Give Rugby A Chance, I Promise You Won't Regret it.

 I am not sure you have even heard about one of the most pivotal women's sporting events that is currently going on:  Women's Rugby World Cup. 

You may have never even watched a rugby match and you probably don't know how rugby works, but I guarantee that if you sit down and tune into a match or two this weekend, you'll become intrigued even if still a bit confused about rules.

I too was confused about rules when I first suited up to play in Logan, Utah twenty plus years ago.  I had no clue how the game worked but I sure got excited when an opposing player carrying the ball was barreling toward me.

The adrenaline was pumping, and all my thoughts were: "I must get this tackle." She was probably a quarter of my weight; tiny, but I was focused and in attack mode.  As she approached, I lost all sense of reality and picked her up over my shoulder and slammed her into the turf. That tackle wasn't only brutal, but it also was illegal, see rugby has certain etiquette(even if it seems like the one of the most brutal of games) and that over the shoulder tackle was breaking that etiquette.

This game, played with muscle and that includes tackling without helmets or pads, brutal as it may seem, contains loads of etiquette.  In fact, it has been termed "the gentleman's sport"(according to my old coach at Utah State back in the day). Sportsmanship and respect for both the opposing players and referees is not only encouraged but expected.  While playing, athletes go full beast mode head to head, but when competition ends, they go full camaraderie mode. 

Last weekend, England stomped The United States 69-7 but there wasn't any rubbing in the Eagles faces after by the Roses.  Instead, there were laughs and hugs shared.  

Looking back, I wish I would have learned the rules earlier in my life.  Rugby just wasn't mainstream back then, but the women who are playing now are trying to change that.  In fact, the most followed rugby player on Instagram is Ilona Maher, a member of the Female USA Eagles team. She has been instrumental in getting the word out not only about Rugby but about women's sports in general.  She has also been a champion for body positivity and I just love her.

To get you excited for the upcoming matches, including The USA Women's Eagles against The Australia Wallaroos at 2:30 pm Eastern here in the US, here are is a highlight video from last weeks match against The England Roses:

And to get you to admire and want to know Ilona more here are four bonus videos: