Rugby article in the Economist

[tranquility]

I'm currently in the middle-east traveling, and so I thought I would pick up a copy of the Economist just to keep up to date with what's going on in Egypt and how it is going to affect other potential travel destinations for myself in the area. I was pleasantly surprised however, that even at my semi-serious attempt to do some real reading I ended up reading about rugby. Interesting stuff, and it actually appears that some decent infrastructure is being put in place for rugby in North America.

http://www.economist.com/node/18070557

 

[CarlUnger]

Very interesting!
Great find, I kept on hearing that Rugby was one of America's fastest growing sports without hearing the specific numbers. So it's great to see.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I've been told that they will be looking to build on the 350,000 kids who were exposed to Rugby last year with their targets set on 1 million kids in 2011. Of these planned 1 million they are hoping to attract around 5% of these kids into playing the game regularly. The overall awareness of the game is growing rapidly in the US and it is the fastest growing teams sport in High School's while in the top 5 in the all important youth sector. High School Rugby has grown so much that in a matter of 6 seasons it has gone from trailing College Rugby by 300 odd teams to almost doubling the Collegiate scene. The media are beginning to take notice and provide more and more exposure. The game has and is appearing more regularly in feature articles on all medium (New York Times has produced several Rugby features over the last couple of years just to name one).

 

[whatty]

Any idea who is the player on the left?
No Prizes.

 

[TOCC]

ive been involved with rugby in the US, and admittedly i was surprised at the awareness and level at which rugby union was played at... Rugby Union actually has a very good reputation in the US, people in the US aren't at all concerned by the stoppage in play for things like scrums or lineouts as this is all to familiar to them due to the NFL, and there is a certain level of respect for people who play the sport due to the lack of protection they play in.

Physically the US is inundated with highly talented athletes, from 6'4" 115kg men to your 95kg wingers who can run 100m in 10.8sec, there is some exceptional athletic talent out there waiting to be tapped into. Even with the other professional codes picking off the top athletes, there is still a fair bit of room for rugby union to pick up there fair share.

However, there are some issues that really need to be addressed in coming years, the main issue been the coaching skills and technical understanding of the game which is very poor, the reasons for this are numerous but for the standard of rugby union in the US to improve, they really need to invest money in coaching clinics. They might eventually get more numbers, and have athletically gifted players suitable to the 7's version of the game, but until they actually get some technical nous of rucks, mauls, scrums and lineouts filtering down through the grades into juniors, then they will continue to struggle at the 15's game.

If Rugby Union continues to rise at its current rate, then its still going to be at the very least 10years before they will start been competitive at the 15's level internationally.

 

[dobduff11]

Any idea who is the player on the left?

I thought he was a cheerleader

 

[en_force_er]

If Rugby Union continues to rise at its current rate, then its still going to be at the very least 10years before they will start been competitive at the 15's level internationally.

As far as the USA goes I think they should start targeting 4 or 5 specific cities more so then others in the hope they will eventually be able to support professional teams (or at least teams similar to the Canadian portion of the Americas Rugby Championship).

 

[WB3]

I found the comments section as enlightening as the article itself. Many of the posters were yearning for some strategic education in the game.

A playbook style education of attack and defence (including some basic moves) in the likes of Inside Sport could go a long way toward showing them the game at its best, as could some player profiles (the bloke who brags about 6'4, 240 pound linebackers ought to research the 6'5, 270lb Jonah Lomu).

EDIT: by playbook style I mean using diagrams that illustrate running lines, passes and other key aspects of the play

 

[lincoln]

Most enlightened and well enunciated set of comments I have ever seen after an Economist article - which probably reflects the majority of USA rugby fraternity are college graduates.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

As far as the USA goes I think they should start targeting 4 or 5 specific cities more so then others in the hope they will eventually be able to support professional teams (or at least teams similar to the Canadian portion of the Americas Rugby Championship).

I suggest you look up the Utah Warriors(Rugby Super League) and the Glendale Raptors(Division One) as examples of teams that are looking to do just that.

 

[kiap]

I found the comments section as enlightening as the article itself. Many of the posters were yearning for some strategic education in the game.

A playbook style education of attack and defence (including some basic moves) in the likes of Inside Sport could go a long way toward showing them the game at its best, as could some player profiles (the bloke who brags about 6'4, 240 pound linebackers ought to research the 6'5, 270lb Jonah Lomu).

EDIT: by playbook style I mean using diagrams that illustrate running lines, passes and other key aspects of the play

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[Stu Wilsons Gloves]

Interestingly enough a young American lad will be propping for England against Italy in the 6 nations match tonight, who was born and bred in New York.

Good article in the UK telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...isieros-character-for-the-heat-of-battle.html

 

[ChargerWA]

I don't understand the deep desire to have America become a super power in the game of Rugby. It is a competitive world class game that works well in the US as an alternative to their over hyped commercial riddled proffesional sports, but I don't see what advantages to be gained for us as Australian rugby fans by it becoming more popular in the US.

In fact in the long term all I can see is disadvantages, as their financial might creates a league with player salaries that we can't compete with and watch our superstars dissapear over seas while still in their prime and another northern hemisphere union who doesn't give a crap about what the stinking colonials down south want.

 

[WB3]

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Good call.

I did:

"As an Australian rugby fan I am really pleased to hear of the depth of interest in the game that is growing over there. I won't weigh into the debate as to whether rugby should compete with or compliment football other than to say in my time in America I found the sport fans very passionate and perhaps able to support two codes at once.

