Think of the physicality and pace of football mixed with the fluidity of soccer; this is what watching a game of rugby is like. When asked about what sets rugby apart from mainstream American sports, Loyola Rugby Coach Matthew Fisher said, “It is a consistent, ongoing game that is not the chess match of football…but it has more dynamism and aggressiveness than soccer.”
Rugby Union, a specific set of rugby rules, consists of 15 players on a football-sized field, although some other variations of rugby have either 13 or seven players on the same size pitch. The rules allow for all types of kicks and passes to be completed from player to player provided that the ball is not thrown or knocked forward.
There are two major tournaments that take place in the rugby world. The flagship tournament is the Rugby World Cup, in which many countries compete every four years. The second largest international tournament is the Six Nations, an annual tournament between England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, and Italy, normally taking place from February to March.
The tournament consists of a round-robin system where each team plays games every week in order to earn points: Teams get three points for a win, two points for a draw, and zero points for a loss. The team with the highest point total at the end of the tournament wins. There are opportunities for a bonus point for scoring over four tries or losing by less than seven points.
The highlight of Week One was France, the second-place team in the World Cup and the favorites for the Six Nations, defeating Wales 43-0 for Wales’ thirteenth consecutive defeat. This was the first time France had held Wales scoreless since 1998. At the same time, Scotland defeated Italy 31-19 and Ireland beat England 27-22, reclaiming the Millennium trophy, which goes to the winner of the Anglo-Irish game.
Week Two was fairly anticlimactic. It saw Italy beat Wales for the first time since 2007 by a score of 22-15. England scored a last-minute try to clinch a clutch 26-25 victory over France. Scotland lost to Ireland 18-32.
Week Three started with England defeating Scotland 24-17, followed by Ireland losing to France 20-32. The biggest result of the weekend was France beating Italy 73-24. Italy had 11 tries, almost double the number of passes and meters gained. This was an unprecedented scoreline as most normal games do not reach even a third of the total points scored.
With a commanding 35-16 win over Scotland, France emerged as the Six Nations champion, reaffirming their status as a top rugby nation and a strong contender for future tournaments.
Overall, Rugby is a great game to watch as an alternative to American football or other sports. At Loyola, the rugby team finished their season with a tough loss to powerhouse Torrey Pines in the Southern California Championship game. The program is on the rise and improving each year.
Joining the team next season is a fantastic way to get involved with a sport at Loyola. Talk to Dr. Fisher if you are interested in joining!
