When I think of popular sports, the first thing that comes to mind is American football. However, I’ve recently discovered a more engaging alternative: rugby, which has a rabid following in countries like South Africa and Australia. When I started watching Netflix’s 14-episode show “Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die,” I had no idea I would quickly fall in love with the sport.
What makes rugby stand out is not only its lack of protective gear but also its unique rules — players are not allowed to pass forward and instead, are forced to utilize techniques like scrums and lifts to succeed in the game. The 2-point conversion kick — occuring after a 5-point try (the equivalent of a touchdown in American football) — was often the deciding factor between winning and losing, which made the game much more captivating.
After finishing the show, I’ve become obsessed with the sport, and I look forward to keeping up with the teams in the future, including KEPCO and Yonsei University. While rugby might not be a mainstream sport in America, I hope sports fans will give watching rugby a try.
