Looking Back While Moving Forward

When Martin Luther posted his quintessential 95 theses on the doors of the Wittenberg church in 1517, he had placed a piece of writing into the public sphere with no idea what would become of it. He knew that everyone in the town would have access his writing but he had no way of seeing the tremendous effect his writing would have. Effectively he was doing something anyone was able to do, yet the response he received was so powerful it entered the world into a new era: the Reformation.

Blogging has in some ways come to resemble what Martin Luther did in 1517. Writers compose messages they think are important and post, hoping at least someone will read them. I have found through my experiences in writing for The Rugby Pitch, however, that blogging can be as soothing for the writer as informational to the reader. Perhaps this is one reason Luther decided to post his theses on the doors of the church that fateful day.

Through writing for the Pitch I have had the opportunity to learn about myself and my own place in rugby, as well as cover the Rugby World Cup, teach the basics of the game, and interact with some local Durham Rugby clubs. I have also had the time and space to think about how rugby can be portrayed via an interface such as a blog. I hope that this site has also functioned as a useful compass, guiding you to many different resources like the World Rugby Shop and USArugby.

There have been difficulties in blogging. First and foremost was the problem of coming up with biweekly updates. When there was no current event to cover and nothing particularly inspiring, it was difficult to write about a topic readers would be interested in. Also, blogs as a medium make it very difficult to search for information about a particular topic, because they are so linear in nature. This also leads into the idea that particular posts become outdated.

Oddly enough, the most annoying aspect of blogging is also its strongest feature. With constant updates readers often feel compelled to return to see what is "new" and "current". I hope you have returned to find fresh information and new insight about rugby.

Also, I have found that blogging has forced me to DO things in the rugby community, whether attending a game, playing in a tournament, or studying up on the rules. In short, blogs work best when the writer actively engages the topic in the form of amateur journalism or through frequent participation in events. Blogging has increased my overall awareness of the game and appreciation for its different aspects because of this participation.

As I conclude this segment of The Rugby Pitch, I realize that this project is not completely finished. There will be more games to cover, people to interview, and topics to write about in the future. For at least a few weeks, this site will remain dormant. Never fear though, because if rugby has taught me anything it is that once a player, always a player. Perhaps I'll see you on The Pitch.

Rugby Workouts

A substantial part of rugby is fitness. With new substitution laws, players must be able to play a full 80 minute game with only a 10 minute half-time. While this takes what many players refer to as "heart" or "passion", it also takes a little bit of plain fitness. Dedication is paramount to the rugby ethos. As AlexBlum commented aptly on one of my posts, "Rugby is a game where strength of body, mind and team shows you the way to victory." In training for rugby over the years I have developed a few very effective work-outs which I will now share with you. The rugby section of athletes.com also has some good workouts.

Rowing: Row in the gym as a prelude to lifting weights. This is a good full-body exercise that warms muscles for more strenuous exercises and also gives a brief cardiovascular workout. Try to do at least 625 meters every 2 minutes and 30 seconds and increase this until you get to 2500 meters in under 10:00min. Don't try to do too much more because this is only a warm up.

Weight Lifting: Typically, try to do 3 sets of 10-15 repetitions.
-Bench press
-Shoulder press
-Triceps lift
-Biceps curl
-Seated leg-extensions
-Prone leg extensions
-Sit-ups. Lots and lots of sit-ups.

Running: Run during off-days. I typically start out at about 2 miles every day I'm not lifting weights or playing rugby, and eventually work up to around 5 miles.

Playing: Whenever you can, play rugby, because it combines the different muscular and cardiovascular aspects of the training.

Feel free to modify this workout schedule to fit your needs, but whatever you do, remain consistent. Good rugby can only come through good fitness. A balanced diet, lots of water, and possibly some multivitamins or whey protein are also good for training. If you train well it will make all the difference come game-time, and allow you to have more fun at things like the after-parties...

What Does Rugby Mean to You?

