FRESH from watching Newent Ladies train earlier in the week, it was time for me to lace up my boots, pull up my socks, grab a rugby ball and crack on with some rugby training myself.
Just two days after standing on the sidelines, I was thrust into action at Dursley Rugby Club with their powerful and confident ladies' squad, who will face the Newent ladies this Sunday in their first competitive match as a team.
While I have watched a lot of rugby, sipping a pint of cider, I have never played before, but I was ready to get stuck in, if a little apprehensive about what was in store.
But the nerves were soon brushed aside. The team were remarkably welcoming and set about telling me exactly what to do.
The training session focused on match-play scenarios including rucking, lineouts and possession.
After a quick warm-up involving running and passing, we began a game of touch rugby, and I soon learned that my instincts, to run after the ball and towards, the try line were wrong.
It took a huge amount of concentration for me to stay in line, drop back and keep depth in passing, while all I wanted to do was run forwards.
Coach Greg Allen, whose playing days were brought to a halt after a neck and shoulder injury, was patient, supportive and got involved in play wherever he could to guide the team.
As we began more drills, specifically targeting match scenarios ahead of Sunday's clash, I realised I was learning a lot about the game, and fast.
I came off the pitch feeling powerful and happy, knowing I had achieved something and done so among like-minded, supportive women, and there isn't an experience more positive than that.
Confidence shines from the women on a rugby pitch. Be it at Dursley or Newent, the women playing are happy, empowered and self-assured.
And when the benefits of rugby are mused over, confidence, teamwork and how social the sport is are always mentioned.
Coach Allen sees first-hand how positive rugby is, particularly for women.
"I really think women should give it more of a go. I've said it to everyone here, they need to be more open to playing, and getting involved with rugby," he said.
"I think it's very good in many ways. The social side is always very much up there and at the top of people's lists, but other than that it's good for fitness, it's good for learning new skills.
"It's not all about bashing into each other and knocking lumps out of each other.
"There's a lot of finesse and skill involved and women can get over the initial thought of, 'I'm going to get hurt'."
For Nicola Davis, who invited me to the training session to showcase the sport she loves, rugby has altered her lifestyle entirely.
She said: "It's given me more confidence to get out and about again and to do a lot more walking or running.
"Before I would never have run anywhere, but now I jog a bit here and there.
"It's an inclusive game that makes you feel good about yourself.
"If you can throw, catch, run a bit and you're brave, you can play rugby."
Captain Cath Tole, who has played rugby before and is one of the more experienced members of the team, simply loves everything about the sport.
"I love that there is a mixture of everything, a bit of fitness, a bit of strength, and the team aspect is really good," he said.
"It improves confidence and overall fitness more than any other sport I've done before.
"It can be played by anyone, any size, any background, and with any level of fitness – there's something within rugby for everyone."