Well, I always knew that rugby was pretty hardcore*. That’s part of why I’ll always watch it if I get to change to (which is infrequently) and why I wanted to play for a while in college (except I was quite out of shape and super over-committed to campus activism.) But this just takes it to a whole new level. From ESPN.com:
Rugby player Ben Czislowski kept competing for more than three months despite the headaches that started after a clash with an opponent…
“I’ve got the tooth at home, sitting on the bedside table,” he said. “If he [Matt Austin, the player to whom the tooth originally belonged] wants it back he can have it. I’m keeping it at the moment as proof that it actually happened.”
* That is, of course, if we measure hardcore-ness by the level of recklessness, violence, and likelihood of getting really, really dirty.
Hey darlin, do you remember, I had a similar story posted on my fridge in college – about a guy who got part of his ear bitten off in a scrum. Grrrr 🙂 🙂
Hah, I don’t remember that one. But damn! Even more evidence of rugby’s hardcoreness. And you play it – you must be hardcore, too!
I love rugby – both watching and playing. Me and my partner watched a game in a bar in Cork (Ireland) once, and let me tell you, watching a national match with a bunch of butches is an experience not to be missed. It’s pretty hardcore though – a bloke at my school broke his neck playing.
“Me and my partner watched a game in a bar in Cork (Ireland) once, and let me tell you, watching a national match with a bunch of butches is an experience not to be missed.”
That sounds like SO. MUCH. FUCKING. FUN.
Yeah, it is a rough sport rugby. I went to a school in Australia where rugby was glorified more than religion. And a guy I graduated with now plays on the Australian rugby team as well. But congrats on him making it so far, but broken bones and missing teeth is what comes along with the sport unfortunately.
Frank
Amorelo
http://www.amorelo.com
having grown up in the UK and playing rugby every week at school i can tell you that hardcore doesnt even come close to what can happen even in school kids rugby games. The main problem being usually just the one referee(teacher) and some parents as linesman means that most of what goes on just gets missed. From stamping to head butting, pulling hair, gouging and much more happens inside the mauls, rucks and scrums. Certainly not a game for the faint of heart.
But you’ve got to love it, full contact, no padding always makes for an interesting 80mins. 🙂