Throughout the past few weeks I have spent some time talking with teammates and friends about the aspects of rugby they most enjoy. I asked a few people to write these reasons down and send them to me to be included in this blog. I present one such excerpt to you now:

"Even though rugby bears only marginal similarities to American football, it was my passion for football that got me initially interested in rugby. Ever since the end of high school football, I was looking for a sport with the similar physicality and rugged intensity that football brings out in athletes. I was able to find those elements in rugby, but I also found a very unique sport that
was interesting in its own right. The distinctive combination of endurance, strength, speed and intelligence required to excel at rugby was intriguing and I was quickly hooked. I enjoyed being committed to an athletic endeavor with a group of outstanding athletes that previously only IM sports had closely approximated in college. Off of the pitch, I also enjoyed learning about the
rich history and lore of the sport. There was much to learn and luckily, my growing interest in rugby coincided with the 2007 Rugby World Cup so I was quickly able to observe some world class rugby. Hence with only one short semester of rugby under my belt, I’m very excited that I still have a lot more rugby to look forward to in the coming semesters."
-Adam Nelson

TIPS! Offense and Defense

I was thinking about writing a detailed play-by-play description of how you should play offense and defense, but then I thought better of it. As you play rugby, you learn rugby. played rugby for about two years before I really knew what was "going on"! So instead I think I'll just give you some tips that I learned from some of the best rugby players I've ever met.

For offense, some important things to note are to always run straight, run into tackles hard, and to hang onto the ball.

Always run straight. If you run sideways you carry with you the risk of not giving your teammates outside of you enough room. For instance if you run all the way to the right sideline you will effectively negate the presence of your teammates on your right. This does not utilize your whole team, and as rugby can only be won with an entire team in unison, you will disadvantage your side.

You should do your best to run into tackles as hard as you can. A coach once told me that if I took a hop step and then put all my weight into the tackler, unless they were very good tacklers they would be knocked down. This works most of the time.

"You're dropping the ball with your (insert noun here)". This phrase really does have a valuable meaning in rugby. As a national coach once instructed my team before our championship match, "the ball is gold" (meant to be spoken in a guttural Scottish accent). The worst thing you can do on offense is to drop the ball because this mocks the performance of every other player on your teams that got you the ball.

On defense, a few techniques I have been taught and employed have never let me down, including field position in defense and tackling.

In defense, stand a meter outside the player you are guarding. Also, let them know you are there by yelling and pointing. No foul language, but feel free to get into their psyche. Pointing at a player and yelling, "This is my man!" or "I've got him" really gets players scared of you, which is good when that person is twice your size.

In a tackle the two most important things to do are to hang on and get low. This will give you a significantly lower center of gravity and the ability to tackle effectively. In addition, hanging on ensures the other player isn't going anywhere.

Also, playing as a team is paramount in rugby. In a very good team all players will get an equal share of the ball because only then can the team win. It is very difficult for one player to score all the points in a game. Most of the time the fastest runner sets a play up, but does not complete it
because they must pass the ball away to score.

Lastly, remember, rugby is a thinking game. As I discussed in the past, it is sometimes even in a teams' advantage to give penalties. But once again, the only way you will know how to think about rugby is to experience it through watching and playing.

Historiy and Rugby

Like every great sport, Rugby Union brings with it its own history, legends, and heroes. One such legend relates to the sports very founding in 1823.

William Webb Ellis, a school boy (predictably) attending Rugby School, is first accredited to playing rugby while at recess. As so many historical sites proclaim, a witness states that the young Ellis “took the ball in his arms and ran with it”, separating “Rugby” from sports like soccer, that mainly utilize feet. The International Rugby Board (IRB) now recognizes the World Cup champions with the William Webb Ellis Trophy.

From there, rugby was quickly adopted by many different schools as well as groups of men looking to form clubs. National teams began to play against each other in the 1860’s, developing now well-known rivalries, such as those between England and France and Australia and New Zealand.

For someone just entering the sport, it may seem as if rugby lacks the conventional histories and rivalries of a traditionally American sport such as baseball or basketball. In reality, however, these currents reside just beneath the surface of American rugby. Americans in particular should be both proud of their rugby heritage.

Did you know that the USA won the Rugby Union event at the Olympics in both 1920 and 1924?

This fact in particular should spark your interest in the history of rugby. When the Olympics later ceased to recognize the sport as “Olympic” (a point of frequent controversy), American teams ceased their development of the sport. Now though, with renewed interest in the game, many Americans have the opportunity to engage in this legacy and bring American rugby back to par with the rest of the world.

Once again, my post ends with some suggestions: I encourage you all to read the more detailed versions of rugby history at the MSN Encarta site or at RugbyFootballHistory.com. Become familiar with rugby’s great players, games, and events. And of course, go make some history of your own.

Note: Most references for this post were taken from the aforementioned web-sites, as well as usarugby.org.

