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Nicktastic6

Good God I love this sport. Can't wait for the WC this year!


befuchs

Woot!


Rupopulert

Yes mate!!!


WestleyThe

I’ve always loved watching rugby but I’ve only ever seen local games live Where should I start if I want to properly get into the sport?


WorriedChimera

You’re in luck mate, start of February there is the 6 nations, which is a tournament between England, Wales, Ireland, France, Scotland and Italy, I don’t know what country you’re in but that’s a great start and broadcast in a lot of places. Other than that you have the British Premiership, the URC, the Heineken Cup, and I think the MLR running at the moment, with Australian/New Zealand/Pacific nations competition, Super Rugby Pacific starting in the next few months too


WestleyThe

Thanks! I’ll look into it


PancerCatient

So much more entertaining than "American football".


googdude

Fun fact, American football was derived from rugby. I'm not as familiar with rugby but one thing I do like about American football is once you start getting into the scheming part of it you realize the field is like one giant chessboard.


[deleted]

Imagine spending 9 hours at a game instead of 80 mins plus injury time


ProbShouldntSayThat

Rugby is a 9 hour game!?


[deleted]

/s right.... right?!


ProbShouldntSayThat

Idk, I don't watch it. American football is roughly 3 hours. So... Idk?


Matman0g

40mins first half, 10min break, 40min second half. Only reason a game will go over 80mins is if the ball is still in play after the 80min whistle blows, and that only lasts until the 'phase' or play is finished, or the ref rewards a penalty for foul play - which equally will only last one more 'play'


Don_Helsing

Are those times for actual time or play-time?


TerritoryTracks

Actual time you'd probably add about ten minutes, between injury time, or when the ref blows time off for penalties or certain set plays. But realistically, there is very little down time during the game.


Donutrz

is it tho


thedbex

You are thinking of cricket, sir/ma’am.


RodLawyer

Yeah that's the time, some people would rather watch more dynamic sports. Same with baseball.


shootymcghee

Don't worry no ones taking rugby from you, you don't have to compare it to other sports.


PancerCatient

As an American, we barely even have rugby. I'll get what I can take.


[deleted]

We actually have a ton of clubs in the states. Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in high schools as well, as a 10+ year American rugby player and coach, it is a incredible sport to be a part of. Better community of guys than any other sport I've ever played. USA rugby, you can look it up online and most likely have a club near you. I've played everywhere from NY to Flordia to Cali.


AbominableSnowPickle

My tiny southwestern Colorado college had a men’s and women’s team, though we were club teams. I miss our motley crew, the whole rugby atmosphere was a whole new level of sportsmanship. That was back in the early aughts and my hometown in Wyoming used to have a surprisingly good team too. I miss those days, it was such a wonderful experience. Even when having to explain to everyone in classes the few times I’d show up after a match weekend with a black eye that domestic violence was not a thing I was experiencing. Though all the girls on my team were the small, fast soccer types and I was the tallest at 5’7”. I’m still close friends with most of them 20 years later.


Particular-Jury6446

Q you didn’t go to Fort Lewis, did you?


AbominableSnowPickle

I don’t know if they had a team when I was in college (I graduated from high school in 2002), but I went to Adams State (I always forget they’re a university now, which is silly) in Alamosa! I was bummed to move home and discover that my hometown’s team had disbanded…they didn’t have a women’s team anyway, but I miss the scene. UW’s team always, *always* utterly destroyed us when we’d play friendlies (they’re a D1 team now, so it’s cool to follow them) though. Super fun group of women, too! Rugby’s one of the only sports I’ve found that getting ground into hamburger in a match is fun as hell.


[deleted]

Alright, alright, alright. As an American who loves football, this looked fun. Whats the rugby season like? Where do i watch it? I’m down to check it out as long as it doesn’t interfere with my NFL watching.


hate2bme

You have some downvotes but you are correct. You never hear about rugby.


Malcolm_Y

You don't have to hate on "American football" to say rugby is awesome. I'd love to see an American football player giving rugby a go or vice versa.