To those commentors who believe rugby has less of a tactical basis than American football, I would suggest otherwise. Rugby coaching involves helping players develop a set of skills and plays which can be executed depending on the situation at hand. Whether this involves single phase play from set pieces or patterns of play designed to break a defence down over numerous phases, rarely is rugby collective improvisation. The great rugby players must be able to develop sequences of moves on the fly that take create defensive mismatches and then take advantage of them
Numerous approaches to constructive rugby exist, with games based on gaining a territorial advantage through kicking and grinding out points or games centred on audacious passing in midfield being appropriate under different circumstances, depending on the weather, opposition and unique game factors.. To those interested, some of the videos on greenandgoldrugby's home page (and youtube account) will help explain the tactical approach to the game and involve a playbook style breakdown of some moves. A similar article in a magazine such as Inside Sport could do wonders for the profile of the game.

As for the guy who spoke about the 240lb, 6'4 linebacker - google Jonah Lomu. The 6'5, 270lb winger was also one of the most explosive and physical rugby players of his time. Many loose forwards weigh around the 240lb mark and the taller second rowers (often 6'8 or more) likewise. Australian player Tatafu Polota Nau is another worth searching for if you want to see the type of collisions a big bloke can put on with or without pads.
Other players, such as Kurtley Beale, use their evasiveness in the vein of a wide reciever or running back to avoid tackles and score points.

Rugby is a great game, and while it would be wrong to claim it is superior to football (as they are two different sports), it certainly lacks nothing for tactical or athletic interest. It is a great game to play and watch and becomes increasingly rewarding with a greater tactical awareness and I hope it catches on."

 

[kiap]

WB3, good stuff mate. It's interesting that American Football has become very keen on recruiting amongst Samoans and other Polynesians, as they have always been a big part of rugby. Similar games, similar athletes needed.

One thing that might be worth looking at, though, is the 6'4" 240lb that the bloke in the comments was talking about was a safety, not a linebacker. Possibly not too many linebackers in the NFL under 300 lb these days. Safety is more of a running defender, perhaps more like our fullback or centre in defence (dunno tho..., you can't directly compare).

 

[WB3]

WB3, good stuff mate. It's interesting that American Football has become very keen on recruiting amongst Samoans and other Polynesians, as they have always been a big part of rugby. Similar games, similar athletes needed.

One thing that might be worth looking at, though, is the 6'4" 240lb that the bloke in the comments was talking about was a safety, not a linebacker. Possibly not too many linebackers in the NFL under 300 lb these days. Safety is more of a running defender, perhaps more like our fullback or centre in defence (dunno tho..., you can't directly compare).

I always thought of the linebackers as the more athletic defenders... guess those Terry Tate videos are a bit misleading. Anyway despite my ignorance the point probably still stands.

 

[Blue]

I found the comments section as enlightening as the article itself. Many of the posters were yearning for some strategic education in the game.

A playbook style education of attack and defence (including some basic moves) in the likes of Inside Sport could go a long way toward showing them the game at its best, as could some player profiles (the bloke who brags about 6'4, 240 pound linebackers ought to research the 6'5, 270lb Jonah Lomu).

EDIT: by playbook style I mean using diagrams that illustrate running lines, passes and other key aspects of the play

Sure but every NFL and college team have two starting, another couple in the reserves and that excludes many that can't get a game. Jonah was a rugby freak but big fast guys are par for the course in the NFL.

 

[TOCC]

I don't understand the deep desire to have America become a super power in the game of Rugby. It is a competitive world class game that works well in the US as an alternative to their over hyped commercial riddled proffesional sports, but I don't see what advantages to be gained for us as Australian rugby fans by it becoming more popular in the US.

In fact in the long term all I can see is disadvantages, as their financial might creates a league with player salaries that we can't compete with and watch our superstars dissapear over seas while still in their prime and another northern hemisphere union who doesn't give a crap about what the stinking colonials down south want.

thats a pretty backwards style thinking....Where we would be as a game if we didn't want to expand into new regions due to the threat of that region becoming to powerful..

Alternatively you can look at the US and see it as a opportunity to benefit other regions of the world, say for example the US became competitive enough that either our super rugby teams or the wallabies started to play them on a more regular basis.... The value of sponsorship would increase substantially due to increased exposure, likewise with TV rights, profits from the RWC fund regional development of rugby around the world on a cycle of 4 years, imagine the extra revenue which would be generated if TV networks in the US were actually bidding for these rights..

 

[kiap]

I always thought of the linebackers as the more athletic defenders... guess those Terry Tate videos are a bit misleading. Anyway despite my ignorance the point probably still stands.

Yeah, you're fine. They are big units but my 300 lb call was well over the mark too. Those guys are really more like 260 lb, maybe 115 kg or thereabouts.

 

[ChargerWA]

thats a pretty backwards style thinking....Where we would be as a game if we didn't want to expand into new regions due to the threat of that region becoming to powerful..

Alternatively you can look at the US and see it as a opportunity to benefit other regions of the world, say for example the US became competitive enough that either our super rugby teams or the wallabies started to play them on a more regular basis.... The value of sponsorship would increase substantially due to increased exposure, likewise with TV rights, profits from the RWC fund regional development of rugby around the world on a cycle of 4 years, imagine the extra revenue which would be generated if TV networks in the US were actually bidding for these rights..

I don't disagree, but a part of me worries about the effect it would have on the culture of rugby. I love the softly spoken hard man approach modern rugby stars bring to the game. If rugby players became ego maniacs like the star culture in American sports seems to propogate, I would be vomiting in my lounge room.