Penalties and More Referee Praise

The penalty in rugby, like the basketball free-throw or soccer's free-kick, is a momentous occurrence that can often change the outcome of the game. Particularly in the higher-levels of play, a penalty can give the opposing team the advantage they need to score an easy try or kick a drop goal. While yellow or red cards are infrequent in most leagues, penalties are quite common and thus should be studied. Players should be able to recognize how they can give penalties, what to do when they are given penalties, and furthermore in what few cases they should give penalties.

A penalty is given whenever a referee sees a player intentionally doing something illegal. A team may be penalized for fighting, unsafe tackling, trying to handle the ball while on the ground, trying to affect game-play while being offsides, or anything else that is a departure from the rules of the game. The idea that the infringement should be intentional is important because referees have the ability to waive penalties that are unintentional. As long as players attempt to play fairly and by the rules, they should not give up many penalties.

The team awarded the penalty may do one of several things. They may either set up a scrum on the spot in which they have possession, kick the ball out and take possession wherever it goes out, tap the ball with their feet and run the ball, or attempt to kick a field goal. In the higher leagues such as college and beyond, a penalty within 40 meters of the try-line is almost a guaranteed penalty-goal. Therefore it is especially important for players to not "give-up" penalties in their own halves.

There is a case when giving a penalty is advised. After a penalty the defending team must retreat 10 meters from where the penalty was given. If after a penalty a player on the attacking side taps the ball and attempts the rush at the opposing team before they have retreated the full 10 meters it is better for the defenders to tackle that player. When they tackle him, the referee will simply call another penalty, giving the defenders more time to retreat. This is advised because the alternative is giving up a try.

One important thing to remember is that a referee may advise players when they are about to or are in the act of breaking the rules. The referees are able to give players as many "chances" to break the rules as they want to based on player level and past experience. In this way the referee is generally seen by the players as a mentor figure, attempting to mediate good play rather than a punitive figure. In some ways, the referee is as much a player as the teams. This distinction in rugby, of which I have written before, is one of the definitive factors separating rugby from other sports.

Rugby on the Radio

Recently I've been listening to Rugby Podcasts, which I have found to be both informative and provocative. To be quite honest until recently I had no idea that rugby podcasts even existed, but the internet has been proven to provide yet another valuable resource for those that search for it, and for free! Two of the most useful podcasts I found were Total Rugby and The Rugby Hour.

Total Rugby combines many aspects of rugby much in the same way as this site attempts to. The production is very well made and incorporates a variety current events and aspects of play with smooth sound effects and clear announcing. Listeners will never be bored as the typically 25 minute show quickly moves from one topic to the next, with brief musical interludes in-between. Content is useful for the beginner and most avid fan alike. In one show, the styles of play exhibited in the World Cup are discussed by various coaches, a subject a beginner could easily understand. The episode also delves into the recent statistics of national teams and several leagues. A quality that causes Total Rugby to rise a notch above its peers, however, is that it discusses how the ethics of rugby are translated into the real world. In another episode the brotherhood developed between the different racial groups on the South African team during their World Cup campaign is highlighted in light of it having considerable effects on the unity of the entire nation.

The Rugby Hour is an American production based out of Fairfax, Virginia. While the show is somewhat amateur in its production, the fact that it is American is important, especially for the purposes of this site. For Americans interested in rugby development, the site goes into detail explaining the places where rugby is increasing in popularity and where it could be improved. Some problems are present that listeners should be aware of. First, while there are no commercials during the show, the show does not start until around 3 minutes 40 seconds into the podcast. Don't turn the sound up too loud because there are several times when the microphone is spoken into from a very close distance, causing a spike in volume. Lastly, the show is 1 hour in length and has a surprising amount of time when nothing important is being said, so listeners may feel the need to skip ahead at times. These problems, though, speak more to the lack of a large listening audience than to the inherent ability of the producers, and with much confidence I believe that as demand grows for these types of shows quality will drastically improve. It is inspirational to see an independent American production succeed.

Whether you are in the mood for American or World Rugby news and information, both of these podcasts are invaluable resources.

Durham Rugby

This past weekend I had the privilege of being invited to watch a friendly rugby scrimmage between Durham's Eno River Rage and the Raleigh Kodiaks. The teams engaged in several sevens matches throughout the chilly afternoon, stopping for water and brief socialization in-between games. One rather jovial man enjoyed more than a few beers at every half-time, engaging in what he called the "true rugby spirit". Since both teams were ending their regular game schedules this weekend there was a sense accomplishment among the players, many of whom had just completed their first season. But the most amazing thing I witnessed during the games was the amount of friendship I saw developing among the players.

