Rugby is a sport that has been played since the late 1800’s thanks to a man by the name of William Webb Ellis from Rugby University. Since that time, rugby has grown to be played throughout the world and was even in the Olympics previously, where Team USA brought home the gold in 1920 and 1924. After 1924 rugby was taken out after Pierre de Coubertin stepped down from running the International Olympic Committee and the interest from competing countries was low. Fast forward to 2016, rugby is going to make its comeback in a shorter version, rugby sevens. Here’s what you will need to know to be the best cheerleader for Team USA’s rugby teams this summer:
1. The game is shorter, the rules are the same, and the field does not shrink
Traditional rugby is played in two 40 minute halves on a pitch that is 110 meters long and 50 meters wide (that’s larger than a football field!) with 15 players competing per team. Rugby sevens, which will be in the Olympics, is played in two seven-minute halves with seven players on each team. Rugby sevens and traditional rugby have the exact same rules on the same size pitch.
2. Team USA has two Olympic qualified teams
For anyone that has never seen rugby, you are in for a treat because this summer there will be two tournaments, the men’s and women’s tournaments. Team USA has already qualified with both a men’s and women’s side, so break out those flags and cheer nice and loud for these world class athletes.
3. Anyone could take home the gold
One thing I am consistently asked since being the intern for the US rugby teams is, “what are our chances at winning gold?”, and while I want to say we are definitely medal contenders, the same could be said about almost any team. Rugby sevens is a fast-paced game and anything can happen, as we saw with the USA men defeating the New Zealand All Blacks three times in the HSBC Sevens World Series and the women defeating the New Zealand women. This version of rugby does not have teams that are guaranteed to dominate like we see in traditional rugby, which will make the Olympics that much more exciting to watch.
4. Team USA has some pretty incredible athletes
What makes our country so great is the diversity in athletics we have. USA is home to the fastest man in rugby, Carlin Isles. Perry Baker, Nate Ebner (safety for the New England Patriots), Jillion Potter, Alev Kelter, and Kelly Griffin all add to the player pool of Team USA. Their life stories are amazing. These athletes have worked for years, (before rugby was even announced as an Olympic sport) to grow the game of rugby. Get to know more about them and their passion! Check out the team website to familiarize yourself with the names that you will be hearing a lot of this summer.
5. It's more than a game, it’s a lifestyle
Rugby, while a very tough game, comes with an aspect that most other sports don’t have: comradery for both your teammates and your opposition. On the field, these athletes fight tooth and nail to win their games, and there are rivalries, but those are mostly for fans. When the teams are all using the same facilities and seeing each other off the pitch, they actually are all good friends and catch up just like you and I do with our friends from school after being on break. Anyone that has interacted with rugby players off the field will probably tell you that “rugby people are good people” they are not scary or mean; the athletes are nice, goofy, and genuine people.
6. Rugby is not football without pads
What most people might not know is that American football was actually based on rugby. To score in rugby, you have to touch the ball down (hence touchdown) in the try zone, or end zone. Wherever the ball is touched, is where the kick comes straight back from. This is why you will see a lot of rugby players running under the goal posts to make the kick easier. The try is worth five points and if the kick is made, it is worth two more points. Much like football, seven points can be awarded when scoring.
Tackling in rugby is also different. As the men's head coach, Mike Friday puts it, “football is a collision sport, rugby is a contact sport.” Tackles in rugby can only be made on the person carrying the ball. They must also be considered “safe”. Anything from the shoulders up is off limits, otherwise you will be penalized. Safe tackles also include not hitting a person who is off their feet, so you might see penalties for players getting hit while on the ground or while jumping in the air.
7. Anyone can play rugby
You will see teenage gymnasts and swimmers competing for medals, but what makes rugby pretty unique is that there is an age range of about 20 years on some teams. Rugby is a sport you can start when you are 5 years old and play until you get the senior citizen discount at the grocery store. This makes it possible for athletes of any age to make an Olympic team.
8. Nobody is guaranteed a spot
A little known fact is that most athletes don’t even know if they will be going to the Olympic Games until just before they leave. Rugby is no exception. The athletes will not know if they are selected for the Olympics until just a couple weeks prior to departure. This gives coaches time to put together their absolute best squads, and allows players to prove that they should be representing their country.
9. You don’t have to know rugby to cheer for the teams
Fans that attend games aren’t going to be yelling out rugby terms, more than likely they will be chanting the good ol’ “U-S-A”, and that is more than enough to fuel some adrenaline. Watching rugby is an experience by itself, so watch and enjoy what Team USA will have to offer, which will hopefully be a medal of any color!
Whether you know all about rugby or are just now learning what it is, this summer is going to be exciting. You will be witnessing history because this is the reintroduction of rugby to the Olympics. Gather your friends and family for these matches that are sure to get you fired up and make you cheer for Team USA even more.
Go Eagles!
