A Geeks Guide to Sports: Football vs Rugby

So we've gotten a large number* of comments and emails asking why I keep posting so much about Soccer. And why I support Soccer (Association Football) when "American" Football (Armored Hand-egg) is the more manly/tougher sport. To that I say "Are you trolling?" But everyone enjoys different sports, and that's an old argument, but if we really want to get into what sports toughest/manliest I will cast my vote for Rugby.

That's right on the eve of the biggest American Football event of the year (not to mention biggest TV event of the year) I'm going to advertise another sport. Am I trolling now? No, as I said everyone likes different sports. I'm just trying to shine some light on the ones that don't get that much attention in America. It's not hard to find information on Baseball or Football in America, but who else is going to tell you about Champions League and Rugby without really searching out the organizations who arrange these sports?

How the ball is inbounded.

Rugby is a sport that combines the nearly continual motion of soccer and mixes in the full contact of American Football. Oh and the forward pass is not legal, so you must fight for every yard. Also a field goal (called a drop goal in Rugby) must be made while running down the field. There are almost no pads, although you can wear a hat (The guy in the air at the right is wearing one). And the ball is brought back in bounds by a high toss, so your teammates can form a human ladder to get it (picture on the right again).

I won't act like I know everything that's going on in Rugby (you can familiarize yourself with the rules here), but if you want a sport more manly then any other I believe, this is it. I prefer the constant motion of this and Soccer over American Football. (The fans of the gridiron will tell you that the stops allow for greater strategy.)

Here is a clip video of what is called the greatest game of Rugby ever played. It's a poor substitute for an actuall game but this should help you to see how the game is played in motion.

Update: I just found out the 6 Nations Championship started yesterday. And the next game will be played today at 8:30am between Italy and Ireland. There will also be a game between France and Scotland at 11:00am. (Times are in Central time.) So there would be your chance to see live games. Where can you watch these? Probably at a pub. Really, I don't know yet. I'll post a 2nd Update if I find out.

Then there is the scrum, a controlled dog pile of sorts where your team attempts to push the other team back usually done after a penalty rather then accept a drop kick the team can try to use a scrum to push the game down field and in some cases over the goal line.

Example of a scrum.

Although I will admit that Rugby has given us one of the ugliest jerseys ever conceived. Pink leopard print, with flowers, and the team's from Paris? I can't decide if they're trying to break a stereotype or play to one.

Well I hope this has helped you to understand or at least peak your interest in Rugby. But before I go in sports news, here's a video about socialism in the NFL. Why? Because I'm going to piss someone off today, so at least it should be somewhat funny.

Before I go though I'd like to mention that someone should set up an exhibition match where an NFL all-star team plays one of the national champions at Rugby, and then the teams play each other at American Football. If for no other reason then both games would provide plenty of moments of laughter. Well hope this helped, hope you learned something, and might be interested to check out something new. See you soon.

*The number is large but it is imaginary.