Rugby League: USA Style

[Ultimate Charizard]

Just been watching the TV and the USA National team are on playing against Samoa for a World Cup qualification spot.
Now judging from reactions ive had so far, how many of the Americans on here even know you have a league, never mind a national team? lol.

Oh and btw, America are losing 24 - 0 at half time. Though actually are playing pretty damn well considering there are only 4 professional players in the squad against a big international nation.

[Asilynne]

WTF we have a team? I thought only british people played rugby! lol j/k
But I seriously never knew we had a team, how well do they do, if you know yet lol

[Ultimate Charizard]

They got beat lol. But in fairness they were expected to get absolutely thrashed but made a pretty decent game of it.
Considering the US are pretty much an amateur nation (rugby wise) then theyre looking promising.

Oh and as for the 'only british people' bit. Untill i found out about the American League i thought that Americans were the only ones who didnt play Rugby. Its one of the main sports in Australia etc and alot of the pacific island regions have strong followings as well as Europe etc

[Asilynne]

Im ignorant about the world of sports, sorry XD Following sports doesnt interest me so all I really know is I want the Ravens to win, or someone to beat the patriots (Thanks Rudy lol)

[Magmar]

Rugby is a big deal at my college.

I live in the USA. We just love rugby.. haha.

[Ultimate Charizard]

Is that 15 or 13 man u play there?

There are two styles of rugby. Union, which is 15 and League which is 13.
Slight differences, League is faster, less scrappy and doesnt involve rucks/mauls etc. Points system is different and its rare you'll get a score into the low 20's without scoring a try (feckin penalty kicks)

[Ultimate Charizard]

For anyone in the Jacksonville area.
Check the link in the first post. Leeds Rhinos (Super League Europe Champions and alround Scum (local rivalry)) are playing the South Sydney Rabbitohs (owned by Russel Crowe) at the University of North Florida (or something liek that) on Saturday in an Exhibition of Rugby League game.
Should be a really good game too since both teams have taken their full squads (so its not just gonna be the reserve teams) and are using it as Pre-season warm ups.

Apparently the Jaguars NFL team will be there too so any NFL fans wanting to check out a new sport should definitely head over.
Any of you that saw that college game that involved like 15 lateral passes to win....this is the game that inspired that. (One of the players on that college team plays international Rugby League for the USA)

...and no, i couldnt squeeze any more brackets into that post (though i did try)

[mr_pikachu]

I was vaguely aware of a rugby league in America, but I've never really watched it or anything like that. Not like we ever get the opportunity.

It's kind of ironic that this is being brought up now, considering that a friend of mine just decided today that his senior thesis is going to be on a sport being underappreciated in the American media. (His sport of choice is hockey, but the same principle applies.) Why doesn't rugby get as much attention as, say, the NBA? Or for that matter, as bowling?

Anyway, it's good to hear that we're at least competing... sort of...

[Ultimate Charizard]

Got a good point there Pika. There are a few sports over here that get more exposure than Rugby League despite being less of a pick up and play kind of sport that everyone can do (such as Speedway)

Anyway the game was today. And after going down 24-0 at half time the Australian side pulled it back to finish as 26-24 losers.
Sounds like it was a good event though with an NFL team there for Fan-Day to teach the american fans about rugby, and the travelling rugby fans about NFL which was essentialy the point.
The more exposure this game gets over there the bigger it will become and it will go from strength to strength. It might not be one of the Big american past times but it will make its mark.

Did anyone on here actually go?
Ill have to see if a tape pops up online somewhere.