Opinions

As a former high school football player, and former college rugby player I think I have first hand experience on this topic. I live in a rural area in Michigan and had no previous exposure to rugby. I had heard of the game but had not seen it played until college.

As a freshman at Central Michigan University I found out through a friend that the rugby team was having sign up's/ try outs so I went to check it out. I was shocked at how fast paced the game was. It has all the non stop action of soccer, but also the physical nature, or violence if you will of American football. This is going to be the major selling point for this game as is grows in the US.

Once people can see the game and understand the rules, rugby is going to be huge over here. With the NFL adding more and more rules about what contact can and can not be made, in a contact sport, rugby is the answer. Really at the rate they are going it will be the NFFL (National Flag Football League) in about five years.

The fact that rugby players take and deliver hits that rival and at times exceed the force of pro football players, and they do it without pads and helmets is amazing.  The college game has the whole BCS thing. Really how many times can there be undefeated teams ranked in the top ten and they not get a shot for a title. As more and more people get fed up with these and other problems with football, rugby's time to shine in this country is drawing nearer.

I for one can not wait for the day when I don't have to drop fifty bucks to watch the All Blacks put a whipping on somebody. I hope that this time ESPN succeeds where Fox failed and that the US is ready for rugby.

Nicholas D

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