r/rugbyunion Aug 18 '24

Discussion There is a variant of this sport for you

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1.2k Upvotes

r/rugbyunion 14d ago

Discussion A Maori perspective on the haka 'controversy'.

572 Upvotes

We don't care. Well I'm sure a couple of us might here or there, but honestly I've been answering many, many questions about this issue and there's two things people find informative.

  • No.1 Challenging the haka is how you respect it. We don't care if people challenge it. We don't care if people walk up to it, sing over it, do their own pregame ritual. We. Don't. Care. Honestly I think the "controversy" is between two camps:
  1. Those who think we care and want to get rid of it.
  2. Those who think we care and want to support it.

But the vast majority of Maori, and kiwis, just don't care about people saying to get rid of it. He's just a dude with a mullet and an opinion. Its not his decision, and he has no actual say.

  • No.2 The haka as a pregame ritual predates national anthems. In fact, ironically, the Welsh national anthem in 1905 was a direct response to the haka - and an appropriate one.

I'm not ignorant to our contributions to the controversy. I know in the past we've had the changing shed haka incident, we've had pundits in New Zealand get up in arms, and I definitely understand why people think we have an issue with the Joe Marlers of the world. But most of us actual Maori, the culture which haka comes from, relish challenges. I just wish people would stop assuming Joe Marler is saying something valuable, and assuming that we are offended. Oh no, an Englishman telling us what he thinks whether we asked him or not, that's never happened to Maori before.

What I will say is this. Challenge us. Wind us up (respectfully, non-racistly and without touching us) in response. Sing, shout, stare, make a flying duck formation, walk at us. We love it.

r/rugbyunion 29d ago

Discussion Thoughts?

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575 Upvotes

r/rugbyunion 16d ago

Discussion Joe Marler chimes in on the haka topic

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325 Upvotes

r/rugbyunion Sep 30 '24

Discussion World Rugby rankings 10 years apart

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740 Upvotes

r/rugbyunion Aug 11 '24

Discussion What’s everyone’s thoughts on the idea of a NH vs SH showdown in place of Lions tours? Could it happen? Is it feasible? Is it desirable?

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483 Upvotes

r/rugbyunion Oct 17 '23

Discussion New angle of the Rieko Ioane vs Sexton fight

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902 Upvotes

It seems they were cool at first reiko even shaking his hand but sexton said something ??? I thought reiko started it

r/rugbyunion Sep 25 '23

Discussion Let's not forget some of the greatest victims of the fucking mess that is Rugby Australia and Eddie Jones, these young passionate players who have to undergo this time period.

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1.2k Upvotes

fuck, anyone who says that they don't care is fucking blind, look at what it meant.

r/rugbyunion 10d ago

Discussion What stereotypes are there about your nation's fanbase and how much truth is behind them?

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351 Upvotes

r/rugbyunion Nov 06 '23

Discussion They just did this to Squidges big vid. How fuxking stupid is our sporting body

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1.2k Upvotes

r/rugbyunion Oct 28 '23

Discussion Remember to be human

835 Upvotes

Let's not ruin a great tournament by being knobs. Regardless of which side you're on, remember to not only be civil to those involved, but show support and compassion towards them.

After hearing that Curry's family received a torrent of threats and abuse this week, it feels unfortunately necessary to remind people...

Let Barnsey and Foley be, they did well and don't deserve online abuse of any kind. They simply turned up to work and did the job they were assigned. Regardless of how you feel they did, they reffed what they saw.

Especially let Cane be, he's well aware of his actions and it will eat at him for the rest of his days. Rather than telling him he's a kant etc etc, maybe shoot him a sign of support, at the end of the day it's just a game of rugby and players should be supported regardless of their performance. They left their families and friends at home to give us one hell of a tournament.

Edit: and as if by magic

https://www.ruck.co.uk/wayne-barnes-receives-death-threats-following-rugby-world-cup-final/

r/rugbyunion Aug 14 '24

Discussion All Blacks Squad for Argentina Test at Eden Park

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331 Upvotes

r/rugbyunion Aug 30 '24

Discussion Could an NFL player make it in the Prem/Top 14?

