Imagine an NFL Sunday like this:
The New York Jets march onto the field and line up in hulking formation; they squat half way to the ground, like tigers ready to strike, and begin to chant tribal hymns. One of the linemen lets out a war cry, they beat their chests like thunder, stomp the ground in unison, and unveil a tribal war dance.
Not quite what we’re used to, but something all too common in the land down under. Welcome to a New Zealand All Blacks game and say hello to football’s rowdy older cousin, rugby.
As a die-hard NFL fan the last thing I cared about was rugby. But after seeing the All Blacks shake the earth with their opponent-taunting Maori war dance, I was intrigued.
I plugged in and boy was I surprised.
Imagine an NFL Sunday like this:
Rugby is kind of an American football and soccer hybrid, where possessions play like soccer and teams tackle and score similar to football. Any football fan will dig it after a little orientation to the rules.
And right now is the best time to become a rugby fan because the best of best are fighting for it all in the Rugby World Cup—a spectacle that only graces the planet once every four years.
This year’s tournament started in New Zealand with 20 teams representing 20 countries, but now it’s down to the final four. The teams share one wish: a chance to play for the holy grail of the rugby world: The Webb Ellis Cup.
This is not a tournament for the faint-hearted: rugby and the Rugby World Cup (RWC) are physical, aggressive, violent, and only the strongest survive.
The RWC started in 1987 with the New Zealand All Blacks being the first winners. The defending champs are the South Africa Spring Boks, which once beat the All Blacks in a thriller of a final that was surrounded with a conspiracy involving allegations of food poisoning. True or not, there certainly were New Zealand players sick on the side of the field.
Early rugby history and the initial World Cup win put the All Blacks on a pedestal and gave them a sterling reputation for being the best. When it comes crunch time however, the All Blacks have fallen short—they haven’t won a World Cup since the beginning. Australia, South Africa, and England have all held up the trophy and France and Ireland always put up a good fight.
The minnows are teams like Japan, Canada, and the USA, which are often on the receiving end of a severe thumping, but slowly these teams are getting stronger.
In New Zealand rugby is life. Every young boy wants to grow up and wear the honorable All Blacks jersey. For those who play, it means everything and for those who support, it means everything, too. The entire country of New Zealand gets behind the All Blacks, which is more than apparent when they take the field.
So as a born and bred football lover, I give my solemn approval to rugby. These skilled warriors exhibit talent, strength, and teamwork and their exciting games are the perfect complement to any football lover’s palette.
With additional reporting by Chris Holehouse.
