Rugby: The Fastest Growing Sport in America

One of the fastest growing sports in America is now rugby. From fan appreciation watching the tri nation's tournament at a bar or university students engaging in grueling matches against league opponents, the love for the sport runs through their veins. The passion for rugby has embarked into the new century with enthusiastic watchers who simply can't get enough of the sport.

One of the greatest things about the sport of rugby is that there is a certain sportsmanship that embodies rugby. The team is in essence, a family. Players stand up for one another and feel like brothers, or sisters, together out on the pitch. If a team doesn't feel this way, then this is not a rugby team at all. Teamwork is the ultimate means of producing a good team and winning matches. Simple examples of this are scrums and backs plays. Scrums involve nine guys working together against the other team's pack of nine guys with the advantage going to the team who puts the ball into the scrum. A successful scrum involves all members working together as a unit to win possession of the ball. However, teamwork doesn't only involve the members of the pack. There are also the backs who work as a cohesive unit on plays to trick the opponents and try to score. As brutal and competitive as rugby can be, the show of sportsmanship is no more apparent than with the drink-ups after the game.

A motto that has been used in this sport is 'leave it all on the field'. This means that whatever happens, whether it be fights or brawls, we all laugh and sing together after the games. I think the reason for this is that it doesn't really matter who wins the game, it's just that you played. Sure, its better to win than lose, but players appreciate the sport for the game. Your not playing for a trophy like a World Series Championship for baseball or Super bowl Trophy for football, it's for the love of the game.

I, personally, have played for two teams in my life and I have felt all of the same things that I have been talking about. As a sports fanatic, I have never watched or played a better sport than rugby. And I am happy to report that rugby is a sport that is getting enormous attention from the American community. Everywhere you look, new teams are being born. There are youth programs sprouting up all over and more prestigious tournaments are being hosted on TV. sets in bars. For these reasons, rugby has truly been the fastest growing sport in America.