A Girls Guide to Rugby

It’s a known fact that rugby is a little like marmite. You either love it.. or you hate it. The most likely reason for hating it, no doubt has something to do with loving the complete opposite sport.. football. Ok so that’s all a little confusing. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I have always loved marmite on my toast, and therefore rugby it is!

I’m not denying the talent footballers possess when bending it like Beckham and dribbling all over the pitch. And I’m not denying the fact some fans are quite literally dribbling all over the toned bodies revealed when shirts are removed at the end of a game, often following a victory. BUT what is it that makes Rugby the clear winner for me you ask? It may have something to do with not grasping the offside rule, despite numerous attempts by boyfriends via the tomato ketchup and vinegar bottles after an evening meal. 

All jokes aside about rugby being the game for “gays,” it in fact revolves around strong, talented individuals who are determined to drive that ball over the try line no matter who gets in their way. After being brought up in a household where visits to Twickenham and grounds alike are as regular as trips to the supermarket, I hold much respect for those men getting out there and getting dirty in order to bring home a try. Unfortunately after enduring lessons as a child in the ‘under sevens’ team, I decided ballet and remaining mud free was actually for me, as opposed to countless manic seven-year-old boys wrestling with you in order to give up the ball. From then on I’ve watched my dad and brother from the sidelines, and been quite content in doing just that.

At the height of the Six Nations this is no doubt the most exciting time for all rugby fanatics. With the competition rising, so is the pressure for each and every player, in particular those playing for England. England’s date with destiny will be the final game of the championship this weekend when they take on Ireland, the team that have one won six of the past seven Tests between the two sides. 2003 saw England clinch a Grand Slam with an impressive 42-6 win over Ireland, but can they do it again in Dublin in the final part of what has been a fantastic sporting event for them?

I’m not going to lie, if they play anything like they did on the 12^h February against Italy.. then it’s a sure bet. Witnessing the 59-13 triumph from Twickenham air was an experience I’ll never forget. Sitting next to the Italian girlfriend of an England supporter is also something that will stay with me for a long time to come, especially her reaction when the whistle was blown, and the future of their relationship fell under serious jeopardy! Flood was on form as ever, with conversations coming as easy to him as us fans found cheering for each converstion made. Other favourite players, Wilkinson and Care, found their feet as England made a raft of replacements, and ultimately concluded in Italy’s defeat.

So back to the debate of which sport rules the pitch.. it is what happens off the pitch that is equally important, and therefore I believe this to be another advantage rugby has over football. Despite the exception, in general, rugby fans hold a high reputation for taking games in their stride, with the word ‘hooligan’ often falling after that of the word ‘football.’  It is not unusual to hear of football fans being trampled down after an unwanted result by an extremely competitive fan based side.

Both being contact sports, it is also the players that appear to suffer through foul play and bad sportsmanship. Yet is it a fair statement to make that one of these two sports inflicts much more pain and angst on its players? Scrums and tackles find rugby players being battered and bruised, although this abides by the rules of the game. Kicking up a storm in the mud is not quite a footballers idea of kicking a ball. Scoring a goal untouched is the idyllic game for any Wayne Rooney, and with the average footballer earning enough for numerous cosmetic surgery procedures a week, it is in fact those that play rugby whose play comes at a price. Broken noses and the famous ‘cauliflower ears’ are just some painful trophies that these ‘rugger buggers’ famously endure, in comparison to the gold studded boots and associated with Becks and his pecks.

The controversy between whether football or rugby should take to the top will never cease, but for now, lets just enjoy those men in shorts.. what ever shape ball their playing with!