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Rugby Discussion

NomadDawg

Realized I was blowing up the Zach Evans chat and disappointing those still holding out hope. Curious how many in DN played, currently play, or enjoy watching rugby and what tournaments they've gone to in the past as fans/players. There is a giant facebook group blowing up right now called "Quarantined Chuggers for Qualfied Ruggers" that was entertaining, but a lot of volume. Good idea to kill the quarantine blues though.

@Casanova_Flatulence @bmauldin

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NomadDawg

Kicking off, as a player, I always enjoyed the Pitch a Tent 7s up in Chattanooga and the Savannah St Patty's Tournament. Want to make it to Maggotfest at some point and get up to that Alaskan field just for the scenery. Overseas, Manila 10s was a great one for partying. Cambodia 10s was fun, but not quite on the same level.

As a fan, the Dubai leg of the 7s series was a blast, but I definitely want to make it to the HK 7s at some point. Mentioned elsewhere, but Wales for a 6 Nations game is a bucket list experience. Need to get to South Africa for a game as well. During the 2019 RWC, I noticed a game up in the mountains that had spectacular scenery (Kamaishi, I think), and now want to pick out a game in France for the 2023 RWC purely for the in game view (in addition to games worth attending for the onfield play).

Casanova_Flatulence

The group of guys I go to 6 Nations and World Cup events to are contemplating our 2021 trip. Some have suggested going to see The Lions in South Africa. Hong Kong for the 7's Championship is suppose to be amazing too. I'm kind of pulling for a Heineken Cup match in France.

Three years ago I went to see France vs England in Paris. That was unreal. Hearing the French National Anthem live in Paris was something I'll never forget... made an even bigger impression than the Welsh Anthem in Cardiff and that's saying something.

mantis_toboggan69

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/425143#Comment_425143

I highly recommend the Hong Kong 7s. Great time.

Odin

I took a semester abroad back in the late 80's. Australian Football seems to punk rugby IMO. Not saying your game isn't great, but saying...............DV's expected.

Odin

Why isn't the USA better at Rugby with all the athlete's available? Just like USA Men's soccer?

Kasey

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/425289#Comment_425289

there'$ $o many rea$on$ I could li$t I $uppo$e

Odin

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/425291#Comment_425291

Me too. It does seem like USA should be great at both though.

how2fish

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/425289#Comment_425289

Hmmmmm seen any little league or even high school rugby team's around?

jc30116

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/425289#Comment_425289

I ask the same thing about cricket with all the great baseball players we have here. Aussie rules is a up there with rugby but it is easier to understand. Caught a lot when I was in Australia of both.

southafricandawg

I was born and raised in South Africa, we invest a lot into rugby and cricket (hence why we are good) but if everything was equal USA would put together a team that could destroy any competitors. Just follow the money. A lot more money in the

NBA

NCAA

NFL

NHL

DogsNotDawgs

I saw high school rugby in Sacramento in the mid-1980s

MrTy

Glad you started this. Interrupting the Zach Evans thread with rugby would just not do.

NomadDawg

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/425289#Comment_425289

Money and competition.

As others mentioned, money isn't there yet, in fact the organization to generate money isn't even there as USA Rugby is now declaring bankruptcy (there are a lot of issues they need to work out internally). There are a lot of reasons people use for this (game doesn't have built-in breaks to generate ad revenue, rules are confusing and stations won't carry even top games, etc) but I won't dive into money issues now.

Competition isn't there because rugby isn't an ingrained American sport. People typically pick it up late in high school or college, often as a secondary sport to others they've played in the past. Huge generalization, but the best rugby players historically are ones that didn't continue on with their first sport for a variety of reasons. Overseas, people eat, breath, sleep rugby. Whereas we may play and tune in to two or three other sports, overseas players/fans had played since they could hold a ball and were watching every game on tv. US rugby knowledge just isn't on the same level to begin with because interest isn't there. Add to the fact that every good national team has a great club system whereas the US is fighting to maintain one. Professional Rugby Organization (PRO) lasted only a season and Major League Rugby (MLR) just lost one of its better clubs. Imagine a talent pool of players that had only every played the Samfords of the CFB world trying to take on UGA or Alabama once a year, that's USA rugby, essentially.

NomadDawg

Quick follow up on the club issue, the US also has problems getting outside talent to come compete. Players can generally compete for a spot on a national team after 3 years of residency, time which they typically spend with a country's club teams. You'll notice a lot of islanders playing for New Zealand and Japan, and a lot of New Zealanders playing for France. It's tougher to recruit a player with international hopes to come to the US and play on their own dime (mostly) for three years. Countries with good club systems help foster competition for those few spots.

AnotherDawg

I'm not sure what to make of this thread, but I will say that a few of my friends played club rugby when we were at Georgia, and they absolutely loved it. I played IM football, basketball, and softball, but if I had it to do over I think I would have joined those guys. At the time I just didn't know anything about it.

On a related note, I really liked Clint Eastwood's rugby film "Invictus." That's another one that should have gotten a mention in the Best Films of the Past 20 Years thread.