- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Growing up in a rugby union household (and for that matter an almost all-male household), I grew up with an appreciation of the game that I soon realised not many of my female friends shared.
Sure, there was the odd friend in high school or university who I found liked watching as much as I did.
But for the most part, I was all alone in my passion for the game.
I couldn’t seem to understand what the girls didn’t like. Was it a lack of understanding of how it all worked? Was it that their attention spans won’t last for a whole game? Was it the scary-looking forwards with no necks that persuaded them to turn away?
I knew the reasons I liked it.
The strategy. Rugby union is a game of strategy, a game played out with skilful kicks and strategically taken penalty goals. Heavily reliant on clever players like the legendary Stephen Larkham, and much more interesting.
The men. If you can look beyond the forwards (sorry guys) what’s not to like about a team of fit, well-built men running around on a field?
I may be biased but I have always thought union players were the better lookers between codes. George Gregan, Matt Giteau, Rocky Elsom, Jeremy Paul and more recently David Pocock, Will Genia and James O’Connor – need I say more?
The bonding. For me the main reason I have been drawn to the game is the bonding that has occurred with my father in watching it over all these years.
I can remember watching games at home in the lounge room at age 10 with my dad acting as translator for all the different rules.
I remember going to my first Wallabies match with my dad and singing Waltzing Matilda at the top of my lungs.
And I distinctly remember telling my dad (at the tender age of 15) that I thought George Gregan was ‘hot’ – with Dad clearly outlining the significant age-gap that existed between us.
It is this last point that I think is true of most sports. Part of what we love about them is the camaraderie and bonding we achieve in watching and participating in them.
Whether that’s with our parents, our siblings, our mates or even our neighbours.
We all revel in being able to show our passion, support our team and enjoy sport as a community.
With this knowledge in hand, I decided the way to getting my girlfriends on board with rugby, was to position it as a ‘bonding’ experience – a girls night-out if you will.
Gather the girls, bring a bottle of champs and let’s watch the rugby together. I was so animated in suggesting this with my girlfriends that I actually got them excited, all ready to watch.
Then of course, the question of which match to watch came up.
My suggestion: ‘We have to watch Australia, and the match against Ireland should be a good one. Let’s watch that.’
A friend’s response: ‘Doesn’t France play in the Rugby World Cup? You know I love French men. Is France ever playing Argentina? That would be a good game.’
So perhaps it’s not the bonding, it is in fact the men. Either way I’ll be watching every game under the guise of ‘female bonding’ while secretly enjoying watching Will Genia.
My Dad would be proud – at least the age gap is now more appropriate.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.