One of the teams, apparently, was short a few players, so after the first game a mass substitution occurred. This lead to the formation of the "Enodiaks", a sort of hybrid between the two clubs.

Even arriving at the pitch gave amazing insight into the ethos of rugby. The days events were held at the Raleigh Vipers Club, which consists of a house and two full-size pitches --by far the most well-funded team in the area. While the Vipers were not present during the games their open lending of their fields to other teams was yet another example of the generosity and friendship felt between those that play the game.

Immediately following the games both teams took off to what players know as "the third half", a party with free food, drink, and entertainment.

It was great to see the camaraderie, generosity, and community between the teams both during the games and at the after-party. And while rivalries do exist amongst the area's teams, the blind passion devoted to "crushing" others exhibited in similar type sports was refreshingly absent.

Other Rugby Cups

In the wake of the enthralling and exhilarating World Cup, you may feel slightly depressed, bored, and downright sore (that is, if you played in it). The apathy that follows a momentous event, whether in sporting or in another arena often leaves people depressed, looking for something else to which they may dedicate their time. For instance, the new release of the Backstreet Boys album "Unbreakable" has left me with many of these feelings.

But on to more relevant things.

While the World Cup may be over, there are still many tournaments to look forward to in the coming months. Indeed, things can only get better for rugby, a sport that now garners over 3 billion viewers. So here are a few of the largest tournaments and their breakdowns for you and other your friends.

The Tri-Nations Tournament is a competitive series of games including Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The games are held every summer, and have been since around 1996. Recently, countries like Fiji, Tonga, and Argentina have been trying to join the fray. The cup is exciting and traditionally New Zealand has taken home the title.

The Six-Nations is another very aggressive rugby tournament, with teams coming from England, France, Ireland, Wales, Italy, and Scotland. The tournament is held every spring so as not to conflict with the Tri-Nations. The tournament was previously called the Five Nations, until Italy joined in 2000, which begs the question as to why the governing rugby bodies keep titling their tournaments after such transient numbers.

Look for more tournaments on Wikipedia's list.

If you're really itching to see some rugby, don't lose hope! There are plenty of places you can find rugby on television. In fact, for many of these games you can watch online. If you go to my Rugby World Cup post and follow the instructions you may watch these games over the web for free. But don't forget, rugby is always much better live. Go to my post on Rugby in Durham, North Carolina, or check out USA Rugby. The world awaits.

Local Rugby Clubs - Durham

The city of Durham, North Carolina, sports several rugby clubs for men and women of all age and ability. Most of the teams are very friendly to newcomers and are happy for new recruits. Several teams have also had success on the regional and national levels. This past summer, for instance, the Raleigh Vipers won the Division II National Rugby Championship and the North Carolina Kodiaks placed second in a large tournament based in Atlanta. Brief Descriptions of the teams are below:

The Research Triangle's premier rugby club is the Raleigh Vipers-- a club for the more competitive or seasoned rugby player. The club has men's, women's, and youth clubs and is currently working on raising funds to build a clubhouse.

The Duke Undergraduate team is for Duke Undergraduate players. The team has consistently made it into the regional championships for the last three years. Although the team is not large in terms of size, the tenacity of this club proves that heart and brains are just as important as physicality in rugby.

The Duke Graduate team is mainly for (you guessed it) Duke Graduate students in all areas, ranging from Medical to Business School students. The team recently traveled to France, where it competed in an international rugby tournament with French local teams.

Durham's official club team is called the Eno River Rage. Anyone from around Durham is encouraged to play. In the summers this team sees an influx of Duke players, as the university teams temporarily shut down.

The North Carolina Kodiaks are a more laid-back, all inclusive team, competing in tournaments with many different types of clubs. Players beginning their rugby experience will find the team to be very good way to learn the game.

To play for a side you can go to their respective web-site and look for practice schedules. It's very easy and probably quite inexpensive to join. The University of North Carolina and North Carolina State also have their own teams you may join, although UNC's rugby team is on a temporary suspension following a scandal involving hazing.

International Rugby

In speaking with several rugby players and people associated with the game, I have found that nearly everyone involved with rugby has a few of their favorite "rugby moments", whether a great tackle witnessed in a game, a particular story about a rugby social, or a great tournament they were involved in. These stories often surface during bragging contests, when a simple tackle becomes a "massive hit" and beating two players for a breakaway turns into "beating the whole team". I once had a coach who would always, always, speak of one impossible conversion he scored 30 meters away from the try-line at an steep angle to tie the game (on a side note, I was there, and while the kick was impressive, our team ended up losing the game because of a series of tackles he later missed). Rugby's ability to create meaningful memories is a powerful force in the gravity the sport generates.