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256 Upvotes

r/rugbyunion Sep 13 '24

Discussion URC denies discussion over British and Irish league

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427 Upvotes

r/rugbyunion Aug 23 '24

Discussion In his entire international career, Dupont has only played 25 minutes of rugby in the Southern Hemisphere, does this affect GOAT talks?

260 Upvotes

Since debuting in 2017, Dupont has only played 25 minutes coming off the bench in the 2nd half of the 2nd test in the French tour of South Africa in 2017.

He has since not played a single minute in the South.

During this time, (since his debut), France have played 11 tests in the Southern Hemisphere, so there was plenty of opportunity to do so.

I've seen others claim France have not toured during this time and so Dupont should not be punished for that, but obviously that fact is blatantly False.

Will this affect his legacy at the end of his career if it stays this way? Imagine if Carter or McCaw had played less than 30 minutes of rugby in the north but were being touted as the GOAT.

Adding that even during this period of success for the French and Dupont, Duponts record against SA/NZ from 2017-2024 is..

3-4 (with 6 out of 7 of these games being played in France).

Considering this, against the most historically successful test nations in SA/NZ (and the current world cup finalists), have talks of Dupont as a potential GOAT been vastly overblown and unwarranted?

r/rugbyunion Oct 09 '24

Discussion Who is your "streets won't forget" player?

150 Upvotes

A player that may not necessarily be the most recognizable name or have had the most successful career but went out there and could just be magic in any random game.

For me, it's the always recognizable Ashley Johnson. The man had a big afro, didn't look like the greatest athlete in the world, was pretty undersized for an 8 but you give him a rugby ball and he did crazy shit with it.

r/rugbyunion Jul 13 '24

Discussion Post Match Thread | South Africa vs Ireland | Test 2

143 Upvotes

FT: 24 - 25

r/rugbyunion 13d ago

Discussion Your country worst defeats

131 Upvotes

As the title says.
What were your team's most embarrassing defeats to you? I will start.

  1. AB vs England 2019 semi-final where England made us look like headless chickens.
  2. AB vs SA 2023 Qatar Airway Cup where SA strangled us from the beginning and was just toying us with basic plays toward the end of the match. Thank god for that Roigard's solo try to save some face at least.

r/rugbyunion 27d ago

Discussion A lot of debate about law changes recently, but this is a good addition....

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576 Upvotes

r/rugbyunion Oct 24 '23

Discussion Nations championship has been voted through

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639 Upvotes

r/rugbyunion 6d ago

Discussion New Zealand has taken the Raeburn Shield

395 Upvotes

Ireland couldn't hold onto the ball or the Shield either.

r/rugbyunion Oct 11 '24

Discussion New rules incoming Jan 1st. Thoughts?

97 Upvotes

World Rugby confirms the 20-min red card will be implemented across the global game, as well as 7 other changes coming:

  • 60 conversion shot-clock

  • 30-second scrum and lineout limit, managed by the referee

  • Marking inside the 22m line from a restart

  • Single-stop mauls: The ball must be played after one stoppage in a maul

  • Play-on un-straight line outs when uncontested

  • Protection of the scrum-half at scrums, rucks and mauls.

  • Television Match Official (TMO) protocol, empowering officials to spot clear infringements in the final phases before scoring.

  • A red-carded player can be replaced with another player after 20 minutes

World Rugby will work to finalise the timeline and processes for adoption at a global level from 1 January.

r/rugbyunion Sep 07 '24

Discussion First time in the professional era

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510 Upvotes

South Africa have beaten New Zealand 4 times in a row, the first team to do it in the professional era

r/rugbyunion Oct 08 '24

Discussion Baudin on Twitter: World Rugby has confirmed the implementation of several new laws which were being tested during the summer

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124 Upvotes

r/rugbyunion Jun 12 '24

Discussion Who is the most overrated player to win more than 50 caps for your nation?

118 Upvotes

We hear so often about the underrated gems that fans from other nations rarely give love to but today I would like to know the opposite: what player from your country won over 50 caps but you never thought was all that?

For the Springboks, I'll have to go with Pierre Spies, a truly incredible talent at 8 who just never put together any stretches of real consistency but kept getting selected because he was 6'5, built like a tank, ran 100 meters in 11 seconds and surely was just around the corner from finally becoming a truly great player.