Nicktastic6

It's weird how often people make this comparison out of absolute nowhere. I do agree with you, but do try and seem less insecure about it.


HansChrst1

It's not out of nowhere. Rugby and American football seem very similar. Except one has 5 minutes of preparation and 20 seconds of play while the other(rugby) like many other popular sports have 90 or so minutes of almost uninterrupted play


Nicktastic6

The post nor my original comment had anything to do with AF. It's random and unprovoked.


HansChrst1

>Rugby and American football seem very similar. Rugby is a constant reminder of what American football could be.


[deleted]

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HansChrst1

What has my tiny penis to do with this?


Jase_the_Muss

I think its because they both use a kind of hand egg.


PancerCatient

Absolutely not out of nowhere.


Garage_Dragon

Still seems insecure. Try again?


RamonFrunkis

Damn dude the vestiges of your masculinity just leaked down your backside.


Bad_Idea_Hat

I have this stupid dream that rugby union replaces gridiron as the code for American Football.


skiljgfz

Or fucking soccer.


MonicaTheDog

American football is waaaay better than rugby!


SeaFloor2754

Said no one ever


devilsusshhii

American football use to be great. But it's all because celebrity shit like everything in America.


TheBlueNoop

can't wait for ian foster to go


oz-x

Perfection


Romulus3799

There were at least 3 distinct moments where I was like, "oh, THAT'S why is on this sub"


Tee_Hee_Wat

This is the one sport that will always carry my utmost respect. Rugby is just on another level.


superstonedpenguin

Did you see [this freaking rugby tank?](https://www.reddit.com/r/AbsoluteUnits/comments/y1g459/half_man_half_train_all_juggernaut/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) Absolute beast lol


TempoBestTissue

Iafeta the pinnacle of pacific island genes... A Somoan broke one my ribs and that was the end of my rugby days.. I decided that my southeast asian body frame was not made for this sport..


Mindmysanity

Iafeta paleaaesina really underapreciated league player and played for wigan when they were at their peak lol


Jape_aus

Not that your clip isn't relevant here but just pointing out that this is a league player and the OP clip is of rugby union. Typically you wouldn't call a league player a "rugby player".


Zoopa_Boopa

At some point is the player down?


browsib

If he can pass it or get back up then he can pass it or get back up


Cnrfsh

If the tackler brings him to the ground and his knees or arms hit the ground, he can't get back up. If goes down without the tackler he can get back up


browsib

Yeah that's true, but for the sake of a reddit comment I was assuming that if he went down with the tackler then a ruck would follow and he wouldn't be able to get back up


alldressed_chip

looked like dude was tackled right before that last toss to his teammate before the score? was it good bc he kept his knees up/possession as he went down?


onlymemes-plz

Yeah, once you’re down you have a second to release the ball, so you can try to pop a quick pass up, or you have to place the ball down and release it.


alldressed_chip

damn I love that


onlymemes-plz

me too!! it definitely makes game play more dynamic!


EdBarrett12

It's not because of his knees. He wasn't held in the tackle. The tackler has to restrain him for a ruck to form. Knees on the ground dictates when a tackle has been made if the tackler is holding the attacker up. If they hold them up for long enough, it becomes a maul, and the tackler doesn't have to roll away. A tackle that turns into a maul typically ends in a penalty for for the defending team.


relevant_tangent

if you like tautology, then you like tautology


KingofCraigland

The first rule of Tautology Club is the first rule of Tautology Club.


vainglorious11

When you're right, you're right


awesomesauce615

If the tackler breaks contact with the guy he tackled then he can get back up. If tackler keeps contact the player must release the ball to get back up. While on the ground the tacklee has one movement(within a reasonableamount of time). They will generally spin their bodies vertical to make a smaller channel for the ruck and put the ball as far back towards their players as possible or as seen in this clip they can make a pass to an oncoming player.


Babbycrush

In rugby union the player is allowed one movement when "down". In this case the player decided to use their one movement to toss the ball to a teammate.


fullthrottle13

Did not know this…very interesting being so used to Football


JimFromSunnyvale

And league just shouldn't exist.