One of my most-prized rugby memories is of traveling to Taiwan in late 2006 to compete in the Under 19 (U19) Asian Championships. I have had the privilage of spending several years in the Philippines, learning the game of rugby from some outstanding coaches. These coaches have been integral not only in my own understanding of the game, but also in spreading rugby throughout the Philippines. During my time there I was offered a position on the newly formed U19 National team, since the Philippines is still developing the sport and non-native players are eligible to play. Several other Philippine nationals from the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Philippines were also added to the team, making a strong pool of seasoded players. In 2006 this team, lead by our coach, made its way from all over the globe to Taiwan to play in the Asian Championships.

During the course of the tournament we played a total of three hard-fought, games. We faced several obsticales including injuries and breakdown of play, but despite only playing together for a few weeks our team managed to work extremely well together and win all three games, earning us the Division II Championship! The final match was particularly rewarding, as we beat the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a team that had traveled to the Philippines in 2004 and ousted us 55-7. Still a "developing" rugby country, with this win the Philippines stands a very high liklihood of being promoted to "developed" status and being entered in Division I.

I will always remember the players, games, and events that occured during this tournament, as well as the experiences I gained through it. If you want to read the rest of the story or view the results of the tournament, go to The Philippines Rugby Football Union web-site. Also, for information on the US national teams go to USA Rugby. Go make some memories of your own.

Taking a Step Back

While perusing amazon.com the other day and attempting to find some good rugby books, I stumbled across a book called the cult of the amateur; how today’s internet is killing our culture by Andrew Keen. I was intrigued by the title so I decided to read some excerpts from it. While the ideas and opinions presented do not relate specifically to rugby, the text highlights some important questions about the reach, accuracy, and goals of a blog like The Rugby Pitch.

The basic premise of the book is that internet sites with functions such as blogging, video posting, and social networking are creating an atmosphere where authentic, traditional forms of media are being abandoned in favor of “uninformed political commentary...unseemly home videos,” and “unreadable poems, reviews, essays, and novels” (Keen 3). In other words he is saying that most of the things placed on the web are useless, unjustified, and meaningless. He also claims that “Blogs have become so dizzingly infinite that they’ve undermined our sense of what is true and what is false” (3), drawing attention to the numerous blogs posted on sites such as blogspot.com. Lastly, he calls internet users “monkeys” (2), which in my opinion is simply rude.

While it may be true that blogs are often times uninformed and meaningless, Keen does not take into account that many blogs fail for just these reasons. Keen’s assertion that people (or monkeys, rather) read anything placed before them is unfounded. People in general do not read what does not interest them, bar schoolchildren and lawyers. Also, I speak from training and personal experience in this blog. If I were to, say, lie about who won the World Cup, my legitimacy as an author would be crushed. Usually if a site does not have merit, it will fall by the wayside while others take its place in the public realm.

Keen also fails to take blogs such as this one into account when discussing the goals of creating an internet-persona. He says, in relation to social networking sites, that “they claim to be all about ‘social networking’ with others, but in reality they exist so that we can advertise ourselves” (7). The Rugby Pitch does not sell things, and does not make any money, and is not interested in advertising. A part of a network of other blogs, it is on the contrary devoted to the progression of rugby union. It says so in the About box to the right. It’s right there.

Lastly, Keen forgets that free self-help or contemplative literature has little or no place in traditional media. In the United States media for instance, rugby is not a popular sport. In fact, the Rugby World Cup received almost no attention by media sources, who sparingly offered it on pay-per-view. Places like blogspot.com are one of the few places where internet users can come and find legitimate, free information on foreign sports like rugby.

While Keen’s book is an interesting read, I would suggest taking it in with a bit of criticism. I think that on many levels he just needs to read some more blogs of varying types, although his attitude could definitely be fixed with some good rugby.

SOUTH AFRICA ARE THE NEW WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS!

It was a brilliant match.
Breakdown of rankings is as follows:

First Place: South Africa
Second Place: England
Third Place: Argentina
Fourth Place: France

And the polls called it first.

That is all.

A Controversy of Style

Within the last decade there has been an ongoing argument between teams that play "good" rugby and "bad" rugby. This controversy is directly related to teams' usage of their forwards and backs.

"Good" rugby is the classical rugby style that involves more finesse among the backs and a great fitness level for players. The emphasis is on ball control and strategy. Forwards are used to retain the ball while backs complete offensive moves.

