It was several days after Scamp, his father and three of the Ex-Junkyard Dogs had been asked to come down to Amity to tryout for the rugby team, and already everyone had been spending the week training and preparing themselves for the tryouts in two weeks time.

Scamp had introduced his fitness training program to Scratchy, Mooch and Sparky; and along with Tramp, they spent every day of the week running and jogging through Veterans Park, which would also include strength and muscle training in push-ups, sit-ups, leg lifts, squats, star jumps, lunges, and bicep curls. They would also use the fitness playground, called ‘Exersite’; which consisted of pull-up bars, push-up bars, sit-up planks, leg hop planks, step pillars, and stretching planks. Scamp wanted to do all of this in a gymnasium, but he found that the outdoor training is better for the body because the dose of vitamin D from the sun was an essential part of one’s health to be in top shape for intense exercise; and it also provided a scenic and natural atmosphere that would provide some enjoyment while working out. However, Scamp still signed up for the local gymnasium in town with enough money from his generous owners the Brown’s; and vowed to go to the gym at least twice a week and work on his strength training. The Ex-JD’s did likewise.

The Ex-JD’s managed to handle this entire exercise fine because their streetwise experience had trained their bodies to be strong and tough; and they knew that if they weren’t, they could not survive out on the streets. So because they were able to endure the intensity, they had become fitter once again; only fitter than ever before. But even Scamp knew that intense fitness would cause extreme fatigue, so he tried to keep it all in a safe procedure.

One day he and the others were performing a series of sprints up and down beside the river at the Park. They were going in three one minute sets of jogs from one point to the other in 20 metres. They were just down to the last set now, and they were all really getting tired, but Scamp was acting like the coach, pushing them to finish strong.

“Come on, guys! Push it! Push it hard!” Scamp was shouting in encouragement as he went along with them, while also panting hard. “This is… this is the last…minute of the set. We have to finish in style…so go for your life, come on!”

They all heard him, but they were really finding it hard to keep running through the fatigue as they were all panting like mad. It was a really intense exercise; nothing like how they had to perform on the streets; and it was tough to get used to.

Sparky, Scamp and Scratchy were going at a steady pace while Tramp was leading the pack as he was the fastest and most durable; and Mooch was running a little more than 20 metres behind them as he was the largest and slowest out of the five; but he still did not stop at all through the last set.

Scamp then looked at his beeping timer that was laid on the ground and saw that it was counting down to the last seconds of the set: 5…4…3…2…1…BEEP! The beeper went off, and they all stopped running and walked slowly over to a shady tree to rest off the fatigue. Everyone was panting very hard because they had just been through sets on the Exersite equipment before finishing off on jogs and sprints; and it had practically knocked them out.

“Woah, what a workout, ‘kay!?” Mooch spoke up in between pants. “If it is hard enough…training in the army,…then it ain’t that much easier to play this game.”

“Yeah, this game is…even tougher than I thought it would be.” Scratchy added.

“Trust me guys:” Scamp responded. “The fitness hell that these rugby players…put themselves though is just…as intense as playing the game itself. They usually train two to three times a week,…but will also go and do constant strength training in the gym…when they are away from the field. The thing is that…you really need all the muscles that you can...to handle the physicality. It’s not just a contact sport, but some have called it a collision sport as well. Most tackles you make…and wall that you hit will bruise or break your bodies…in some way. But the metres that you run on the field will also tire you out, so the two attributes of strength and cardio fitness are vital for endurance.”

“And it really is more or less like training…in the army.” Tramp added. “The players are like soldiers preparing for battle; and they cannot be physically capable to fight on the battlefields unless they are extremely fit; and that’s how they become the most competitive opponents in the world.”

At this point they were all panting less, so they were able to speak normally without pausing for breath for too long.

“You ain’t wrong there, old friend.” Sparky commented. “After watching a few matches I can see why they have to be really well prepared. I don’t think that it matters what sport you play. On field performances are all dependant on fitness levels.”  

“But I think that it is also about mentality.” Tramp added. “If you have the ability to think about how you are going to handle each and every game as well as handle the physicality, your chances of success as a player become greater; which could then lead to better recognition. It’s all about leading by example. That is common for all rugby coaches.”

“Like how a dog should lead his fellow pack, ‘kay?” Mooch put in. “Especially when it comes to surviving on the streets.”

“That’s a very valid point, Mooch.” Scratchy responded. “All of us have had experience as street dogs; and a few elements of that experience might be just what we need to take on the challenges of the rugby field; such as the little tricks from the stunts that we performed and the heavy duty cardio and strength exercises that kept our bodies street-fit.”

“It will certainly ensure that we are not going to be staring cold when it comes to the tryouts.” Scamp added optimistically.

“Yes, our skills will be put to the test.” Tramp remarked immediately. “And I believe that we will get through if we can keep enduring. The more we work out, the more pain our bodies can further withstand. So just remember to stay strong and don’t give up.”

“You got it, old friend.” Sparky replied, feeling determined and competitive despite his age.

The others nodded in agreement with Tramp’s words.

Scamp, on the other hand, was thinking to himself. It had been two years since he had last seen Buster, but somehow he felt that Buster was still ‘haunting’ in his presence. The tricks that he pulled off to turn Scamp away from his family and get him trapped in the pound caused both rage and anxiety for the schnauzer because it gave him an idea just how evil Buster really was. But the discussion and practicality of rugby made him think differently. I know I should stop thinking about Buster after what he did to me. Scamp thought. But maybe I am getting the wrong impression. Plus this rugby sounds like something up Buster’s alley. If he joined us and played, he might make up a good part of the chemistry. He is probably the most muscular dog I have ever met, so he has certainly got to be one of the fittest. If we ever come into contact with him again, maybe we’ll reason with him and try to set our differences aside. Only time will tell.

Scamp kept these thoughts in his mind as his father spoke up again:

“Alright then, team. That will be all for the day’s training session. Now let’s all go home and get some rest.”

“Sure, but dad…” Scamp started, thinking about the next day; which really had nothing yet planned. “…I think that we should take at least a couple of days off to give our bodies a rest. We don’t want to overdo it and risk injury before the tryouts. That would be a major blow.”

“Right; good point, Whirlwind.” Tramp responded with a look into his son’s eyes, and then turned to the Ex-JD’s. “Yes, the week has been pretty hectic and I am sure you are all feeling a little stiff and sore from the training. So you all go home and take the next two days off; then we’ll get back to the gym next week.”

“Got it, old pal.” Scratchy said.

“Will do, ‘kay?” Mooch added. “We’ll see you in two days’ time.”

“And you all remember to do a bit of study into the game so that you can mentally prepare yourselves for the game.” Sparky said to all of them, who nodded immediately in confirmation and agreement before they broke off into the direction of their owners’ pads.

“See ya! See ya! Keep well! Stay safe!” They said simultaneously as they gained distance apart from each other. Soon they were all back inside and outside their individual homes, ready to rest up for the next two days.

*

Later that night after everyone had finished their evening meals, the whole family had gone into the dining room to read their evening newspapers and watch TV; all but one: Scamp went back to the study to read his brand new book