Rugby World Cup

[NSL]

Apparently, we Americans play so much rugby, I didn't even know this existed until reading up on London bidding for the soccer/football World Cup in 2018.

In 2015, the world's best (or at least the teams that qualify), will take place in the Rugby World Cup in London. Check that, I just saw there's one in 2011. Goes to show how much we pay attention to things like these.

Here's what I want to know, and hopefully can get discussed in here. Do you think that if the USA performs well, say like we did in that last tourney (I've already forgotten the name), that rugby can start to gain some notoriety in the states, or is it all a lost cause?

Also, I'd just like to know generally what everyone thinks of the tournament, and qualifiers, and obviously, who they think will win and why. I'm sensing it'll almost be all England supporters, but who knows.





Yes, this thread is almost entirely for my education purposes...)

 

[Shadowmancer]

The US has as much chance as Canada does at winning it. New Zealand, France, Australia, South Africa and England have the most chance of winning the next one actually the next two. The Power structure within the world game of Rugby is fairly firmly established. And it is only vaguely changing with regards to the minnows of the sport with Argentina and Italy raising themselves up past where they have been traditionally. The real powerbase for the game still revolves around SANZAR which stands for South Africa, New Zealand, Australia Rugby. The US very much has no real chance on the true international stage right now, as they get beaten by New Zealand's second or third rank team they also lose to Australia's second ranked team.

The US could get better if they put resources into truly developing as a team, which generally speaking teams from the US aren't that good because of the nature of the competitions there. But they have gotten in some New Zealand coaches so they could get better within their region.

I would take Japan over the US though, with John Kirwan coaching they have the advantage of having one of the greatest players to ever play coaching them, generally speaking he is the one that got Italy to start their rise up in the world, and he is doing it with Japan as well.

 

[NSL]

The US has as much chance as Canada does at winning it. New Zealand, France, Australia, South Africa and England have the most chance of winning the next one actually the next two. The Power structure within the world game of Rugby is fairly firmly established. And it is only vaguely changing with regards to the minnows of the sport with Argentina and Italy raising themselves up past where they have been traditionally. The real powerbase for the game still revolves around SANZAR which stands for South Africa, New Zealand, Australia Rugby. The US very much has no real chance on the true international stage right now, as they get beaten by New Zealand's second or third rank team they also lose to Australia's second ranked team.

This is kind of how I figured it would go. NZ and Australia at the top, and then the Western European (France, England) countries next. I had seen the article on the Rugby World Cup, and then almost forgot to make this thread, until I actually saw a commercial advertising an upcoming qualifier with Canada. Apparently, they own us in international competition, so the odds aren't looking great that we'll even make it. I'll root for us, because everyone likes an underdog, but I've been told to root for England. I'll have to watch a bit more before deciding who to throw my suport behind, for what it's worth.

 

[The Todd]

I'll root for us, because everyone likes an underdog, but I've been told to root for England. I'll have to watch a bit more before deciding who to throw my suport behind, for what it's worth.

Don't root for England. In World CUp competitions we have a good record lately, won it in 2003 with a famous drop goal from Jonny Wilkinson, then reached the final in 2007 but lost comfortably to South Africa (the world's most outstanding team at the moment, ahead of New Zealand). However, England were terrible in that World Cup but got extremely lucky. Since then England are consistently the fourth best team in the Northern Hemishpere behind Wales, Ireland and France.

Oh, I think I should point out that Rugby is split into regions, the North and South Hemisphere. The Northern Hemisphere "big" clubs are England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. The Southern Hemisphere ones are Argentina, Australia, NZ and SA.

Teams like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga are the so-called "next" teams who can occasionally scare the bigger teams, then you have USA, Canada, Japan and some other European Countries who generally qualify for the World Cup but never come close to beating the "big" sides.

There are usually very few upsets in a Rugby game, unlike "soccer" so USA's chances, if they qualify, are extremely slim.

Whether it could catch on or not i'm not so sure. I'n England some people view American Football as a "wimp's version of Rugby" (though I'd like to point out that this is not a view I share). The ball is the same shape, but Rugby's is a little bigger, there is a lot of physical contact, and points are scored by try's (touchdowns) and kicks at goal. With these similarities, but with long sections of play with nothing happening I can't see it ever being big. American's don't like long sections of play in sports with not a lot happening I believe and many will watch and simply state "it's shite compared to American football, turn it off."