"Bad" rugby is a recent development within the sport calling for larger players that do not have as much fitness and do not play smartly, simply running into the opposing team and being as brutal as they can. Forwards are used as the main offense, crashing the ball constantly. This type of rugby, ironically, leads to fewer points as players cannot run and pass well enough to score tries and are forced to kick drop-goals for points.

This is not to say that rugby players may not be large and strong, but rather that they should have a firm commitment to fundamentals such as passing and running.

Going into the finals the South Africa has used the qualities of "good" rugby while England have been guilty of subscribing to "bad" rugby techniques. Springbok Coach Eddie Jones says, "'At the end of the day I love rugby, and I don't particularly like the way it's been played over the last three or four years". Sports writer Wynne Gray of the New Zealand Herald says that Jones' is critical of "Bash, grunt and kick rugby" because it has not enhanced the sports' image.

Others, including the French national team, recently knocked out of the tournament say that they want South Africa to win "because their style of play is more spectacular than England. " As another sports writer for the Herald writes of the French players,

"They believe a South African win is vital for the health of the sport in general, and the World Cup in particular, with the English side having come under fire for their reliance on force rather than flair."

Rugby is a sport of dominance, but it is also a sport of friendship. Teams will generally play hard against each other and then hold social events after the games. If teams continue to use "bad" rugby techniques, however, this amity may disappear. Lets play good rugby and keep it a sport "played by gentlemen".

Which Position Will You Play?

In the game of rugby there are a myriad of different positions any given player may play. The formal names for the two different groups of players, as mentioned below, are forwards and backs. These comprise the dichotomy of player types, yet rugby triumphs in the fact that it requires all to be familiar with every position.

If you want to find where you are best you should first try to work at one position, then quickly move on and sample as many others as you can so you are knowledgeable and proficient in them all. For a full listing of rugby positions go to Rugby Union Positions on Wikipedia.

The forwards in a game of rugby are the big men of the game, albeit they do not all have to be the same size. Really, and size of person can be a forward (or a back), as long as they are fit. The props are short, extremely stocky players. The hooker is a player that must have very quick legs and good motor skills so they can kick the ball backwards with their feet during scrums. Tall players can be involved as well. When the ball is thrown back into bounds forwards lift a line-out jumper (usually a lock). The strongest forwards are usually the locks, while the fastest forwards can be flankers or 8-men.

Backs also have room for different types of players. The scrum-half and fly-half must think on their feet and be able to pass the ball long distances quickly, while the wings and full-back need to run quickly and kick well. Lastly, the centers should have the ability to run straight into tackles and knock players over with their speed and power.

If you are willing to work hard, Rugby has a place for you. It is a particular joy to be enveloped in the sport of rugby because every team has such a sense of camaraderie. Everyone must help out to secure a win--and you never know when you will have to play someone else's position.

The Final is Nigh

This weekend could prove to be one of the finest of the decade for rugby players and fans alike. On Friday, October 19th France and Argentina compete in the consolation match for third place. Then, on Saturday England and South Africa showdown in a monumental battle for the World Cup championship.

Tensions are high. Not many people in the rugby community would have predicted that England, ranked only 6th coming into the world cup, would have made the championship. English player Jonny Wilkinson has, for his second world cup shown himself to be the world's best goal kicker, scoring point after triumphant point against the opposition (on a side note, Jonny will also become the highest world cup point scorer if he makes just five points in the next game). South Africa, ranked 3rd in the preliminaries have played consistently and deserve to be where they are at. The crucial points in the game will be whether South Africa's strong forward pack will be able to oust the heavy English defense, and whether Jonny will be able to overcome the immense pressures the Springboks (South Africa) will present to him.

More than the pressures of the game and the what the teams stand to gain from their performances though, the World Cup final should help bring rugby players and fans together like never before--in front of their televisions. As Stuart Kemp and Georg Szalai of The Hollywood Reporter write,

"In a statistic that might surprise people outside traditional rugby hotbeds, the Cup's worldwide TV audience exceeded 3 billion four years ago. Although shy of the most recent soccer World Cup (30 billion for all matches) and Summer Olympics (4 billion), it's still No. 3 on the list, For perspective, the Super Bowl in February drew about 100 million global viewers (with 93 million in the U.S.)."

With this kind of viewer-ship one may ask why this tournament is largely unheard of in America? If the above excerpt is valid, then this may not be the case for long. Other sports and busy commitments are not a valid excuse for not watching this once-every-four years tournament.

