Rugby!

We went to our first Rugby test Saturday the Wellington Lions hosted the Bay of Plenty Steamers. There were over 10 tries at this test quite the game! With my US football background (yes dad I did learn something all those years) I understood the basic Rugby rules. However there was plenty to keep me guessing.

The vocabulary is quite similar to US Football with only a few noticeable differences. For instance 'try' referees both to the line between the field and the equivalent of an end zone; and 'try' referees to scoring a goal, it took about 20 minutes for me to figure that out. Most everyone who knows Football can guess 'scrum' if you can't guess I will keep you wondering. A 'test' referees to a match. There are 'mauls' and 'rucks' as well, but more on those later.

The basic setup of the game is the same. A bunch of full grown men trying to get a odd shaped piece of pig skin over an arbitrary line on either side of a field. A 'try' is worth five points with a two point conversion. A notable rule addition on the conversion attempt is that the ball is placed on the 20 yard line at the same place (left or right) that it was downed for the try. There are field goals in Rugby and they are three points as well. Two notable changes in Rugby. It does not bother with with pads or helmets, and the play doesn't stop at each tackle instead that is where the fun starts, a ruck.

Once the player is down either team attempts to get the ball by piling on and "rucking" at the ball with their feet until one side has control. The rules around the rucks are strange, the hardest for me to grasp was that you can only enter the ruck from your side of the field. Once a team is able to control the ball the player who has done so becomes the 'quarterback' and the process starts all over.

The play is basically a bunch of lateral passes until you try or are tackled (Remember to try is to score.) The lateral passes are great fun to watch. They throw the ball (underhand only) half way across the field. If the offensive team is not able make sufficient progress they will punt, remember this happens without a down. Someone just drop kicks the ball while running. Once a punt occurs the ball is fair game for anyone to grab. I was shocked the first time someone punted the ball about 15 yards over a defenders head sprinted caught the ball on the bounce and ran in for a try, it was a great play!

The crowd at the stadium was just as crazy a crowd at any major US sporting event, jerseys, painted faces, big signs etc. They screamed and hollered with the best of them. As most fans they are quite passionate and talkative about their team. I asked two of them a bunch of questions which made the whole experience much more interesting for us. Of course the kids wanted hot dogs, french fries, and cokes. We obliged for it is all part of the fun.

Here is a close-up of Dennis and his soccer buddy Tivan. They had a great time!