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Rugby News from unexpected places

Y

yeahmate

Peter Burge (5)
Found another one similar to the Washington Post one in the New York Times about a prison in Buenos Aires using rugby as a development tool for inmates. It's interesting to note the reporter says "of the rugby-playing inmates she photographed, Ms. Heer said five had since been released. All five are still free." - pretty astounding considering everyone on the thread would know re-offending is a massive problem (even though only a small sample).

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/24/a-tough-game-in-a-rough-house/?_r=0#/20/ - there's the article

&

http://www.fotovisura.com/user/rochiheer/view/try - there's the actual photographic piece

finding a bit of a theme here
 
Inside Shoulder

Inside Shoulder

Nathan Sharpe (72)
Maybe this should be in a sub thread unexpected rugby from expected places:
Screen Shot 2013-08-31 at 6.28.38 AM.png

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...l-rugby-football-league-soaking-up-nfl-talent

As The Rio olympics approach there seems to have been a surge of interest in union in the USA.
As a college sport played by both males and females the potential is obviously huge.
 
Hugh Jarse

Hugh Jarse

Rocky Elsom (76)
^^^ Is that Gaggerlands own WorkingClassRugger featuring in the comments section of the article?

If the Septics ever get "properly" serious about rugby, the rest of us need to look out. They will dominate.
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

Michael Lynagh (62)
Inside Shoulder said:
Maybe this should be in a sub thread unexpected rugby from expected places:
View attachment 4090
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...l-rugby-football-league-soaking-up-nfl-talent

As The Rio olympics approach there seems to have been a surge of interest in union in the USA.
As a college sport played by both males and females the potential is obviously huge.
Click to expand...


The one and only. I'm actually trying to get in contact with the guys behind it at the moment. One of them is George Robertson who features a few times in the comments. If I'm successful I'll likely be posted something about their plans on The Roar in the near-ish future.
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

Michael Lynagh (62)
Hugh Jarse said:
Have they got serious about Soccer?

If they did, they might also dominate Diveball in the same way as the English Premier league teams (with very few Soap Dodgers in them) are dominating in Soccer.
Click to expand...


Well the Seattle Sounders had a crowd of 67,000 turn out for their rivalry round clash with the Portland Timbers just last week. While they are the biggest club in the MLS most do okay in terms of attendance. Well above the actual quality of the competition. Although, from my understanding it struggles somewhat in terms of viewership.
 
Hugh Jarse

Hugh Jarse

Rocky Elsom (76)
Well done on doing battle with Sceptic Septics.

Can you get a plug for G&GR in the comments on the article?
 
Y

yeahmate

Peter Burge (5)
good one from AlJazeera about the sport in Sri Lanka, I think I remember reading somewhere that hey have a huge playing population of something like the 2nd biggest in the world after England (don't pull me up on that not entirely sure, might be 7's they were on about).

 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

Michael Lynagh (62)
yeahmate said:
good one from AlJazeera about the sport in Sri Lanka, I think I remember reading somewhere that hey have a huge playing population of something like the 2nd biggest in the world after England (don't pull me up on that not entirely sure, might be 7's they were on about).

Click to expand...


They have well over 100,000 players. It's supposedly the 2nd biggest sport behind Cricket with the schoolboy scene being particularly big with national coverage, sponsorship etc. I know they were (at least a few years ago) looking to turn the Caltex Cup (the top competition in Sri Lanka, mat be known as something else now) into a full professional competition. Their national team won the Division 1 A5N's tournament very comfortably this year and will feature in the Premier division next year for the second time. They play a very expansive, high tempo game.

In the interview I think the SLRFU President is selling their 15s program short particularly on their ability to compete physically. They don't lack size at all. Though, I do understand his enthusiasm for 7s as they have some very slick backs and loose forwards for that matter.
 
the sabanator

the sabanator

Ron Walden (29)
Inside Shoulder said:
Maybe this should be in a sub thread unexpected rugby from expected places:
View attachment 4090
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...l-rugby-football-league-soaking-up-nfl-talent

As The Rio olympics approach there seems to have been a surge of interest in union in the USA.
As a college sport played by both males and females the potential is obviously huge.
Click to expand...

From the article, I liked their idea about recruiting cut NFL players. If they picked up Tim Tebow, who would make an excellent 6 or 8 considering his frame and talent for running the ball, the sport would grow in leaps and bounds from the hours of media attention ESPN would give to it, considering the controversy of his NFL career and the fact he's a Heisman trophy winner. Plus he's tough and puts his heart and soul into whatever he does - excellent qualities for a rugby player.
 
Lindommer

Lindommer

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
yeahmate said:
Good one from AlJazeera about the sport in Sri Lanka.....,they have a huge playing population of something like the 2nd biggest in the world after England (don't pull me up on that not entirely sure, might be 7s they were on about).
Click to expand...

No, it's 15s. There's always been a healthy number of rugby players in Sri Lanka dating back to the British Raj. One would think 7s would be the go for countries like Sri Lanka who don't have ample supplies of beefy front five forwards. Let's see how they go in the Olympics.

Check here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rugby_union_playing_countries
 
HJ Nelson

HJ Nelson

Trevor Allan (34)
Staff member
Lindommer said:
No, it's 15s. There's always been a healthy number of rugby players in Sri Lanka dating back to the British Raj. One would think 7s would be the go for countries like Sri Lanka who don't have ample supplies of beefy front five forwards. Let's see how they go in the Olympics.
Click to expand...


Australian Rugby tours to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) used to be fairly common. Either as a standalone tour or a 'stop-over' on the boat trip to Europe.
My uncle was selected in an Australian team to tour Ceylon in 1953. A separate team also went to Fiji.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2886059
 
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