Rugby League In Colleges

WeAreRugby is pleased to welcome a new contributor to our growing staff - Damian Flint.

 

Damian is the Club Sports and Intramurals Coordinator at The College at Brockport, State University of New York. His Rugby League career included stints in the Queensland Cup of Australia with the Logan City Scorpions (now Souths Logan) and the Ipswich Jets. He finished his career playing collegiate Rugby Union in America’s northeast, representing The College at Brockport and the Northeast All-Stars. Damian was also an ARN All-American in 2008.

 

His introductory article delves into the notion that rugby league should be introduced to US colleges.

 

I am excited to begin my association with WeAreRugby as we strive to develop the game of Rugby League in North America.

 

My experience in both codes has enabled me to gain a sound understanding of the technical aspects of both Rugby League and Rugby Union.

 

In my opinion, the lack of understanding of the difference between the two is a shortfall of the American sporting culture. The term “Rugby” seems to be used intertwiningly when describing both codes as people fail to be aware of or at least acknowledge the distinction between the two sports.

 

As a result American college students are missing out on an opportunity to broaden their general sporting knowledge, while benefitting from the physical, social, and emotional benefits that participation in such a sport has to offer. To counteract this sporting ethnocentrism:

 

Rugby League needs to be introduced to American college students … and here’s why!

 

Speed and excitement  

The speed and intensity of which a Rugby League game is played at is more appealing to the participants, viewers, and potential sponsors of the game. It is faster than Rugby Union, flows better than the stop start nature of American Football and produces collisions that can rival any NHL contest.

 

Simple to follow - easier to play

Six tackles to score a try, pass the ball backwards, tackle below the shoulders – it’s really that simple. You don’t have to worry about the complex coaching of rucks, mauls, and lineouts. It has an old fashioned “you get knocked down and you get up again” style of play that’s easy to learn, particularly if you are switching over from another sport-as most college students typically do.
 

One of the most confusing aspects of Rugby Union especially when learning the game is the ruck and the interpretation of rules that coincides with it. Often described to onlookers as “chaos”, the ruck is the one area of the game that most new players often struggle to grasp.
 

Rugby League offers a simpler approach. The ruck area typically involves fewer players and is easier to understand when learning the game- you make the tackle, release the attacking player, stand as a marker or retreat 10 meters to the defensive line. It’s less confusing, easy to understand, easier to coach!

 

Fitter, faster, stronger

For a nation that struggles with high obesity levels among teenagers and young adults (along with many countries), Rugby League produces fitter, faster, athletes. With only 13 players on the field for each team (as opposed to 15 in Union) there is more running involved for longer periods of time. The game has fewer stoppages then Rugby Union and the NFL, resulting in increased cardiovascular fitness of players.

 

Physical collisions

The physicality of the sport cannot be argued. The 10 meter rule in defense allows for some of the biggest collisions witnessed on a sporting field - of any kind.  If you need further reassurance, check out the highlight reels of assailants Steve Matai and Sam Burgess of the National Rugby League (NRL) in Australia. They are regarded as two of the most ferocious defenders of the modern game.

 

Increased opportunity - enhanced knowledge and understanding

The physical advantages of participating in Rugby League are obvious and some have been highlighted in this article. The most appealing benefit of introducing the sport to college students however is the increased knowledge and understanding they will have of a sport that is played professionally in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, England, and France.

As college administrators, we strive to provide students with involvement opportunities that facilitate learning and development both inside and outside the classroom. Introducing Rugby League (not enforcing it) will provide students with another involvement opportunity that will expand their understanding of international sports, while enjoying the physical, social, and emotional benefits it has to offer.

 

And this is why introducing Rugby League to American college students makes sense!!