Any Rugby fans here?

[bombersfan38]

What would it take to get a message board about the greatest sport in the world on here? Rugby Rules;)

[patmc16]

It would take having a truely professional (with paid players) rugby league established in North America.

[bombersfan38]

Actually, there is the American National Rugby League. They are mostly based in the Eastern United States and the teams are sponsored through the National Rugby League of Australia. I have no idea if the players are paid. Their website is www.amnrl.com;-)

[mvhcpa]

Actually, there is the American National Rugby League. They are mostly based in the Eastern United States and the teams are sponsored through the National Rugby League of Australia. I have no idea if the players are paid. Their website is www.amnrl.com;-)

...but that's LEAGUE rugby, not Union rugby, which I play. I prefer the union brand.

Michael Val
(who is only good enough to be third string hooker, but loves playing anyhow!)

[Shootmaster_44]

I downloaded an NRL game and once watching it found that it was much easier to follow than the Union games I've seen on TV. I liked the 5 tackles to a turnover scheme. It would sell better in North America than Union since its that much closer to being football. The similarities might cause some people to tune in and not even realize they aren't watching some variation of football.

[mvhcpa]

I downloaded an NRL game and once watching it found that it was much easier to follow than the Union games I've seen on TV. I liked the 5 tackles to a turnover scheme. It would sell better in North America than Union since its that much closer to being football. The similarities might cause some people to tune in and not even realize they aren't watching some variation of football.

Rugby League does have more of a pace and pattern like American football--in fact, I always tell people it's like a Big 10 football game (or at least how the Big 10 used to be).

Personally, I like the flow of a Union style game, as long as the referee doesn't stop the action every two minutes for a scrum. Actually, the way Union rugby is played mostly now (called phase rugby), each tackle and ruck becomes like a snap in American football--just no delay to call the play.

It's good there are two types of Rugby--like my Dad always says, "Diff'rent Stroles for Diff'rent Folks!":cool:

Michael Val
(who needs to get back on the rugby field before he gets too out-of-shape to play!)

[Shootmaster_44]

Maybe I haven't watched enough top-flight Union, but it seems like Union is organized chaos a lot of the time. I can't follow it as easily as I can League. It could be that when Team Canada plays on TV, they just aren't as polished as England or Australia and that's why it seems like organized chaos.

On the other hand watching NRL games, it seems easy to follow if you understand the basic scoring of the game. 5 tackles then you have to turn over the ball. Never really seemed to be any scrums in the game I watched.

I think anybody who's seriously wanting to set up a pro league in North America should look at making the game League rules not Union. It would make for an easier transition into the TV arena. Once a League league has caught on, then you can introduce a Union league. At this point, people would understand more of the rules and Union would no longer seem like organized chaos.

[mvhcpa]

Again, Shoot, I think you are right on the money. Union is "organized chaos" because there are so many (what I call) "states of matter" in a Union game. Heck, I find it hard to know what's coming when I am on the field myself!

Although the League game itself was "invented" much earlier, the Rugby League model was developed for Austrailian television by Rupert Murdoch's consortium a decade or so ago because it is more followable (is that a word?) than Union. Since it worked in Austrailia, it seems League would be the the best way to introduce the sport to TV in America.

Michael Val
(who wants to see more rugby enjoyed by more folks in the USA!)

[SignGuyDino]

It's interesting to see a list of famous americans who played rugby in college:

1. President George W. Bush.
2. President Bill Clinton.
3. Mark Cuban. (Cuban is a huge rugby fan but he's already stated he would never start a pro rugby league here. Damn.)
4. Jim Baker (former Sec. of State).
5. George Allen.
6. Ted Kennedy.


Chris Farley is rumored to have played rugby. Also, not an American, but Andre the Giant played as a kid (not as an adult, yikes!).


A real pro league would be awesome if the MLS ever did get enough stadiums they don't have to share with football to play a winter schedule. Then a rugby league could play in the summer.

Sorry...shouldn't have said league..."league" rugby is too much like American football. Union rugby is the REAL rugby for me.

[mvhcpa]

It's interesting to see a list of famous americans who played rugby in college:

1. President George W. Bush.
2. President Bill Clinton.
3. Mark Cuban. (Cuban is a huge rugby fan but he's already stated he would never start a pro rugby league here. Damn.)
4. Jim Baker (former Sec. of State).
5. George Allen.
6. Ted Kennedy.


Chris Farley is rumored to have played rugby. Also, not an American, but Andre the Giant played as a kid (not as an adult, yikes!).

A real pro league would be awesome if the MLS ever did get enough stadiums they don't have to share with football to play a winter schedule. Then a rugby league could play in the summer.

Sorry...shouldn't have said league..."league" rugby is too much like American football. Union rugby is the REAL rugby for me.

You might have come across the same document I did when I was looking up something else.

Another site on the net CONFIRMS Chris Farley DID play rugby for the Marquette Univ. club side. His play was unremarkable, but he always and everytime was the first to get TOTALLY NAKED at the drink-ups following the game (why am I NOT surprised?)!

Michael Val
(who is glad somebody else here like Union too!)

[mtedora]

last year, i really wanted to follow the League that the DALLAS HARLEQUINs play in, but i just don't get the rules at all, yet...

[mvhcpa]

last year, i really wanted to follow the League that the DALLAS HARLEQUINs play in, but i just don't get the rules at all, yet...

Actually, as an actual player (forward/hooker), all I understand is this:

See an a$$-HIT IT!

Opponent or own team, it doesn't matter--See an a$$, HIT IT and make it go forward!

Michael Val
(who will be playing a game next weekend--and is horribly out of shape for it!)