Interestingly most of the things I described as illegal, became illegal in the last 20 years. Tackling at top speed, in groups, etc is all fair game in Rugby, a

Interestingly most of the things I described as illegal, became illegal in the last 20 years. Tackling at top speed, in groups, etc is all fair game in Rugby, and frequent. But since you are not wearing a helmet, you put your head to the side of a player when you tackle! As for getting into Rugby, there are a lot of subtle rules around contact which can make it seem quite complicated and inaccessible. In the UK Rugby fills an interesting social space. In southern England Rugby Union is a game played by posh schools (and indeed named after one), and remained amateur(ish) until 1995, in Wales it was a working class game and a way-of-life. In northern England they play a completely different game called 'Rugby League' which was always professional, further north in Scotland they play rugby Union again. In Ireland again it is associated with posh schools and English occupation! Occasionally (as is the case this summer) all of the nations team up as the 'British and Irish Lions' to go and take on the mighty All-Blacks of New Zealand, or in other years Australia and South Africa. It does strike me that with several US sports you seem deprived of the drama of regular international competition...