Rugby is a social game, and as such we should try to spread not only the sport, but also the camaraderie associated with it. I encourage you all to watch the game this weekend. If you look at my post entitled Rugby World Cup you can learn how to watch games online for free. What I am suggesting then, is completely free. Invite some friends over, watch the game. Have a good time. Learn Rugby.

The game will be held on Saturday, at 8:00pm English time and 3:00pm US Eastern time. If you don't know how to convert just go to the Time Zone Converter. Also, to buy a jersey or other paraphernalia simply follow the link to the right for World Rugby Shop. Get fired up.

Will South Africa be the second team in history to hold two World Cup titles, or will England do the same and better to become back-to-back two time champions? Also, voice your opinion by voting to the right. I offer you the tools to watch the game: take advantage of them.

Go England. Go South Africa. Go Rugby.

Match Lengths and Game flow

I just found a really good compilation of all the Rugby Union rules. It's called the BBC Sport Academy and not only has a full collection of Rugby laws, but also showcases places to buy equipment and how to effectively train for the sport.

In continuing my discussion of rugby game-play, this week I will write about match lengths and game flow.

A typical match in rugby lasts 90 minutes and is divided into two 40 minute halves, with a maximum of 10 minutes for halftime. Teams are not given time-outs, so the only times players can stop and rest during the game are when the referee calls penalties or trys, players are injured, or at the half. Sometimes at the amateur level referees may observe "water-breaks" during the game or simply shorten the half-lengths depending on weather conditions and the teams fitness levels. Also, because the clock is constantly running games may be given injury time if a given injury causes a lengthy delay.

The aspect of time is one that makes rugby unique in that the game changes based on who is playing. A middle school team, for instance may only play 20 minute halves with frequent water breaks if it is a hot day, while a college level team may only take the half-time break, and even be given more time based on injury time. The malleability of the game to suit the players is consistent with the rugby ethos and places emphasis on those playing and not on the rules itself. Sports such as American Football rely heavily upon rules to dictate the length of the game while rugby actually incorporates the intent and ability of the players into refereed games.

Along with game length, other areas of play change based on player conditions. The scrum may be "uncontested", meaning players do not push very hard when over the ball, or the size of the scrum may be reduced if players have only been recently introduced to the game. These facets markets the game to a much wider audience than other contact sports and a typical person may play the game in some respect from ages 6 to 60. Everyone can be involved.

These aspects of play, however inviting to the masses, may also be a reason rugby has not been widely accepted in the United States; no commercial time because there are no breaks and a lack of stringency with respect to time do not make for an easily marketable television show.

Kick-off, Kicking, and Ball Movement

For the next couple of weeks I will be writing about different aspects of rugby game-play. Some topics I will cover include kicking and ball movement, game lengths and overtime rules, penalties and red and yellow cards, and forward and back positions. But first, some terms you should know:
Forwards: Large, bulky players that make most of the tackles and follow the ball. The two opposing forward "packs" center on the ball for most of the game.
Backs: Fast players that run the ball into open space. They form a tail behind the forwards during play so that the ball may be passed out quickly.
Scrum: Used to describe the sequence of play where opposing forwards push over the ball to gain possession.
Ruck: After a tackle players do this by forming a temporary "scrum" over the ball.
Line-out: Used to describe throwing the ball back into bounds.
Maul: When players stay on their feet and fight over the ball by trying to "rip" it out of opposing players hands.

Every rugby game must start with a kick-off. The team kicking off will "drop-kick" the ball by letting the ball fall to the ground, then kicking it when it bounces. This is one of the hardest skills for rugby players to develop, but it is very useful because drop-kicks are required for many situations. Teams vary in how they line up for a kick-off, with some teams choosing to place their largest players in the back so they may run onto the ball, and some placing them in the front so they can take short kick-offs. Most teams opt to place their forwards in position to catch the ball and line them up in the positions they would normally be in during a scrum.

Kicking the ball is a very strategic move in rugby. Players may kick at any time of the game, and kicks do not have to be drop-kicks. Teams typically kick when they are looking to gain field position. It is not uncommon to see teams that begin the game with a series of back-and-forth kicks, ending when one team kicks the ball out of bounds.

Passing the ball is another difficult concept for new players. The ball may only travel backwards, contrary to football, where the ball may travel forward or backward.

Players score by either drop-kicking a ball into the opposing team's goal posts or touching the ball down in the opposing team's goal zone.

