Rugby…the man sport!

I am now totally convinced that Rugby is the sport of men!  Sure there are women’s teams, but this is the ultimate man sport if there ever was one.  Take American football, soccer, and a healthy dose of hockey and you have the sport of rugby.  There doesn’t seem to be any rules, time outs, or breaks between half’s.  Its all out intensity, testosterone, and barbarians.  And i loved it!!

This game is like a giant game of hot potato, and the ball is the potato.  I had never witnessed a rugby game before covering the USA Sevens World Cup.  Now I can’t imagine missing a game!  The World Cup had 44 matches with teams from 16 countries all playing two 7 minute halves.  Its a very intense 7 minutes.  These guys take the field with no protective gear and beat the living daylights out of each other.

They make running tackles, gang up on who ever has the ball, regardless of team alliances.  Its crazy, barbaric, and very fun!  There doesn’t seem to be any rules when it comes to player contact.  Just about anything goes, and the more brutal the more the fans love it.  These guys are tough too.  They take the hits and just keep right on going.  Nothing seems to stop them.  Its like a field full of Supermen!

Before last weekend I had no idea how popular Rugby was.  The fans are rabid!  They love their team of choice and anyone who says different is in for a brawl.  The fans dress in costumes and wave flags and banners all day long.  Everyone is there for the action and to be a part of the teams success.  We saw more fans dressed for the occasion than not, talk about some premo people watching!

Just for the ladies… if you think this sport is too ruff for you let me be the one to remind you… all muscles, brawn, and yummy man-ness dressed in shorts and tight shirts!  Its never a bad combination!

Las Vegas will be hosting this event for the next three years.  I suspect we will see the crowds grow even larger as the years move on.  I for one will not miss it!  You can see more photos from this event at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thevegastourist/sets/72157623464048722/