Rugby Education

[Jonny Dubai]

Ok it is time to educate some of you chaps in the usa about proper sports!!!!!!!!!!



This weekend in Dubai weare all going to the Rugby 7's.

"what are you talking about. Shut up you mad Scot" I hear you say....but i continue.

Rugby is a game similar to your american football, however, here men do not wear pads, helmets, the hits are hugue, the ball is in free play (like hockey) more often.

The ball can only ball passed backwards but can also be kicked in any direction.

This weekend there will be a 7's extravaganza. Teams from all over the globe will be taking part. Normal "rugger" is 15-a-side, but 7's is only 7v7 on the same size pitch (same pitch size as soccer). This is acompanied by much Carlsberg, shouting, singing about the English , Carlsberg and Carlsberg.

This starts tomorrow (wed) night. If i get back alive i will see you on the other side of a sizable hangover

Check out

http://www.dubairugby7s.com/index.html


Cheers,

Jonny

 

[SteveB]

Rugby is a game similar to your american football, however, here men do not wear pads, helmets, the hits are hugue, the ball is in free play (like hockey) more often.

That's all well and good, but do you ever witness injuries on par with Joe Montana's leg that snapped in half and formed a lovely "V" shape for all to see? I'll bet that hurt in spite of the pads and helmet...

 

[mbgreene]

We're not all cretins here in the US

I played two years of college rugby back in the day - second row (or lock to some of you) none of this 7's stuff . 15 on 15 - no pads, one ref and much scrummage.
None of that blocking BS - guy with the ball is the guy out front.

Great game good people playing it. After every game of literal head banging (no helmets) there was a formal handshaking (similar to the end of Stanley Cup games) then we all drank beer together on the pitch. (Actually we did that at the half too but I don't know if thats in the official rule book)

 

[mbgreene]

That's all well and good, but do you ever witness injuries on par with Joe Montana's leg that snapped in half and formed a lovely "V" shape for all to see? I'll bet that hurt in spite of the pads and helmet...

That was Joe Theisman done in by the one and only LT on Monday Night Football.

Actually, when I played, I played with torn ankle ligaments and a fractured wrist held in place with heat molded/velcroed casts and wrapped in ace bandages for which I had to get referee approval so as not to use them as a "weapon".

Plus rugby is not all that great for guitar players. Lots of folks pullin at your fingers when your in a maul holding the ball.

 

[Jonny Dubai]

hahahha


yes. some say the best part of rugby is after the game or in mbgreene's case half time!!!!!!!

I agree with it not being the best for guitar players (too many finger injuries), but the crack (banter/joking) is amazing.

I have now retired due to a car crach and spinal surgery. Could this be why my guitar playing has improved so much.


Scrum down 5

Jonny

 

[SteveB]

the beer drinking part has the potential to catch on here...

I tore the cartilage in both of my knees playing (American) football in my neighborhood while growing up. Years of healing..

Of course, we didn't use pads or helmets either. We inflicted all kinds of pain.. broken fingers, cracked ribs, separated shoulders, a few concussions. Kids today never know this kind of fun.. they only come into physical contact with other human beings at ecstasy parties.

 

[Jonny Dubai]

the beer drinking part has the potential to catch on here...

I tore the cartilage in both of my knees playing (American) football in my neighborhood while growing up. Years of healing..

Of course, we didn't use pads or helmets either. We inflicted all kinds of pain.. broken fingers, cracked ribs, separated shoulders, a few concussions. Kids today never know this kind of fun.. they only come into physical contact with other human beings at ecstasy parties.

steve. you would have made a hell of a rugby man.


Jonny

 

[NorM]

In junior high school the football team went to Vanderbilt's stadium. That was my first exposure to astroturf. The next day I joined the marching band. Call me a purple pusm if you want but my knees still work and I learned what would develop into a lifetime passion.
I can still armchair quarterback with the best of them. Unless I'm to busy playing guitar. That's just what I do.

 

[Spudmurphy]

My first trip to the USA was 20 years ago to visit my family in St Louis.
I remember going to watch a couple of games over there, and chuckled when I saw the bumper stickers ...
"Give blood......play rugby!!"

The game was played in great spirit and a lot of sportsmanship betweejn a SL team and a team from Chicago.
At that time Wales were the dominant force in Northern Hemisphere games and when people heard me speak and recognised my Welsh accent I was pestered for the latest rugby info.

Plus rugby is not all that great for guitar players. Lots of folks pullin at your fingers when your in a maul holding the ball.

Yeah I was a goalkeeper for years in Soccer and what with also doing Karate for 8 years, one of my fingers when I wake up in the morning is a bit sore and slow to get going - my fretting hand too !!!

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I cant stand sport myself, to wrapped up guitar playing!

 

[mcvinyl]

That's all well and good, but do you ever witness injuries on par with Joe Montana's leg that snapped in half and formed a lovely "V" shape for all to see? I'll bet that hurt in spite of the pads and helmet...

