10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Rugby

As part of our Spark mentorship program, my mentees Gabriel and Valente wanted to learn about rugby, a sport we knew nothing about. This post includes stuff that two 8th graders and a 30-something guy from Los Angeles didn't know about rugby.

1. Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in America

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Rugby is already very popular in Argentina, Australia, England, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales.

2. There’s two different major versions of rugby: Rugby Union and Rugby League

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Rugby Union is the more popular version.

3. NFL players have switched to play rugby

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For example, Bennie Brazell was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006. He played for the USA Rugby Sevens squad in 2010.

4. Dan Carter is the world’s highest paid rugby player. He makes about $2 million per year.

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It’s a lot, but not compared to a salary like the NBA’s Kobe Bryant, who made $25 million in his final season.

5. According to the Brain Injury Law Center, concussions are 75% more common in rugby compared to football

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Rugby players don’t wear helmets.

6. This year, Rugby will be in the Olympics for the first time since 1924

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The USA won the gold medal in 1924.

7. A rugby field is bigger than a football field

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It’s similar in size to a soccer field.

8. There are many ways to score

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A try is 5 points. A penalty kick is 3 points. A drop goal is 3 points. A conversion is 2 points.

9. The first rugby balls were made from an inflated pig bladder

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Now they’re made of synthetic materials.

10. There’s a rumor that Pope John Paul II played rugby

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The rumor goes as far as saying that he played for the Poland national team. He probably didn’t, but apparently he knew the game well.