Rugby Union in American Media

The broadcast of the recent United States Rugby Super League final on ESPN Classic was a nice opportunity for exposure to the sport, though the lack of a continuously present scoreboard, clock, etc., on screen was disorienting. Still, it's a step forward. Unfortunately, there are a lot of other less shining media portrayals to live down. Consider this old clip from an episode of the popular Friends sitcom that aired in 1998:



The endless scrum, motley jersey, kneepads, running shoes, and coaching on how to kick opposing players are classic, though the big mystery comes at the end in the coffee shop when one wonders: How did poor Ross' jersey get slashed up? Has someone got a straight razor out there? I don't think anyone would want to play a game like that.