Notable Rugby Blogs

Recently I've been looking at other rugby blogs for inspiration and have found a few notable writers and web-sites. The set of links titled "Other Rugby Blogs" in the right-hand column showcases a few of these sites. I encourage you to look at them if you are interested in learning more about the game. About: Rugby, The Rugby Blog, and both the World Cup blogs are particularly good for World Cup commentary while USA Rugby Blog offers some an analysis on the future of rugby in the United States. One of the most interesting blog I have come across so far has been the Rugby Tips blog, written by Scott Donaldson.

Rugby Tips blends several aspects of rugby and blogging that highlight some powerful elements of both activities. Although some things about the site are not user-friendly, overall the blog is informative and provocative for the reader.

Donaldson does a very good job of making his posts meaningful in that they ask questions to the reader and the greater rugby world while simultaneously offering forth suggestions about the game and its implementation. For instance, the recent post titled Lets Raise the Stakes Between Tournaments asks why teams like England and France don't "play the way they did last night, all the time?" Donaldson then suggests that international matches during the regular year should be deciding factors in determining which pools teams are divided into for the World Cup. This, he reasons, would increase competitiveness and interest in the game through rivalry because the matches would actually have an effect on World Cup pool placement.

Rugby Tips is also humorous in a non-biting way, which truly reflects the rugby ethos. When describing New Zealand's recent loss to the French national team, Donaldson imagines the Kiwis (Residents of New Zealand) "searching for both answers and new hobbies with cross stitch, poetry and playing bridge as the safest options" since they no longer have a team in the World Cup for which they may cheer. At first this may seem scathing, but for Donaldson, who currently resides in Wellington NZ, it can be seen as nothing more than a chide to his neighbors (I too am guilty of chiding a few of my Kiwi friends).

The blog also exhibits some largely unexplored uses of blogs in its use of audio commentary on rugby. Readers can learn about the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks, while perusing the articles.

Some flaws in the blog do exist in the poor formatting of the page. The initial view of the blog is somewhat uninviting to readers, probably turning at least a few prospectives away.

Once again, I encourage you all to explore the vast world of rugby by using the links to the right. If you would like to share your favorite rugby web-site or blog, post a comment.

Rugby World Cup

The Rugby World Cup is here!

Much in the style of the Soccer World Cup, every four years the best nations in the world bring their rugby teams together to decide on the World Champion. The Rugby World Cup began in 1987.

Rugby competitions like the World Cup have two rounds; the preliminaries and the knock-out round. In the preliminaries teams are divided into pools, where they play round-robin until everyone has played everyone else. Teams with the best records are then seeded into the knock-out elimination round, where they advance until only one team is left.

Past Rugby World Cup winners are:
1987, Auckland: New Zealand 29, France 9
1991, London: Australia 12, England 6
1995, Johannesburg: South Africa 15, New Zealand 12
1999,Cardiff: Australia 35, France 12
2003. Sydney: England 20, Australia 17.
Original article can be found at http://goaustralia.about.com/cs/eventsfestivals/a/rugbyhistory.htm

***To watch World Cup games live for free, simply do the following:***

1) Download SopCast.

2) Look at the schedule of games at http://myp2p.eu/Other.htm.

3) Click the links and enjoy! Other links for the World Cup are at the bottom of this page.

Introduction

This blog is dedicated to 15's Rugby Union. I am writing this blog for several reasons. First, rugby is an immensely fun sport to play. Sharing it with others based on this fact is much of the reason it has become one of the major world sports. Second, rugby is a very social game. Most of my life-long friends have been made or made closer through playing. Third, the ideals venerated by rugby, camaraderie, perseverance, discipline (and others), are those that I hope all can hold close. This is especially important in American society, where many of these ideas have fallen by the way-side to apathy and amorality. Sadly, The United States is one country where Rugby is not played very much, despite its popularity with certain segments of the population.

A very brief introduction to the game is as follows: In the game of Rugby Union, teams play 15 players a side on a 100 by 70 meter field. The game is primarily a physical one, with players tackling each other for possession of the ball. Players can score by either kicking a "drop-kick" into the opposing team's goalpost or by scoring a "try" by touching the ball down in the opposing team's try-zone. Think, American football with no pads and more running. The mechanics of play will be discussed more in-depth in later posts.

There are, of course, other types of rugby that will not be discussed in this blog. Other forms of rugby include Rugby League and Aussie Rules.

Getting Started

Hi,

I'm The Inside Center, but you can call me Matt. While I am exploring the various aspects of this blog-- and before I really get into posting, I've posed a a question to get me started. Answer it if you like, and check back for more information next week!

Matt