Rugby players may lack the following of some of the world’s top soccer stars, such as Christiano Ronaldo or Luis Suarez. However, Dan Carter – one of New Zealand’s recent former top players, still boasts an impressive 2.57 million followers on Instagram.
Rugby is popular as both a participation and spectator sport for three main reasons. Firstly, the rugby community is very open and supportive of new members. Secondly, rugby builds friendship bonds in a way other sports can’t match. Thirdly, it is simply great fun to play and watch.
There’s no doubt that rugby is one of the most widely recognized and popular sports in the world, with an estimated 410 million followers.
Rugby is a known sport around most countries globally, and while its popularity surge remains limited to a handful of countries, we see a year-on-year increase in more nations engaging with this game.
What Makes Rugby So Appealing?
Rebellious by nature
Legend has it that the game originated in 1823 when youngster William Webb Ellis displayed a total disregard for the rules and proceeded to pick up the ball and run with it. Maybe it’s this sense of rebellion that makes the game so appealing?
Traditions
Or maybe it’s the sense of traditionalism for a game that players have enjoyed for almost 200 years in some parts of the world.
Traditions such as clapping the opposition off the pitch after the game through a players tunnel, sharing a pint with your opposite number in the bar afterwards, respecting the referee, all add up to make it into a special game to play.
Many rugby teams and events have become traditions in themselves: the magical Barbarians rugby team that run with the ball from anywhere, the New Zealand haka, the four yearly Lions tour, the annual Six Nations and Rugby Championship, the Autumn internationals, the Hong Kong sevens. They are all embedded into the psyche of a rugby follower.
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Respect
At the heart of the game lies a cultural ethos with a fair and spirited set of rules that call for control, discipline, and mutual respect. Though onlookers may view the game as brutish, it is often called a “gentleman’s sport” because, despite its high impact nature, players have high regard for the rules and give the game the respect that it deserves.
Entertainment
Whilst the rules of rugby are incredibly complex, it is actually not that difficult to get the general idea of the sport. One team are trying to run with the ball that way and the others are trying to stop them.
Once you have that asic understanding and the knowledge that players can only pass backwards you are good to go.
And let’s be honest, there is something quite primeval about big blokes smashing into each other to see what damage they can do. There is something even more appealing about watching the wee little fella on the wing cheekily run around the other players and leaving them grasping at air.
The numbers do not lie either, the rugby union world cup in 2019 hosted by Japan enjoyed record viewing figures of 857 million people watching the competition live across the world.
Diversity and acceptance
Everyone is made to feel welcome down the local rugby club. Rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes as you can see by watching any rugby match. Not only that it is a game for all levels of intellect. In this respect it brings together groups of people that wouldn’t ordinarily mix together in everyday life.
The Cambridge graduate playing at fly-half is appreciative of the bricklaying prop who secures the ball in the scrum and prevents their big players from running at him.
Likewise the prop may think the fly-half is a stuck up prick but they are hugely appreciative of the way they can dance through the opponents defense and score tries that secure the win and make the weekend more fun.
The game brings these different groups together on a level playing field and provides a great environment for social wit and banter to come to the for. Everyone will have the mickey take out of them at some point.
It is all part of the fun and quite the opposite of being divisive. It brings the team together and helps build the bonds that will inevitably translate to players playing harder for each other on the pitch later.
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Sense of community
Once you become a member of a rugby club you become plugged into a network of like minded people who are willing to be open, friendly and supportive of you in that environment. You don’t need to be the greatest player in the world, just willing to turn up with your boots and you will be welcomed to the tribe.
You don’t have to even play, you can coach, help with the junior rugby, behind the bar, or on the ground maintenance staff. Any contribution will see you be part of the rugby community and you will be repaid with a busy social diary for years to come.
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Bone on bone contact
Many players find the sport so appealing due to the physical contact they can get out of the sport. It can be quite exhilarating to make a proper rugby tackle and put some down on their back. Once you have mastered the technique and channeled your aggression into it it is like you have just earned yourself a superpower.
If that sounds a bit aggressive and over the top to parents reading this then consider what other trouble your youngster could be getting into if they do not have a suitable avenue to devote their time and energy into. Who knows, it might just be the making of them?
What Characteristics Define The Game Of Rugby?
In 2009 the member unions identified several characteristics to represent rugby union. These included passion, discipline, integrity, and solidarity – traits that now collectively define the ethos of the world cup.
With such strong moral values at its core, it’s no wonder that several countries place this sport at the heart of their culture.
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Where Is Rugby Most Popular?
The game has its most substantial fan bases in England, South Africa, France, New Zealand, and Australia, where a total of around 390 million fans reside. The game receives a high TV viewership in rugby-playing countries, though it is not so popular in non-rugby playing countries.
Most developed countries have a professional rugby union team. However, their presence on the news and social media largely depends on the sport’s popularity in each country.
There’s a trend among some smaller populated countries, such as New Zealand and Wales, where rugby forms part of the societal culture. Much like football in England or Baseball in America, this sport forms an integral part of society.
And for these countries that may lack presence in some of the world’s most popular sports, such as soccer or cricket, it gives them a chance to shine and show their sporting prowess through a game they are passionate about.
Go here for our full answer to Where Is Rugby Popular?
Why Is Rugby So Popular In Certain Countries?
In New Zealand, rugby is more than just a game; it’s an entire culture, with the haka now an iconic element of the country. Here, rugby forms the foundation of sporting culture, with the All Blacks holding a 77% win record at international test matches.
This team is undoubtedly one of the best in the world, with three world cup wins that place them in a two-way tie with South Africa for the leaders of this tournament. That success is reflected in the popularity of rugby; it is prolific in the news and social media, and stadiums are packed out.
Wales is another country that holds rugby as an essential part of its national identity. One of the reasons for this popularity is that rugby is prioritized in schools, and children are allowed to play it from a young age.
Compare this to England, where kids are more likely to participate in soccer teams and idolize some of the world’s most famous footballers; it’s easy to see how exposure at a young age can have a lasting impact.
Despite its small population, Wales continues to be one of the most successful rugby teams globally, and a strong domestic team allows the best, most elite players to showcase their talents.
Why Is Rugby Becoming More Popular In Other Countries?
While football remains the most popular sport in England, rugby shares its slice of the limelight following the team’s success at the 2003 world cup. Following Jonny Wilkinson’s iconic kick, a win at this major tournament increased the sport’s visibility and saw a significant increase in popularity.
Similarly, in Japan, a 2019 victory over Scotland and Ireland boosted the sport in this Asian country and ignited a passion for rugby. In this way, the popularity of rugby continues to spread around the world and attract more fans year on year.
Now you know why the sport is popular, why not get down to your local rugby club and get involved. It may well be the best decision you ever make!
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Image Credits
Hong Kong 7s tournament Jon Parise, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fiji haka Jon Parise, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons