FORUMS > Rugby Forum Rules

Yes, I believe this country finally is. The only problem I see is with a large audience because Americans are so accustomed to commercial breaks, time outs, etc. but it'll grow!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jun/24/american-sports-fans-warming-rugby?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038

I say this on almost all my posts haha...
I'm from England originally ,I now live in South Carolina. I work at a British Pub where we have all major sports on. Rugby is still only played in the background when nothing else is on, volume down because no fans show up to see it. We have an extremely big customer base for football, and at least half are from England but only seem to have a slight interest in rugby.
Lots of American customers ask me the rules for rugby if they notice it is on but I still find it hard to translate between rugby and american football, I normally get half way into my spiel when they say "it sounds too boring to me...."
If they'd fucking watch the sport they would see it is one of the most fast paced sports on the planet and requires extreme mental and physical capacity, I don't tell them that obviously lol.
It is growing, but at an extremely slow pace

haha go RFU

I'd say yes. In my area of the country (northeast) there are a lot more rugby programs being developed in the middle and high schools this past decade. I still think a big problem is the fact that they don't televise major rugby tournaments here unless you have satellite or something extra. For example, in the Euro 2012 football tournament, every match was televised.
Rugby 6 Nations, only the England games were on. And there were way too few WC games shown too. And let's say I want to watch a Harlequins match. Oh well, too bad. Not so with soccer. I can probably find an Arsenal or ManU game on TV right now.

And let's be honest. On a global stage, other than 7's, the US rugby team sucks. Maybe as they get better it will become more popular.

I would love to see the US warm up to soccer as well since it is most popular sport in the world.

That is true, if the Eagles would do better then it'd probably catch on further. Usa Rugby does have a tv agreement with NBC Universal, thank god, so that gives 7s plenty of exposure. It is exploding across the country and I'm surprised the NCAA has yet to take it under its wings. If/when that happens you'll probably see it really take off.

Like I said though, Americans enjoy their commercial breaks and shit like that.

Gay rugby teams are continuing to grow with a new one getting ready to set up shop in Charleston, SC.

I still stand firm by the saying "pads are for panties."

roadbikeRob saidI would love to see the US warm up to soccer as well since it is most popular sport in the world.

At least beyond a kids sport, you know? A lot of kids take up soccer in the US but seldom pursue it seriously beyond parks & recs or high school.

but when english guys view rugby in america, they feel like storming on the pitch and telling them how to play it right!

I think the key to rugby's (slowly!) increasing popularity is the live match. Live American football can get pretty tedious, since it's shot throughout with delays and preparation, but live rugby is more or less constant motion. As more and more high schools and colleges set up rugby programs, and as local clubs get better at publicizing their matches, I think rugby will continue to grow in the U.S.

Having sevens in the 2016 Olympics will also help, to an extent, but that's still four years off.

I AM!

NashRugger saidGay rugby teams are continuing to grow with a new one getting ready to set up shop in Charleston, SC.

YAY BLOCKADE!

Seriously, though - I don't mean for us to take all the credit, but gays really are driving a lot of interest in rugby, between IGRAB teams and the burgeoning rugger-beefcake-photography market.

I may practice with the Mayhem in Minneapolis tonight. But I think Jim is right- it will catch on because it's crazy brutal and we Americans are starting to like it, plus the action doesn't stop unlike American Football, which can get pretty tedious at times.

Famous soccer teams come here occasionally. Barcelona and ManU have played in New England. Maybe if some British or Australian rugby teams come here, that would help.
Besides once women and gay men see what Danny Care, Ben Foden and others look like, there will be more fans!

americans have a long way to go untill they play it right!

FTTL11 saidamericans have a long way to go untill they play it right!

Oh stop it.

Oh, Danny Care is my total dream and Ben Foden is daddy dick since his fiance Una Healey of The Saturdays popped that nugget out in March.

RIGuy60 saidFamous soccer teams come here occasionally. Barcelona and ManU have played in New England. Maybe if some British or Australian rugby teams come here, that would help.
Besides once women and gay men see what Danny Care, Ben Foden and others look like, there will be more fans!

There have been rumors about having a Super Rugby match or two in the US, but I haven't seen anything concrete there. USA Rugby also hosted one leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series - the only component of that series held in the Western Hemisphere - this past February in Las Vegas, and there was just an international test match in Houston this past weekend (as referenced in the OP's link).

they need an englishman n every time to teach them hehe

FTTL11 saidthey need an englishman n every time to teach them hehe

We got an Aussie on my team, good enough.

Had two English guys on our team one year. Both backs. They were incredible!

It seems to follow the same pattern as soccer. It is played but not regularly watched.

louder_and_louder saidIt seems to follow the same pattern as soccer. It is played but not regularly watched.

Exactly. Give it some time though.

FTTL11 saidthey need an englishman n every time to teach them hehe

60% of our refs were from either Australia, Ireland or the UK.

NashRugger saidYes, I believe this country finally is. The only problem I see is with a large audience because Americans are so accustomed to commercial breaks, time outs, etc. but it'll grow!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jun/24/american-sports-fans-warming-rugby?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038

12 more reasons to love rugby

http://socialitelife.com/photos-dieux-du-stade-2012-calendar-a-sneak-peak-10-2011

i just started playing rugby and love it. i tell everyone about it and all my male friends at least come out to one practice to see what its about.