It's not really a job when you get to while away your Sunday playing American Football in the name of journalism. I spent this afternoon as a Reading Renegade, training with the squad at Reading Rugby Club. It's fair to say they are not the best American Football team in the world, Britain, the South or possibly even Reading, but they're a very friendly bunch of people doing something they love, and it was a pleasure to be involved.

Read the full article on my afternoon and the team here.

Things I learnt this afternoon:
- I'm not quite as unfit as I thought I was
- it is possible to drink 5 litres of water and not need the toilet for four hours owing to sheer sweat
- it is a bad idea to spike one's hair up before playing American Football since the helmet destroys it and then the hairspray mixes with the sweat and stings the eyes.

I also learnt that American Football probably isn't for me. It was a lot of fun but the idea of being part of the Defence, spending one's whole career blocking, did not appeal. And frankly I've always been annoyed by the need for a little huddle after every play, which I appreciate is central to the game but even so. I'm sure Americans feel the same way about cricket ("Five days?"). It's just one of those things.