Rugby...We're impressed!

[MikeP]

I had never seen a rugby match - just knew of the sport and knew a couple of guys at work years ago who played it. They always showed up at work with bruises, black eyes, casts on their arms/legs, etc. But I never went to a match.

Yesterday my wife and I watched a rugby match on TV and both of us are now wondering why we ever watched American football or why anybody plays/watches soccer. I have never cared for soccer though I realize that in general the world disagrees with me. American football has it's moments but we were both amazed at how slow it is in comparison to rugby. Rugby is essentially non-stop and it's played by the same guys for the entire match. There's no offense/defense/special teams stuff like US football- just the same 15 guys on each team playing for 80 minutes with no "breaks" between every play that make a 60 minute football game take 3-4 hours.

We may become regular rugby watchers! Heck, might even try watching cricket!

I apologize that this post does not contain any political statements or suggestions on how to fix US/the world's ills.

 

[Canuck Dennis]

Mike, you have to be careful here, look at the Countries who play Rugby, look at their economic status in comparison to the US...am just setting you up so that when the onslaught comes from the US fans you will be prepared.

Me, I am a soccer fan, the sweet science of ball movement ...lol....

Whatever your sport...support and enjoy !!!!!!

 

[Walter P]

Mike,

Really, what were you thinking.........NO political, religious, ethnic message? What the hell man..

Walt

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

Heck, even Jacksonville has a pro rugby team....... it IS a free for all game

 

[UNIQUE_NAME]

we were in england this past summer with my sons soccer team and we got to see a couple
of rugby matches on tv. the kids loved it, they couldnt believe the hits. i was thinking of the movie "rollerball".
cricket, by comparison, is liking watching paint dry.

 

[Ross Macdonald]

Rugby takes way more conditioning than American football or as the Aussies and New Zealanders call it..."Gridiron". Back in the day I played 4 years of football in college and then played for a Southern California Rugby club team for 9 years. Had the opportunity to tour with a US touring team in Australia and New Zealand for a series of 9 matches. The highlight of our tour was to see an international test match between the All Blacks and the Wallabies (Aussie national side...they don't call them teams.). As of right now the All Blacks just won the world cup. Great game, but many lingering injuries into my old age...Ross

 

[Avenger]

Rugby is for people who can't afford padding. Just like soccer is for people who can't afford an ice rink.

 

[Jasper]

Rugby is, as we say:
The Game Played in Heaven!!!

It is a tough game though. Many injuries. My elder son (18 y.o) will be in Florida for 3 months holiday and coaching a few young teams and playing in some for the "older" guys. Our first Christmas without him so his mom ain't too happy.
I won't say that rugby is tougher than your NFL. From what little I have seen of the US game, it is not for the faint hearted!

Cheers,
G

 

[JLR]

Mike - I played rugby in college --over 35 years ago. I enjoyed every minute of it. The best part was sharing a keg with the other squad after the match. I was quite lucky sustaining only a concussion, ruptured ear drum, torn meniscus and a few broken ribs in the two years I played. However, the wear and tear down the road is starting to show.

 

[MikeP]

We're not big "ball" sports-watchers in general anymore. We used to follow some baseball and FB teams closely but now we maybe watch 2 or three complete baseball games a year - they are always WS games and even then only if there is a team(s) that we have some leftover fondness for. The only complete FB game we watch is the SB - we usually watch that "just because" and decide who to root for as the game proceeds. We don't watch soccer or basketball at all. But we now find ourselves trying to find rugby matches on tv!

Actually, what got us interested in the sport was watching the movie "Invictus."

 

[jim rosenthal]

Old bumper sticker: "It takes leather balls to play rugby" And how. The game, is named, I think, for one of the British "public" schools which are in fact private schools....

 

[Seabrooke]

American football has it's moments but we were both amazed at how slow it is in comparison to rugby. Rugby is essentially non-stop and it's played by the same guys for the entire match.

Rugby is a great game (both variations, Rugby League and Rugby Union) but if you think it's a fast game take a look at Australian Rules Football. It makes rugby look very slow. Aussie Rules spectators can't get over the stop start nature of Rugby.

Both great games but the fast pace and athleticism of Australian football is tough to match and the kicking skills, accuracy and distance are a sight to behold.

A number of retired Aussie Rules players have taken up careers in American football as kickers.