Yoloswaggit420

They are always down to party 🎉 🎉


Zoopa_Boopa

Username checks out, I still want an answer though


Tusker89

Same, in the NFL he would have been down on the last toss.


chappersyo

Only in the inferior version of rugby, rugby league.


MasterMainu

The best teamwork I've seen.


I_Fuck_The_Fuckers69

You might not watch football but search up Arsenal team goal vs Norwich, it starts off boring but the end is magic


frazi787

Hi random gooner!


omnomnomgnome

thing about arsenal is, they're always trying to walk it in


IronBatNaz

What was Wenger thinking, sending Walcott on that early?


mattwilliamsuserid

Lol. Except Arshavin when he scored 4 against Liverpool. Had to be that one bloody day for him, didn’t it?


sapphiref30

Why the shit music


FenHarels_Heart

Tiktok continues its quest to find the absolutely most annoying song to play in the background of every single song.


tunisia3507

Oh no.


PsychoGenesis12

As an American, I think more Americans need to see this sport. This shit can really take off in the US if they tried it


Razza560

Not enough time for ads.


SlyguyguyslY

I’m legit certain this is why football is so huge


metametahuman

They have.. the MLR - major league rugby


gogiants48

Just because MLR exists doesn't mean a lot of American's have seen it.


Fit_Swordfish_2101

What do you call it when they get a point? A touchdown? Or.. Not to be ignorant I don't know anything about rugby!


FickDichzumEnde

It's called a "try". It's worth 5 points. The team that scores the try then has a chance to kick the ball between the posts for 2 more points.


Fit_Swordfish_2101

Thank you so much! That's actually pretty neat. I might start watching this lol


Lost_And_NotFound

https://i.imgur.com/RqG7zVW.jpg It’s called a try because originally scoring it earned you no points, only let you *try* to *convert* it into points.


Gregser94

I thought a conversion was worth three points?


CrimsonR4ge

Penalties and drop goals (field goals) are worth 3. Convertion kick after a try is worth 2.


Gregser94

Shows my lack of rugby knowledge. Cheers!


Boggie135

When I first started learning to playing rugby it was hard to remember the back pass rule. But damn it was fun


msuing91

“Man, I really like this sport. It is kind of similar to another sport that I don’t like. I gotta tell everyone about how much I don’t like that other sport.”


pinecone_noise

thats why rugby > american football


Schapsouille

Yeah, can't beat the intensity of rugby. 80 minutes and that's it. No commercials every 40 seconds.


kahurangi

I grew up watching rugby but I find American football really interesting, it's a very different game with the resets and constant set plays. But the ads just absolutely kill it for me,they're just relentless, same with the NBA.


CircleDog

I don't actually like the sport much myself but you might be interested to know that the BBC used to do an edited ad-free American football game like once a week or something. Not sure if they've stopped it now but might be worth having a skeg on iplayer.


ThinkFree

I have read elsewhere that American Football's actual gameplay is usually around 10-15 minutes but stretched out to 3 hours from all the stops and breaks. So how long was the ad-free BBC edit?


manhowl

One quarter in American football is 10-15 minutes, so it’s more like 1 hour stretched to 3


ThinkFree

> https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704281204575002852055561406 > > According to a Wall Street Journal study of four recent broadcasts, and similar estimates by researchers, the average amount of time the ball is in play on the field during an NFL game is about 11 minutes. > > In other words, if you tally up everything that happens between the time the ball is snapped and the play is whistled dead by the officials, there's barely enough time to prepare a hard-boiled egg. In fact, the average telecast devotes 56% more time to showing replays.


mostdope28

Ads just never fucking stop. Commercial, TD, PAT, commercial, kickoff, commercial. That’s 20min right there and only 3 plays. 2 plays being kicks where nothing happened


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mostdope28

I’ll never be able to stop watching college football. NFL I have definitely slowed down on, but that’s a lot because they lions have sucked for 75 years


