It’s a wet day in Rota Spain
American football has its origins in rugby, and you can still see rugby’s influence in terms such as ‘touch down’ (in rugby, you have to touch the ball to the ground to score), and ‘line of scrimmage’ (derived from the ‘line of scrummage’ in rugby – the invisible line dividing the two opposing teams when they are engaged in the ‘scrum’). Unlike many other team sports where players often stand idly on the field, rugby is a fast-moving game with few pauses. In rugby, all 15 players on the field have the opportunity to run, pass, and tackle during almost the entire 80 minute match.
The field is slightly larger than an American football field, and the ball is slightly fatter. However a bigger difference between the two sports is that no forward passes are allowed in rugby. The ball may be thrown laterally or backwards, but it is only advanced through kicking or running with the ball. In addition, the only protective gear typically worn by rugby players is a mouth guard. While this may contribute to the sport’s reputation for being rough, in reality, this lack of padding is one of the reasons why there are less serious injuries in rugby. When encased in padding and a helmet, players can feel invincible - resulting in more violent collisions and more traumatic injuries.
In late 2010, the Rota Rugby Club was formed by Navy, Air Force, and Marine servicemen and women, and several civilians. Most players are new to the sport, and practices (M/W 1730-1930, Sat 1400-1600) consistently cover rugby basics while also developing their advanced skill levels. And while the team enjoys training and the social aspects of the Club, they are always hungry for a match. Gregory Sirko, a new player to the sport, says, “Playing games is easily the best part of rugby…once you get on that pitch and know what’s going on, you’ll come back for more every time, it’s that addictive. The two teams beat the hell out of each other, and then share a drink and some food after the game.” The team has played several ‘partido amistosos’ (friendly matches) against Andalusian teams, and this Saturday, February 12th will be their first home match. Rota Rugby Club welcomes spectators and fans to this match vs. Club Rugby Bahia at 1300, held at the football field next to the gym. A play-by-play announcer will be explaining the sport during the match to help those new to rugby in understanding the game. You can visit www.rotarugby.blogspot.com or the Rota Rugby Club facebook page for details about the match and the team. New players (men and women, experienced and rookie) always welcome!
