Anyone here play RUGBY?

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Just wondering if anyone here plays RUGBY. I just found out my school has a RUGBY team and needs bodies. I'm seriously thinking about joining (Mr. Everything in H.S. and I miss the competition). I'm just in the exploratory phase and would like feedback and info from those who played or are still playing. :D

[st.cronin]

I have played before. It is quite fun.

[ice4277]

I DON'T

[digamma]

I played for four years in college.

I enjoyed the game, made some great friends and had a hell of a time.

[Schmidty]

No but I enjoy watching RUGBY.

[Critch]

I used to. It hurts.

[Alf]

at the school level Rugby is really fun. I really recomend that ! I played 2nd row (#4 or #5) for a few years, but the best year was when I play flanker (#6), who is the tackling machine :) (you can compare that to blitzing linebackers).

The good thing in rugby is that you play both sides of the ball (offense and defense), but generally only the "gazelles" (#9 to #15) really play the ball. The big guys just bully it :)

I really recommend the experience.

What position would you be playing ?

[Ryche]

I tried it once in college. Looks like a blast. Unfortunately, 5'6", 140# doesn't cut it too well. Ended up taking a spike to my calf and was limping for the next month. Thought better of it and stuck to Tecmo Football.

[MacroGuru]

I played my Junior and Senior year in High School, and then 2 years out with a Club team.

I was a Winger and a Fullback.

One of the greatest experiences I have ever had. I almost place it above Football as one of the greatest games to play.

[Icy]

I haven't, the team in my city was founded a few years ago and as i have the size and enought body presence, i was invited to join, but i felt i was too old for it. What i can tell you is that i have enjoyed with the team the after match party, where both teams share hundreds of litres of beer and man, i can asure you that nothing drinks beer like a rugby team after a match. :)

[Critch]

I was a Winger and a Fullback.

Does being a fullback count as playing rugby? They just stand about out of the way trying to keep clean, don't they? :D

[MacroGuru]

Does being a fullback count as playing rugby? They just stand about out of the way trying to keep clean, don't they? :D
See thats just mean...

I got dirty, once or twice playing fullback....

But to be honest, Winger more than fullback....

[kiwiLB57]

Just wondering if anyone here plays RUGBY. I just found out my school has a RUGBY team and needs bodies. I'm seriously thinking about joining (Mr. Everything in H.S. and I miss the competition). I'm just in the exploratory phase and would like feedback and info from those who played or are still playing. :D

Mate, you have to get amongst it! Rugby is the greatest game in the world and you will have a blast.

My partner is working with an American woman from Minnesota who just transferred offices to Auckland. She was away for the weekend so I invited her husband (also from Minnesota) to the game here in Auckland last weekend: All Blacks (New Zealand) vs Wallabies (Australia). Needless to say he was rather stoked and had a great time. He made two observations to his wife, which were later relayed to me: How loud we sing the national anthem (loud) and that we clapped for the Australians when they took the field and vice versa. These last two points highlight the Rugby ethos which is more about the enjoyment of the sport and the company of the opposing supporters than just jumping up and down on a player with spiked cleats.

New Zealand: the #1 ranked rubgy nation in the world. Fifteen Allblacks on the field, four million supporters off the field.

Cheers,

kiwiDE57

[lighthousekeeper]

All Blacks (New Zealand) vs Wallabies (Australia).


Those are a couple of team names you won't see in the US.

[kiwiLB57]

Those are a couple of team names you won't see in the US.

The New Zealand National Soccer Team are the All-Whites.

[ScottVib]

Play. (Played 3 years (all but the one I was an RA) in college (Field Captain/Club President my senior year) and very briefly for a club team afterwards)

If your team is short on bodies like mine was you may float all over the field. (Played the Flanks, Scrum Half, a few spots on the Wing and Fullback)

Ultimately you'll have a ton of fun, stop exploring and go play.

[JeffR]

Just don't let them talk you into playing hooker, unless you like the feeling you get when you're on the highway in a mid-sized car boxed in by 18-wheelers. In four years in high school, don't think I ever saw one of ours go through an injury-free season.

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

Don't think these stat matter but I'm 5'6'' 185. Is there a statistical ht/wt breakdown foreach position?

[kiwiLB57]

Don't think these stat matter but I'm 5'6'' 185. Is there a statistical ht/wt breakdown foreach position?

Big dudes = Tight Five = Props, Hooker and Locks (Locks are typically your tallest guys)

Nearly as big dudes = The Back Row = Openside and Blindside Flankers and No.8

Midgets = Halfbacks if they have a bit of speed, tenacity, a decent pass and an ok kicking ability.

Everybody else = Backs from First Five through to Fullback. Size isn't so much the issue here. Your speed and ability to kick/pass (or lack thereof) will determine where you end up playing.

I'll do this by jersey number for you:

1 Prop = Fat Bloke.
2 Hooker = Fat Bloke with skills.
3 Prop = Fat Bloke
4 Lock = The taller the better
5 Lock = The taller the better
6 Blindside Flanker = Linebacker
7 Openside Flanker = Linebacker
8 No.8 = Linebacker, typically bigger than your Flankers
9 Halfback = Traditionally the Ferocious Midgets
10 First Five-Eighths (or Flyhalf) = A good pass and tactical kicking required.
11 Left Wing = Speed is the Key, not much else.
12 Second Five-Eighths (or Inside Centre) = Ability to slip tackles and also some tactical kicking ability
13 Centre = Ability to Break tackles
14 Right Wing = Speed is the Key, not much else.
15 Fullback = A winger with more tackling ability, some vision and a good clearing boot (ala a Punter).

Not really that statistical but you get the idea.

Cheers,

kiwiDE57
All Blacks (http://www.allblacks.com/)

[Alf]

#7 is also more ball oriented than the #6