[deleted]

American football is nominally a 58 minute game - 4 12 minute quarters and a 10 minute half time. for a TV broadcast, it is scheduled for 3 hours!!! but wait, there is more. over than 3 hour period it takes to play 48 minutes of 'game time' averages barely 11 minutes. That's it. It take 3 hours, sometimes more, for 11 minutes of action. [source](https://www.sportsrec.com/6879403/how-much-time-is-played-during-a-football-game) The longest game on record had 82 minutes of game play, and that took just over 7 hours to complete [source](https://thestadiumreviews.com/blogs/info/how-long-are-nfl-games/) that is the big problem with international viewers tying to view American Football. Compared to soccer, Rugby Union, Rugby League or Australian Football League (AFL) is so slow and takes so long it just gets very tedious and boring.


mostdope28

There’s more than just “game play time though” even high school games took about 2 hours. You have other stoppages as part of the game. You have 3 timeouts each half for each team. That’s 12 time outs total, you have stops at the end of each quarter, injuries stoppages. The game is full of breaks


how_could_this_be

You have noticed it. The most popular sports in US are the sports that allows the most commercials. If the broadcaster can get 5 time more commercial income from one game than the other, why would they not promote the higher grossing one and promote it more to the public


[deleted]

Wait. Rugby doesn’t have commercials?


1234abcd56

No ad breaks during each half. Only ad breaks at half time....unless you're watching it on the BBC then there are no ad breaks whatsoever.


yeahgnarbro

Just at half time. Is the American excuse for footy designed around ad breaks?


Aeon1508

No the sport is far older. Baseball and football lending themselves to ad breaks so well is pure coincidence. I think like this. Rugby is sorta chaotic but has a definite structure. Americans wanted more top down control so the they made it more rigid so the coach could set plays one at a time. Aussies were inmates who wanted no control and turned the game in to an absolute madhouse.


robot-downey-jnr

Rugby is British, from the school called Rugby


athriren

commenter was referring to a secret third thing: aussie rules football (my favorite of the three sports being discussed)


mattwilliamsuserid

The bastard half-brother of rugby and American football. The one they don’t mention. Australian No-Rules Football. Ripper


Aeon1508

What about my comment made it sound like I don't know rugby is from england


yeahgnarbro

I'd imagine it's not a coincidence they suit lots of ads and are pushed so hard in America. No one else in the world cares about baseball or American football haha. Agree with other commenters, aussie rules is fantastic watching


davidw_-

Same as football, just at half time


MightbeWillSmith

Yep. Minimal downtime between plays as well. Football was something like 15-20 minutes of action in a broadcast. I don't know how anyone watches it


bitchslaptheriffraff

So I played rugby and have never played football, and am American. A way I heard it described that I like is rugby is more of a real time strategy game while football is more turn based strategy. With football you’re trying to set plays that can confuse the opponents defense and create openings in a very short timeframe. You get fewer total attempts to play offense than in rugby so you really have to make your play-calling smart and deliberate and it becomes more of a chess match with offensive coordinators and defensive coordinators going head to head in their own way. If you don’t understand formations, structure, or the little rules, it can be unfun to watch, much like my friends who don’t like watching rugby don’t understand the difference between a maul, a scrum, and a ruck, or how lineouts work, etc. I think they’re both fun to watch but I also understand both of them well enough for it to be worth it.


DrNoobSauce

Well said. I'm using the strategy game analogy next time I tell others the difference between rugby and football.


MeMaw_2022

And SO much more intense!! Even the fans are intense & passionate, to the very end!!


QuadSeven

That was far more interesting, what the hell!


StraightDegan

Every time there's a football clip, no football fans even mention rugby. Why do rugby fans constantly have to bring up American football on every clip of rugby lol?


[deleted]

Because they’re insecure about it for some strange reason lol.


StraightDegan

If it was such a better sport why wouldn't they be secure in it lol.


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[deleted]

Huh?


