I read the whole thing expecting something about Nigel Owens... Read more

That was an awesome explanation, Ben! Below is my much more concise version for Americans who are used to playing/ watching football. Or if people are too impatient or drunk to read through it: Read more

I played for 10 years in South West England (one of the game’s true heartlands) and never really understood the rules. As a forward you just sort of threw yourself at the opposition and hoped for the best. Read more

And yet you forgot the most important part: post-match pints. Read more

Any chance we can get one of these for Cricket? Read more

Been playing Union for about 9 years now and this is the best write up I’ve ever seen on an American website.

Here’s a video that explains what this guy is talking about, but with boobies:

There are a lot of words in this article. This short video is pretty much all you need to understand the sport.

Rugby Union is the greatest sport on Earth. Read more

Rugby union is the closest sporting equivalent to a demolition derby.
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I still don’t know what the hell is going on in the scrum these days. Read more

“Thou shalt not argue with the sir, for their word is law.” Read more

All of that is so so true. My school had a great rugby program with coaches who weren’t from the school. They would sometimes yell, like all coaches do, but my God were they down to earth and real, actual people who helped us become better men, even if it sounds cliched. I was a prop and a lot of the big guys from… Read more

This was an excellent explanation of the basics, and I can tell you from having spent the last few years trying to explain it to fellow parents whose boys were on the field, a simple primer like this is sorely needed as the sport continues its rise in the U.S. Read more

I saw the same thing at my son’s high school, which has one of the best rugby programs in the country. The big draw is the football linemen actually get their mitts on the ball in rugby, and because anybody in rugby has a decent chance to score in open play, they often score. Also, to a man, the rugby coaches have… Read more

Also the video review is seemless, all through a headset the ref wears during the match, and hardly any time is wasted. At least in the English league, the video ref can initiate review if he sees something dirty. Read more

TL;DR

I feel that we have the beginnings of a typical rugby song here. Read more

It was a great tournament to watch, and amazing to see Fiji win their first gold medal. I got my non-rugby friend into it and he loved it. Short and sweet. Read more

Nigel Owens is an amazing person and ref. Love his videos on the BBC about the game. Read more

If you’re in a room full of people who watch football it’s the best way to describe the game and have them quickly understand what’s going on, for sure. “Neverending option play: the game” is a good descriptor.
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