Hate to tell you man but I remember a game of Rugby (League) back in 1989. It was a State of Origin match (two states play each other, the most brutal rugby league on the planet) one of the players Bob Lindner played for 20 minutes with a broken leg! He just kept flopping to the floor and then when an oposition player came his way he'd get up and tackle him.

You guys have seen rugby right??? It's where the players don't wear pads and helmets!

Simon

 

[louisgtr]

If American football players did not wear pads and helmets, there would be too many deaths. With all due respect to the ruggedness of rugby, the velocity of the impacts in American football are quite different, especially in the pro ranks where many of the players are world class athletes in terms of speed and strength.

 

[brentrocks]

Is Carlsburg good beer? I'm in!!!

 

[mcvinyl]

If American football players did not wear pads and helmets, there would be too many deaths. With all due respect to the ruggedness of rugby, the velocity of the impacts in American football are quite different, especially in the pro ranks where many of the players are world class athletes in terms of speed and strength.

You need to come and watch some State of Origin if you want to see hits man. All I'll say is how many of the NFL stars would shed all of their protective gear and come out to play a game of Rugby League?

Simon

 

[Jonny Dubai]

I have seen the State of origon games. Bone crunching stuff. I think a lot of the USA guys would love it. Lets face it. If the US wanted to be a strong rugby nation they would be amazing. Facilities, athletes, some baught in coaches.
IMO

 

[EightmanVT]

Rugby - a fantastic game - Couldn't agree more - as you folks "in the know" will be able to tell by my login name.... Love that they've been showing some 7's on the INHD channels...but 15's is still where it's at for me. Wish they would show more of that.

 

[louisgtr]

What a strange comment to make. Seems like your saying that the hits are not hard in Rugby league or Rugby Union, and that they are amatuers or something of the like. Both of these codes are professional, and both are free running games with the players having to have both physical strength and endurance to keep getting up hit after hit, once the game starts it does not stop until the half is over, unless for injuries or penalties.
I think American football is a great game, and the hits are great to watch just like Union or League. But I know that when a player is wearing padding it allows them to hit harder and take harder hits, so I think your being a little dramatic in saying there would be more deaths without the pads, the contact would be as much as was physically possible as it is in League or Union. Theres only so much the body can give out or take.
And just to be cheeky, league and union play for 80 minutes with only one break in the middle.
Sorry to get in to this conversation, but I hate it when someone trashes something they probably don't understand.

Not strange at all. Every year a small number of players die from impacts with the pads on. There's no way that high school, college, or pro football could be played without pads or helmets. High school kids die every year from impacts to the head, this is not dramatic, it's a fact. I've watched rugby on ESPN, I don't follow it too well, but I've seen it. I'm not saying that rugby isn't a tough game, played by tough people. I just "hate it when someone trashes" American football when they probably don't understand it.

 

[louisgtr]

You need to come and watch some State of Origin if you want to see hits man. All I'll say is how many of the NFL stars would shed all of their protective gear and come out to play a game of Rugby League?

Simon

That goes two ways, I'd love to see a rugby player strap it on in the NFL.

 

[muggsy]

Not strange at all. Every year a small number of players die from impacts with the pads on. There's no way that high school, college, or pro football could be played without pads or helmets. High school kids die every year from impacts to the head, this is not dramatic, it's a fact. I've watched rugby on ESPN, I don't follow it too well, but I've seen it. I'm not saying that rugby isn't a tough game, played by tough people. I just "hate it when someone trashes" American football when they probably don't understand it.

American football without pads would be a very different game. Many of the injuries you refer to come from head-on collisions. Nobody would lead with their head if they weren't wearing a helmet and a facemask. The collisions are probably more violent because the players wear pads, which gives them a false sense of security. I know many NFL players are huge and fast and very strong, but take away the pads, and the collisions would probably be a lot like those you see in rugby. I'm sure tackling techniques would improve too. Don't get me wrong, I love the NFL, but it's a chicken and egg argument.

 

[louisgtr]

American football without pads would be a very different game. Many of the injuries you refer to come from head-on collisions. Nobody would lead with their head if they weren't wearing a helmet and a facemask. The collisions are probably more violent because the players wear pads, which gives them a false sense of security. I know many NFL players are huge and fast and very strong, but take away the pads, and the collisions would probably be a lot like those you see in rugby. I'm sure tackling techniques would improve too. Don't get me wrong, I love the NFL, but it's a chicken and egg argument.

You definitely have a point there about the hits more than likely being less violent without the pads and helmets, but some of the blows are unavoidable. As far as head to head collisions, on many plays, especially in goal line situations, that's exactly what's going on, players leading with their head. You're not going to be very successful trying to finesse your way into the end zone. I know that rugby is a tough-nosed sport. I don't think my original post was a slam of rugby, at the very least it wasn't intended that way. I was trying to say that I think the types of hits and the angles of the hits are a bit different. I am glad that the NFL wears pads though, because I wouldn't want the game any other way. Although, like you said, tackling techniques could improve.