainly changed. I feel comfortable about the young woman I had become and that I'm still growing into. I enjoy working out, writing poems, spending time with family, and being under the sun. I'm a very athlete, I played basketball, ran track , and now I play rugby. Out of all the sports, I played Rugby took a different hold on me. Rugby didn't only give me hope for my future but also grow me as a person. I didn't always plan on going to college but now I plan on playing college rugby. I started playing rugby during the 15th season of my junior year in high school. During my first ever game, I learned the importance of self-control. Rugby is a high-level contact sport that I wasn’t fully prepared for. During the game, I got tackled by a player much bigger than me and I didn't have the ball. Frustrated at this outcome, I started to stomp and kick my legs across the field. I heard one of my coaches laughing at me, while my other coach intervened. My coach had to pull me aside to inform me that I have to learn to control my emotions because what I did could lead to me sitting out. When I got back on the field I was ready to go harder with a changed attitude. I took what I learned on the field that day and use it in my everyday life. I often didn't deal with my problems in the best way, and because of that, I got into more trouble due to my response than I did. Anytime I feel as if I'm acting out of character or being led by my emotions, I think back to that day. Which open up opportunities for me and allowed growth in life as a young woman. Shortly after the season was over Memphis Inner City Rugby offered me a coaching position, to coach middle schoolers. My growth as a player now allows me to mentor youth in the same way I was. Giving them a better way to deal with their anger instead of pushing it down like I once did. I hope to instill in them the same self-control my coaches taught me. I learned to have self-control and the importance of it.