Rugby (or rugby football, as it is officially called) got its name from a British settlement in Warwickshire. It is one of the many forms of football played in England back in the 19th century. It has slowly grown into a truly international sport – this year’s Rugby World Cup will be attended by teams from 20 countries, from Namibia to Japan. The US is not one of them.
The matches of the 2015 Rugby World Cup will take place in various parts of the UK, at major stadiums in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham, Leicester and Brighton, among others. The teams will compete in the quarter finals until October 18th, with the semi-finals starting at the 28th, and the finals on the 30th/31st of October. The matches will be covered by major sports networks of the world.
Although Americans are reluctant to admit, American Football has evolved from Rugby. People generally consider rugby to be a much manlier sport, considering that the players don’t wear any protective equipment. American Football players wear helmets, shoulder pads, gloves, knee pads and many others. In comparison, Rugby Union players are only allowed to wear light, thin and compressible padding. But most players don’t wear even that – the majority of players only wear gum protection. Some players, especially in the first and second line, wear soft protective caps to avoid concussions or especially ear damage, but hard plastic helmets are prohibited. Aside from the studs on their boots, rugby players are not allowed to wear any metal while on the field.
If you are ready for some rugby action but you won’t wait until the Rugby World Championship starts, head over to the Royal Vegas casino and chill your spirits with the new Rugby Star video slot machine. Paying homage to this great sport, Rugby Star doesn’t feature actual players, but makes the player feel like he (or she) is sitting right at the side of the field. Royal Vegas slot reels of the game are filled with rugby-related symbols – players and balls, a cup and other similar ones. When involved in a winning combination, the symbols disappear, with others falling in their place – allowing the wins to flow faster. Players at Royal Vegas can redeem amazing promotions.
There are just a few days left until the Rugby World Cup starts in England. I expect to see some great Haka, too, from the New Zealand team – it always makes my day.