 

[Miko]

My opinion of American sports is that well, if they actually took part in sports the rest of the world actually gave a shit about then they'd be fucking good. They got the size, which means a shit load of people to choose from, the money to put into funding their efforts.

Basically, if rugby or football gained true recognition out there and their athletes thought "instead of being world champions in a sport that only one country plays, how about we become world champions in a sport the rest of the world takes part in" they could win trophies. Have I gone off topic?

-EDIT- For the slow people amongst us, when I say that America doesnt partake in any sports the rest of the world care about I am obviously exxagerrating -EDIT-

 

[Leeds Guy]

USA won't win it, neither will England. It will be either NZ,Australlia or South Africa who win it as one of these always win it (apart from 2003 with the greatest drop goal ever scored by a man who has been injured ever since) Rugby Union is poor it always has been. Back in 2003 when we won it the nation had a ''Oh thats nice'' kind of attitude towards it because even we dont care about it. People will be pumped when the Rugby League World Cup comes about again because it's just a much better sport than the pile on pap that is union.

 

[The Todd]

Rugby Union is poor it always has been.

Yeah it is, but so is every form of rugby.

Back in 2003 when we won it the nation had a ''Oh thats nice'' kind of attitude towards it because even we dont care about it.

Bollocks. The nation spoke of nothing else. I had a 5-a-side league game and when a roar went up from the pub upstairs the ref called a half for the game and we all rushed upstairs. No one spoke of anything else for a week and Jonny Wilkinson was a national hero.

People will be pumped when the Rugby League World Cup comes about again because it's just a much better sport than the pile on pap that is union.

Again, bollocks. I understand you're from one of the towns who play the sport, but no one else cares. When I lived in Durham nobody I knew could name a single League player. I only got to know the game when I moved to Huddersfield because they think they own the sport. Remember the world cup that just passed? Hardly anyone knew it was on. I only knew about it due to my course leader covering the sport for a paper and he sounded more excited about two months in Australia rather than watching Australia and NZ steamroller everyone.

League isn't as popular as Union. It is in the M62 corridor, but no where else.

 

[Leeds Guy]

Bollocks. The nation spoke of nothing else. I had a 5-a-side league game and when a roar went up from the pub upstairs the ref called a half for the game and we all rushed upstairs. No one spoke of anything else for a week and Jonny Wilkinson was a national hero.

Fair enough to say nobody really cared was an understatement but England did well in a sport so of corse the papers were all over it. They had the tour bus around London but after that I didn't hear shit all else. It was no way near the grip that lets say the 2005 Ashes had on the nation. Jonny Wilikinson was a national hero for about 3 months then nothing, all I have heard about him since is how he has another injury setback and like I say it was only the papers that were giving him praise everybody at my college and work didn't care just like in 2007. The only people who care are the die hard Union fans.

Again, bollocks. I understand you're from one of the towns who play the sport, but no one else cares. When I lived in Durham nobody I knew could name a single League player. I only got to know the game when I moved to Huddersfield because they think they own the sport. Remember the world cup that just passed? Hardly anyone knew it was on. I only knew about it due to my course leader covering the sport for a paper and he sounded more excited about two months in Australia rather than watching Australia and NZ steamroller everyone.

I'd say Rugby League is the 3rd popular sport of the country behind Football and Cricket. Alot more people are waking up and warming to RL then you can imagine and having games up in places like scotland and france can only be a good thing for the sport. I would deffinatly go out on a limba nd say more people prefere League to Union.

 

[The Todd]

I'd say Rugby League is the 3rd popular sport of the country behind Football and Cricket.

Well you could be right. All I know is on Sky football is the most popular sport and darts is second. Cricket definitely is the next. I'd like to see viewing figures for the grand final of each the Rugby League and the Guinness Premier League or Heineken Cup. The Union national team are more popular though, I think that is pretty much a certain.

I would deffinatly go out on a limba nd say more people prefere League to Union.

To be sure you'd have to see viewing/participation figures. All I know is in a room full of budding sports journalists, the majority from the north of England, Union was slightly more popular than League, though the winner was "rugby's shit". Though I have noticed League fans will have nothing to do with Union whilst Union fans will occasionally watch League.