MORE THAN A
HOOLIGAN'S GAME

“Football is a gentleman’s game played by hooligans, and rugby is a hooligan’s game played by gentlemen” is an age-old, tired joke, and in several ways, inaccurate! There is so much more to rugby than fifteen players per team enduring a test of pure muscle, shoving, and running. Yes, it is an immense test of strength, and endurance, but also tactically challenging! It’s a shame that only the rugby union World Cup is aired every four years in India because this beautiful sport deserves more eyes.

Often confused with American Football, rugby is quite different from its Hollywood counterpart. It is similar in the way of scoring, where an oval-shaped, originally leather but now synthetic ball over the touchline to score. After a trial, which is called a touchdown in American football, a kick is also awarded. But there are two major differences. Firstly, in rugby, players do not wear advanced protective gear. Basic shin guards, headgear, and other lightweight gear is permitted as per the players’ choice whereas, in American football, the players wear heavy padded equipment along with hard helmets. Research has been proving this padding as counter-productive and that it can cause concussions. Another major difference is that in rugby union, the play is free-flowing, and the ball is played on even after a player is tackled. The game is only stopped when the ball goes out of bounds, or a foul is committed whereas, in American football, each tackle stops the play, and a new phase is started.

The rule that makes rugby all the more interesting is passing. The ball CANNOT be passed forward. A player may only pass it sideways or in the direction of their defense. This rule compels nearly all the players to be carriers of the ball and makes it more challenging to score. There are strict rules for tackling as it is a physically demanding game; an intense two halves of forty minutes each. As a cherry on top, the referee has a mic, the audio of which can be accessed by broadcasters giving the TV audiences an extra insight into the game. The World Cup is the most-watched rugby event, and much like other sports, the biggest stage. In the men’s game, the All Blacks that is the New Zealand national team, and the Springboks of South Africa have been dominant with three trophies apiece. Australia, the countries from the British Isles, and Pacific Island countries are other formidable forces in the modern game. Japan is rising, slowly strengthening its grip on the global rugby scene. In the 2015 World Cup, Japan eliminated South Africa, who were favorites for the trophy. The Japanese also won the bid to host the World Cup in 2019, and although they did not get too far into the competition, it provided a massive boost for rugby in their country. The Springboks are the current holders.

Rugby has also proven to be extremely influential in terms of inclusivity. Springboks captain Siya Kolisi, who led them to their third World Cup win is Black. For South Africa, with a dark and violent history of racism and apartheid (the nation was banned from the international sport from 1964 to 1988), Kolisi is a symbol of a new era not only in the sport but in the society as well. The women’s sport is gaining popularity rapidly, with a sharp increase in viewership and funding over the past few years. Rugby has also proven to be a huge boost to the Rainbow Laces campaign, for inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community. The global associations recognize International Gay Rugby, an umbrella association for gay and gay-inclusive rugby clubs. Along with World Rugby, the IGR is working to make the sport more and more accepting and provide equal opportunities to the athletes, regardless of sexuality and background. Nigel Owens, one of the sport’s greatest ever referees, is openly gay and is a prominent spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ community involved in the sport. He aims at spreading awareness about the issues faced by the community by discussing them across several platforms. On a lighter note, Owens has blessed the game with some of the most iconic ref-mic moments. The sport has also proven to provide an opportunity to indigenous peoples especially in the Polynesian islands. The Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, and New Zealand team perform tribal war dances before games, as a way of “mounting the challenge”. The New Zealand rugby association has a representative Maori All Black team and to represent the Maori All Blacks, a player must have Maori whakapapa (genealogy).

Rahul Bose, the popular Indian actor, is also a rugby player and has represented and captained the Indian National Team. Now retired, he is an ambassador for the sport and pushing for it to be given more importance. The Indian team currently is Division 3 champion of the Asian 5 Nations competition. The Indian women’s team made history in June 2019, winning against ranked Singapore in their first international win. Rugby is also providing opportunities to the Adivasi population of our country. Tribal children from the KISS International School represented India in the U-14 World Cup and won in 2007. A film about them called Jungle Cry premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Players aren’t an issue; the IRFU has 24,010 players registered on its roster, with about 7000 being women. It’s a shame that only the rugby union World Cup is aired every four years in India because this beautiful sport deserves more eyes. In general, the lack of viewership is the challenge in our country that the sport must overcome. The World Cup did get sufficient views, but it remains to be seen whether the long format sport will gain the same traction.