Despite its lack of recognition within the United States, the sport of rugby offers thrilling amounts of strategy, teamwork, and individual strength. Fans worldwide are drawn to the sport because of its fast pace, passionate culture and deep sportsmanship that make every match unforgettable.
According to the World Rugby Organization, there are over 500 million fans globally and nearly 8.4 million registered rugby players. The game may look complex to new viewers, but it is actually quite simple, and it is similar to American football.
The basic rules of rugby are to score points by advancing the ball down the field and into the opponent’s goal area. Players are only allowed to pass the ball backwards or sideways and tackle only the player with the ball below the shoulders. This promotes player safety since they have minimal to no pads at all. Points are scored by carrying the ball across the goal line, or kicking it through the goalposts.
“The best way I’ve ever heard rugby described is that it’s American Football without the helmets and organizational skills,” senior Sean McNamara said. Eastern senior TJ Bodamer shared similar thoughts, “I would relate it to football mostly, but the sport is really unique.” Bodamer said.
Both Bodamer and McNamara recently got into the sport over this past summer. McNamara claims it was due to having a family friend who played in South Africa, and Bodamer claims his interest “really took off when I watched the Six Nations: Full Contact” on Netflix. They both shared that rugby highlights are readily available on Netflix, ESPN+, and YouTube.
McNamara and Bodamer have been very adamant about growing the sport in America, starting on Eastern’s campus. They have both shared their thoughts with students, faculty and teammates, stating that rugby should have more recognition than it does in the US.
“It’s just absolute units being dogs,” Bodamer said. “There’s so much grit and passion in the game. But it’s so much more than that. The culture of rugby is just so amazing. It’s a stark contrast to the NFL and other American leagues. There’s more team pride and authenticity that you can feel and get behind.”
Rugby fans are unmatched. The “ultras” in South Africa and New Zealand are some of the most passionate in the world and have really helped grow the game in their respective countries.
“[Rugby] remains relatively unknown in the US. However, it is growing more and more in America. With the athletic talent we have as a country, we could be dominant on the world scale.” McNamara said.
The US women’s team recently won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, and due to that Major League Rugby (MLR) has received an increase in viewership on ESPN+, according to Forbes.
The Rugby World Cup will also be hosted in America in 2031 and 2033, which will almost certainly boost its viewership and recognition in the states. McNamara encourages non-fans to start watching the sport, as there is “no better time to get into it than now. It would be awesome to be on the ground floor of the next big sport in America.”