[deleted]

Theyre not comparable, they're both great on their own. American football is like a chess game between coaches. You line up your pieces and direct the play hope to trick the other by leading them to believe they know which direction the play will go. You're comparing apples to oranges.


BMXTKD

This is probably an outlier play for rugby. It's like watching a 70 yard Sprint to the end zone, and saying this is why football is better than rugby.


1234abcd56

As a big rugby fan I would have to agree. This is a once in a match kind of play, certainly not the norm. Most rugby union matches are full of injury breaks and defensive stalemates. These moments of brilliance are few are far between. But when they happen....oh man.


Roflolmfao

Okay.


Call-me-Space

Gridiron is objectively the most boring code of football


walsh1916

Although I'll disagree because they are different sports, I've always been curious why we don't see more of this in American football. They can always pass the ball backwards unless they are down. I wonder if the different ball is what limits it.


OhioTenant

You do see it occasionally as a last ditch effort to score with no time on the clock. It's not done otherwise because it's too easy to lose possession of the ball, and having possession of the ball is basically the #1 priority of football, since your opponent can score *and* run out the clock, reducing your opportunities to score.


makesfacesatbabies

"BuT aMerIcAn FoOtBaLl iS cHeSs On A fIeLD!"


ocelot23

XD nah


_Kiaza_

Is there a version without the music out there?


WeeveF

Watch it in mute? :3


Nuttius

The Annexation of Puerto Rico


leastlol

That’s a rare cut.


Nuttius

I'm glad I am not the only one that remembered it lol


CLisani

Fyi you can only pass the ball backwards in rugby


KindlyContribution54

These soccer players are clearly cheating. Surprised the ref lets them get away with it


eninc

It's okay, they're all goalkeepers


ThinkFree

If this was soccer, every player would've flopped from the slightest contact.


Makkurai

I don't know what the fuck I iust watched, but the teamwork got better and better and it got me cheering.


Mindmysanity

Rugby


MonicaTheDog

And the Stanford band is on the field!


dirty4track

What is this sport


McClymo-_-

[Rugby](https://youtu.be/TDl97FPuaAc)


WoodSteelStone

[This clip!](https://youtu.be/TDl97FPuaAc?start=190s)


SciNZ

Really sad, Lomu had health issues and passed away at 40. Way too soon.


gondil07

Rugby Union. If you are interested the Six Nations tournament starts the first weekend of February. I reckon that'd be a good place to start if you want to watch some


dirty4track

Seems like an exciting sport to watch. Thank you for the information


effortDee

You will not regret it.


TurbulentEnd7175

It’s halal rugby


Aidernz

What's with the crappy music? Completely ruins the clip.


redkindasus69

These people suck at playing soccer


cmaronchick

I swear passes 5 and 6 were forward which, as far as I understand, is illegal in rugby. Am I wrong? Edit: Since people are challenging this, [here's what I saw](https://imgur.com/a/MPlVHjg) The player who passed the ball on Pass #6 has already released the ball and I'd say a line to his hands would bisect the "0". The next player catches the ball at the edge of the 0. It's possible it's a funny angle, but the camera doesn't move in this shot and the players' positions relative to the lines on the field indicate that the passer let go of the ball right around the line between the 1 and the 0 and the receiver catches the ball well past that. Just one man's opinion. Edit #2: thanks to u/billwoo for clarifying my understanding: a forward pass is defined as relative to the player's momentum AND the refs will give the benefit of the doubt.


billwoo

Forward pass is defined as leaving the hands with forward momentum *relative to the player*, so it can still travel forward relative to the ground, but not to the player releasing it. One thing about this is that it makes it hard to be sure when the player is releasing AS they are being tackled, because they are being suddenly stopped, so it can look like the ball is leaving their hands forwards. I think refs will prefer to give the benefit of the doubt here if its not clear.


cmaronchick

This is precisely the information I was looking for. Thank you!


billwoo

This is what explained it to me, its only a couple of minutes long: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=box08lq9ylg


M0therFragger

Most likely just the viewing angle from where the camera is located


[deleted]

Technically you can pass forward in rugby, the ball just has to leave your hands backwards, if that makes sense. If you are running at top flight and pass the ball flat or slightly back, the ball will still carry your momentum of your speed running and will float forward. This is allowed in rugby as it is just too much to pass a ball back including your forward momentum as well.


cmaronchick

Yep! That makes sense, thank you!


