From the October 31, 2014, Chicago Tribune "Emerging sport gets day on the big stage" by Chris Hine.
"Rugby is an intensely physical game, played without pads, in which broken bones and battered bodies are common. The sport is also remarkable for the toughness of its participants and the intense camaraderie formed between teammates and foes alike. It is a culture unfamiliar to most Americans--but that is changing."
Saturday rugby will have one of its biggest moments in Chicago when the best team in rugby, New Zealand's All Blacks will take on the USA Eagles at Soldier Field in Chicago before a 61,000 sell-out crowd, the biggest-ever for a rugby match in this country. (The All Blacks take their name from the color of their uniforms in case you're wondering.)
And, rugby makes its Olympic debut in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Chicago has two rugby clubs that play at the top level of U.S. competition, the Griffins and Lions.
Over the last two decades, rugby has become one of the fastest growing team sports in our country. According to the Rugby World Cup, currently 1,130,000 Americans are involved in it, yet most people don't know much about it.
The Chicago Area Rugby Union says that the Chicago-area has 41 rugby clubs, including some women's clubs, up from 26 twenty years ago.
And, I Am Sure a Big Fan. --RoadDog
Being an account of some things I'm interested in, what I'm doing, and reflections on my past, especially music.
Listen to this man. Seven years of college, you know. Trying to reason with 2020 and, now, 2022.
Showing posts with label New Zealand All Blacks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Zealand All Blacks. Show all posts
Monday, November 3, 2014
Saturday, November 1, 2014
The Day of the Rugby-- Part 1
I watched the All Black blowout of the team USA today on NBC. The Americans never had a chance. There is a reason the New Zealand All Blacks are the #1 rugby team in the world and they clearly showed it. It was textbook how to play the game. I think the final score was something like 72-6. (They are called All Blacks because of the black uniforms they wear.)
But, at least I got to watch a rugby game, something you rarely get here in the United States. And, even better, I saw the All Black Haka, which is something to behold. Just check it out on You Tube.
But, at least Soldier Field in Chicago was sold out at 60,000, and even though the crowd was mostly American, they were pulling a whole lot for the All Blacks. I pulled out my All Black Haka coolie and All Black flag, even though I was pulling for the USA.
I got hooked on rugby on a trip I went with my mom and sister to Australia and New Zealand. We arrived right when both levels of rugby from Australia and New Zealand were playing. If Americans think they have rivalries in football, that is nothing compared to the one between these two countries.
I sure had a great time watching the games and learning about the sport.
--RoadDog
SAY WHAT? "That's the $64,000 question."-- The radio show became the $64,000 TV show.
But, at least I got to watch a rugby game, something you rarely get here in the United States. And, even better, I saw the All Black Haka, which is something to behold. Just check it out on You Tube.
But, at least Soldier Field in Chicago was sold out at 60,000, and even though the crowd was mostly American, they were pulling a whole lot for the All Blacks. I pulled out my All Black Haka coolie and All Black flag, even though I was pulling for the USA.
I got hooked on rugby on a trip I went with my mom and sister to Australia and New Zealand. We arrived right when both levels of rugby from Australia and New Zealand were playing. If Americans think they have rivalries in football, that is nothing compared to the one between these two countries.
I sure had a great time watching the games and learning about the sport.
--RoadDog
SAY WHAT? "That's the $64,000 question."-- The radio show became the $64,000 TV show.
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