Why isn't rugby more popular in the U.S?

Question

brian--uhh...yeah we are

Answer 1

Because in the U.S., we're not a bunch of beer-swilling, dart-throwing, foul-mouthed blokes.

Answer 2

No idea, you had a good result against Australian rugby league team last year i think, only lost by a couple of points.

Maybe you like 'safe' sports where you get pads and protection. I don't really know why it hasnt caught on, maybe due to lack of advertising. If it started being played in college leagues it would help a LOT.

Rugby is a really good game, if only more teams were competitive.

Answer 3

I guess it's because they have American Football - whose origins are rugby.

It is a shame but the sport is gaining popularity. I found some colleges that have a good team and play in competitve leagues

Answer 4

u s football

Answer 5

I think it's because of the NFL. We're an  ethnocentric lot, anything that isn't American, we don't appreciate; however, the choice for me is clear - it's rugby!

Answer 6

because its a mans sport

Answer 7

Maybe it is because they suck in rugby.

Answer 8

The lack of commercial breaks mean no sponsors.  The lack of sponsors means no money.  No money means no interest.  

Just about everyone has heard of it, has some interest, and if tought the game will watch it.  But from where????

Answer 9

Every year it is gaining in populatiry, more youth and college sides are forming up from year to year, there are over 50 clubs in MI alone.  The problem is we don't start playing at a young age.

Utill it sets it's roots in youth (elementary/middle school ages) it will always be out done by the traditional American sports like Football, Basketball, Baseball, and these days soccer where there is a huge network of youth leagues where they start playing at a very young age.

Answer 10

Rugby in the US doesn't have the strong foundation that other sporting activities have for example like baseball, basketball and now soccer enjoy.

In the past, rugby was played in many of the the private schools which have the European influence. Elite Universities' on the east coast of the US like Yale and Harvard have strong teams.

The current USA President Bush played rugby at Yale. General Dockins who was the Heisman Trophy winner at West Point took part in the Oxford vs Cambridge Rugby Match which is played annually in  London, England in front of over 70, 00 fans.

The sport is cheap to run at the youth level with a good start as just touch rugby where the girls and boys need just running shoes, shorts and t-shirts to play. The fields,cones for marking space and balls are reasonable in cost.

Answer 11

Because you can't cut the game with commercial breaks... ;-)