[raybbr]

Don’t forget Rugby (football).

Are you actually allowed to kick the ball in Rugby?

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

‘Are you actually allowed to kick the ball in Rugby?’

Don’t ask me, I know more about Australian rules football, which is to say, virtually nothing.

[Pharmboy]

[happyathome]

OK first things first - I’m American and love college football. However, that said, rugby union is the manliest sport out there. The players are as big as linebackers and offensive tackles, they run like running backs, they don’t wear pads, there’s no forward pass, and there isn’t 40 seconds to rest in between plays - its 40 minutes straight through each half with limited breaks for injuries or penalty kicks. Also, there’s no blocking - you generally go one on one both on offense and defense.

[the scotsman]

http://www.courtneyhoskins.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/DoubleFacePalm.jpg

[GAB-1955]

You certainly are. It's a common strategy to kick the ball deep out of your side of the field, get it out of bounds, and win the lineout (basically a jump ball with your eight forwards, two of which can actually jump).

Rugby Union and Rugby League are great sports which encourage overall fitness and strength, not like the high-strung sprinters in soccer. It doesn't encourage over-specialization, like American football. They are great sports. I loved playing loose head prop for Maryland's club.