New to Rugby, school me please

[Plat]

Basically I am liking the sport but I basically know nothing at all about it except for the fact that the Rugby World Cup is next year. I am interested in learning the game, the positions, the players, rivalries, etc. So if anybody could just jot down your knowledge on the sport, that would be great. Here are a couple of quick questions.

Who are the current superstars and who would they compare to football's (soccer) superstars?
Most important positions like QB in American football or are they all important like in association football?
Most intense rivalries? (Madrid/Barca, Yanks/Sox, Milan/Inter, Lakers/Celtics, Packers/Vikes, etc)
Who are considered the GOAT's of Rugby? (Jordan, Gretzky, Pele, Ali, Ruth, Jim Brown, etc)

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

GOAT's?

Are you kid-ding?

 

[Teh Mite]

the first thing to remember is rugby is nothing like Soccer or the American Glitz-and-No-Substance sports, so the "Superstars" aren't the be all and end all like they are in others. Players who are world wide recognised as being possibly the best in their respective positions however are Dan Carter, Brian Habana, Richie McCaw, Matt Giteau, Vincent Clerc, Shane Williams, Brian O'Driscoll and (for some stupid reason that's beyond most people who understand the game) Jonny Wilkinson.

No position is more important then any other;
- The pack are and 8 man unit who rely on each other and protect the backs.
- The half-backs rely on the pack and provide the ball to the backs.
- The backs use the ball and score the points.

Idiots in the media will harp on about fly-halfs though because they (usually) kick the points. This is wrong however because anyone who puts a boot on a rugby ball is the devil embodied and needs burning at the stake.

Huge rivalries include;
All Blacks-Australia, All Blacks-Springboks, Australia-England, England-All Home Nations, England-France, Northampton-Leicester, Northampton-Saracens, Leicester-Bath, Bath-Gloucester, Harlequins-London Irish, Leinster-Munster, Toulouse-Biarritz, Auckland-Canturbury, Sharks-Bulls. There are more but I can't think for the moment.

i have no idea what a "GOAT" is. Neg reps go to the first smart arse who says "a horned farmyard animal".

 

[Amobokoboko]

Hi welcome to the forum,
A great way is to have a look at wikipedia and the WRC 2011 site. This Saturday the Tri Nations starts. The Tri Nations are a tournament between South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. These countries are considered to be the top 3 countries Rugby wise.

The best way to learn the game is watching a lot of games and spend some time on this board.
I reckon you mean by Goat, very good players.

 

[Teh Mite]

A great way is to have a look at wikipedia and the WRC 2011 site. This Saturday the Tri Nations starts. The Tri Nations are a tournament between South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. These countries are considered to be the top 3 countries Rugby wise.

Australia aren't.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Woops my bad, top 5 to act diplomatic

 

[Plat]

GOAT's?

Are you kid-ding?

Greatest Of All Time

 

[Amobokoboko]

Well, just have a look at wikipedia.
Most players mentioned their did contribute in writing history.

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

Greatest Of All Time

I knew that, I was making a (terrible) pun.

 

[alexrugby]

Be brave son !!!!

and respect your family and friends !!!!

Play hard for your team !!!!

And use your brain and not only muscles !!!!

 

[allblacksfreak]

I think what's important is that, Rugby players are (most of the time) known to be more humble than the Soccer or American Footballers or basically those over-paid athletes. No one man can make or break the team, as Rugby embodies the true meaning of a team sport.

There is no way you can learn everything about rugby in a few days, so my advise is stick around the forum, you can learn A LOT from the folks here, trust me, I did!

Oh, and if you haven't watched Forever Strong, watch it, it's not very good rugby wise, but hopefully that movie can show you what real rugby is really about.

 

[Sam Owen]

Do they play touch rugby or flag rugby over there in Canada?....if so play it because thats a great way to start its fun, good workout and has some of the skills that are required in rugby like passing, catching and evasive skills.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Australia aren't.

Didn't Australia climbed into the Top 3 now they 've beaten SA?

 

[Amobokoboko]

I think what's important is that, Rugby players are (most of the time) known to be more humble than the Soccer or American Footballers or basically those over-paid athletes. No one man can make or break the team, as Rugby embodies the true meaning of a team sport.

There is no way you can learn everything about rugby in a few days, so my advise is stick around the forum, you can learn A LOT from the folks here, trust me, I did!

Oh, and if you haven't watched Forever Strong, watch it, it's not very good rugby wise, but hopefully that movie can show you what real rugby is really about.

Cool, will also have a look at that movie.

 

[alex]

GOAT's?

Are you kid-ding?

ha, i get it, a kid is a baby goat. sorry if it has been mentioned.

 

[Haysie]

Didn't Australia climbed into the Top 3 now they 've beaten SA?

Yes. <_<
Mite is just being a ****.

Actually I think if we beat the All Blacks this weekend we will take 2nd spot.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Cool, but will be a hard task to do so.

 

[Haysie]

You're right mate, it's NEVER an easy task to beat them.

 

[King_D'Arcy]

GOATs; Gordon D'Arcy and Ed Fairhurst (he's Canadian)

 

[ORothlain]

Greatest Of All Time:
Sebastien Chabal