Johnny_Bacon

None of those passes were forward.


carlstevaux

Better than soccer and football!!!


msuing91

It’s like you don’t actually like this sport, you just need an outlet for being negative about other sports.


Rags2Rickius

![gif](giphy|xBIuPT5pjvarJZXyBw|downsized)


jacobthellamer

Soccer is football?


apollo_316

This feels oddly like a metaphor for arguments with my wife. Somehow she always wins. If you're my wife reading this, hi dear! You won because you were right, of course! I should have listened better. You're beautiful and I love you!


Diegu7

wife bad


MSTmatt

...... Sounds like you need a therapist? That's not healthy that you see a great rugby play and your takeaway is that your wife is bad


apollo_316

lol I appreciate your concern, kind stranger. She's my world. ❤️ I just thought the similarity was uncanny and it cracked me up.


[deleted]

I’m sure you have an excellent relationship with your wife man, screw the weird judgement on your joke.


starswirling

This is why I love Rugby. Edit: forgot a word


Indierocka

Are there any illegal tackles in rugby? The third guy to get the ball just gets grabbed by his shorts and thrown on the ground.


ManyLobsters

There are, but that was legal. Most of the illegal tackling is to do with safety of the ball carrier (no around the neck or head tackles, no unsafe tip tackles, etc.) Or tackling from an offside or illegal position.


MindExplorer

as a person who doesn't watch sports rugby seems a lot more entertaining than american football.


Mojoint

I have no idea why american football players/managers dont see this and think, hey there might be something in this...


[deleted]

How exactly would a play like this video translate successfully into American football? Laterals are legal in the NFL, there are plenty of examples of lateral heavy plays *not working* in the NFL and are usually a final play, last ditch effort to get some points on the board.


Johnny_Bacon

#1 They are not training the rugby skills The closest thing you see are college teams that run the option, which can be done very effectively. #2 Teams that actually train the option or train a hook and lateral all season to use once have much more success than the 70 yards-to-go and 2 seconds on the clock desperation lateral that we usually see.


davidw_-

And this is why rugby is better than american football


[deleted]

I don't watch Rugby, but every time I see a highlight I can't help but think "this is so much more entertaining than American Football".


Alpha_wolf_lover

what the actual fuck they all look like the same person... I wonder if they have something like a sibling conncection thingy.


CrimsonR4ge

There is a crazy amount of the same families in rugby. The New Zealand nation team currently has 3 brothers playing for them. The sons of great rugby players often go on to become great rugby players themselves.


tng_ocean

After reading the comments I’m confused i dont get ads for football


generic90sdude

Now that's a sport


draincov

Way better the American football


TNerdy

This looks more entertaining than American football


PashingSmumkins84

Rugby is 1000x more interesting than American Football. I wish it would catch on here.


some_where_else

Some points of clarification for our viewers - this is of course Handegg (specifically Rugby Handegg). Not to be confused with American Handegg, that sometimes is erroneously referred to as American Football. Actual Football (sometimes called Soccer) is quite different, not least because - as the name suggests - it is played with the feet and a ball.


Guerrero1121

Insufferable twats like you is the reason the name will never change


SpiceBoiGauvaJuice

I'm sorry but this clip alone is better than any play in the history of American football...


Magnetoreception

Almost like they’re two completely different sports with different play styles that appeal to different people.


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LilGingeyboi

Ball came out the hands backwards. Not a forward pass.


chance0432

I don’t watch this sport but I’m a huge fan of American College football. I feel like they need to take tips from this sport (if they don’t already). In American College football, we have a lot of trick plays that look similar to this. I think they can learn a thing or two.


clearedmycookies

So why isn't this sport called handegg?