Phil Walter—Getty ImagesKieran Read of the All Blacks is tackled during The Rugby Championship, Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on Aug. 15, 2015 in Auckland. The balls are similar but rugby has more skills and fewer commerical breaks The Rugby World Cup kicks of in London on Friday evening when England take on Fiji. The tournament has 20 teams including the U.S. although the stong favorites are New Zealand. While rugby is very popular in some parts of the world and spawned American football in the 19th century, it remains a minority sport in the U.S.. Universal Sports and NBC Sports are broadcasting 16 of the games, although bars popular with expatriates will be showing many more. If you are more inclined towards American football, here are five reasons you should start paying attention over the next six weeks of the Rugby World Cup. 1. Rugby players don’t wear helmets This is not simply, though it is this too, a question of toughness and courage, it is one of aesthetics and safety too. Though rugby, like American football, is increasingly conscious of the dangers that can be caused by repeated concussions, the lack of helmets — and the extravagant padding that is a feature of American football — paradoxically aids player safety…
Continue Reading: 5 Reasons Why You Should Pause American Football and Watch the Rugby World Cup
