New England Free Jacks

[Belichick8384]

Anyone on these boards interested in Rugby? I myself only started watching a few years ago. Its really good.

I just became aware of the MLR. I've actually been watching the English League, the French League, the Pro 14, and Super Rugby; not to mention the recent Rugby World Cup - my first. Turns out New England has a team, though so far not a very good one looking at last year. I'm gonna start showing my support and try to go to as many games as I can. Sounds like a really fun time.

Any other Rugby fans here?

 

[fnordcircle]

I absolutely got enthralled by 7 on 7s. To the point that I subscribed to ESPN+ to follow other rugby leagues but I just couldn't get into it.

7 on 7s is amazing. < 30 minute games, tons of action, no downtime. I wish I knew why it wasn't a bigger deal.

 

[Belichick8384]

Well, Rugby isn't a big deal in general here "in the states." Whether its 15s, 13s, 7s, womens'.... we just don't get it here. Our own brand of Football evolved from it - we had Walter Camp, Teddy Roosevelt, and John Heisman and never looked back. But if Australia has taught me anything it's that one nation can have 4 different styles of Football live side by side. Lol

7s is actually getting Americans more excited about Rugby every year, especially with its inclusion in the Olympic games, which is gaining support for our 15s programs. And for a lot of the reasons you listed, @fnordcircle , which I think will help not only our national team - if in the long run - but also the sport here in general. Personally, I prefer RFU style (15s) but would rather 7s than RFL style (13s); but I will support 7s where possible for me if it means uplifting Rugby in general in the good ol USA.

Iirc there's a 7s competition in LA right now. I will have to look what the attendances are and viewership for both the 7s competition, the recent World Cup, and the Vegas showcase games tonight. I've been reading up on the growth of the sport here. It's been slow but from what I understand a very hefty growth in comparison to any decade in the last 100 or so years.

Every Rugby Football league we've had thus far has folded due to lack of support (because everyone is watching up 5 other sports lol). I would like to see this one stay afloat with the help of our national team. This is its 3rd year and its actually expanding. They're doing it very carefully and not spending a whole lot so it isn't dependent on being successful like some other Football leagues we've seen popping up in the last couple decades (looking at you AAF). If they do this just right, we could be looking at the next MLS only better. I think honestly, if it ever gets big enough - it should compete directly with MLS. It has shorter games, more scoring, more ways to score, and above all it's a contact sport! In my mind, there's no way it could lose to MLS if they can properly build a foundation around it.

 

[Boston Boxer]

If its on TV as I'm scrolling through the channels, I will stop and watch it. I don"t go seek it out like the other sports. I find it more entertaining than NBA. I don't know anything about the teams or leagues. I put it up there with curling and soccer. For some reason they hold my attention pretty well

 

[Belichick8384]

Well, nevermind then. The MLR season is cancelled.

The opener at the union point complex was selling so many tickets that they had to add another section of seats. It was looking to be the biggest turnout in so far this season. Well there's always next year. It's just that the sport was dead in America to begin with. Need some form of competition to keep it growing. I suppose it's a good sign to see so many names overseas investing in Rugby Football in America. If MLR doesn't make it, perhaps something better will.

This season didn't get out on the best foot either. Putting games in Vegas, not as a sideshow for something bigger but rather as it's own thing, was a mistake in and of itself. And the scheduling was a mess. New England didn't have a home game til week 6. Really could've planned things better than that, even with games in Vegas. They've got a good long year to think about it. Also MLR is expanding to 14 teams next year. And then to 16 in 2022. Just a few tweaks should fix the problems that started the year this year. It's rough enough starting out in this sports market.