Armchair Playmaker

Watch the USA Quality for RWC 2011

2009-11-22T22:28:00.000-05:00

American readers will be pleased to note that the USA Eagles qualified for the 2011 Rugby World Cup this past weekend with their second win over Uruguay in as many weeks. This means that the Eagles will appear in their sixth world cup out of the seventh that have been played thus far, with their only missed appearance being the 1995 incarnation of the event.

The Americans' competition will be tough, as they have been placed in a pool that includes Australia, Ireland, Italy, and a to-be-named European side. For now, though, we may as well just enjoy the full match footage of this past Saturday's qualifer, courtest of the USA Rugby Ustream Channel:

First Half:

Second Half:

Paying the Piper and Calling the Tune

2009-11-18T06:26:00.000-05:00

We've talked about anthems before here at Armchair Playmaker, but we have to admit it's not a topic we expected to be on very often. Until this past weekend, that is.

The Springboks' loss to France was overshadowed by a debacle surrounding the performance of the South African national anthem. After the match, enraged Springbok representatives claimed that a poor rendition of the anthem insulted the vistors and affected their play.

Even after it was revealed that South African representatives were responsible for recommending the anthem's performer, France found itself apologizing. The singer offered his own explanation that he had been sabotaged, though some government officials in South Africa were unconvinced and went so far as to suggest the performance was an act of treason. (Though it bears mention that this particular anthem has been butchered in the past by home crowds as well, and more deliberately.)

We're hoping that the whole fiasco is over, but we are also reminded that the issue of suspiciously subpar anthem performances for visiting sides is not terribly uncommon. On the same weekend, for example, there were murmurs about a sound failure during the performance of New Zealand's national anthem before the All Blacks put away Italy. Earlier this year, the United States' loss to Canada was prefaced by an error in the American anthem's performance.

The idea of pinning a loss or a poor performance on a sabotoged anthem might be a stretch, although it wouldn't be the first time a hometown conspiracy was blamed for a rugby union loss. That said, one has to wonder if we might see some sort of regulatory efforts from the International Rugby Board to ensure consistent standards applied to anthems and other pre-match events.

In case you haven't yet got to hear the anthem heard 'round the world, here is a clip of that much-maligned performance from this past weekend:

And here's another performance of the anthem for comparison.

And just for good measure, here's one more effort to make amends by the now-infamous singer:

There's not much musical nous here at Armchair Playmaker, so you'll have to draw your own conclusions.

International Parity in League: How Close are We?

2009-11-07T18:00:00.006-05:00

Almost a year ago, we commented on how New Zealand's shock World Cup win over Australia is great for the sport of rugby league because an international game dominated by one nation isn't very interesting. By the same token, New Zealand's draw with Australia in this year's Four Nations tournament continues to suggest that international rugby league is no one-horse race. The Kiwis, it seems, no longer have reason to fear the Kangaroos.

One problem, though, is that it has still often looked like there's no legitimate third contender in the sport to pressure those two antipodean rivals, England went ahead and beat New Zealand today. That means that the Four Nations final won't include New Zealand, and it also means that the tournament this year was competitive enough that tournament final will include a side with a loss (England) and a side with a draw (Australia). Only struggling France failed to emerge from the tournament without a win in the end, and even France led England at half-time when the two European sides met in the tournament.

A cynic might say that the emergence of apparent competitiveness between Australia, New Zealand, and England isn't much, and that it only means rugby league is at best a three-horse race (even if France competed gamely with them and there are other interesting international matches going on right now as well). Compared to rugby union, for example with its hundreds of member nations, three sides offering legitimate contention for the title is far from competitive. Right? Maybe. After all, how many teams have held the top spot in the International Rugby Board's rankings over their entire history since being introduced in 2003?

Let's see: There's England (ranked #1 at points during 2003 and 2004), New Zealand (ranked #1 from mid-2004 to late 2007 and during parts of 2008 and 2009), and South Africa (ranked #1 during parts of 2007, 2008, and 2009, including right now). That would be ... three sides?

Looking at things that way, international rugby league might be reasonably competitive after all, more so if England can rise to the occasion in next week's Four Nations final. In any case, it looks like rugby union is watching.

Here's a fan's view of a few moments from England vs. New Zealand:

We can't find much other video out there yet to post for today's matches, but here are some earlier tournament highlights:

Australia vs. England:

New Zealand vs. France:

Australia vs. New Zealand:

England vs. France:

Karmichael Knows?

2009-10-21T19:08:00.004-04:00

We've mentioned Karmichael Hunt's much-publicized code switch from rugby league to Australian rules here before, and we had thought there wouldn't be a lot of reasons to mention him here much again given that this site focuses on the rugby codes and not the AFL.

We were wrong. Before his AFL career begins, Hunt plans to wear a shirt with sleeves for just a bit longer by playing rugby union for six months with Biarritz in France. This means that if all goes according to plan, Hunt will have played three football codes at a top professional level in the space of a year. So far, he seems to be enjoying the journey.

Some have already been questioning the intent behind Hunt's frequent code-hopping. We won't speculate on what's behind the sport-swapping, but if it's all about the publicity, Hunt may want to get Nike on the telephone. After all, this is starting to look very familiar to some of us in the United States:

The similarities grow even eerier when we recall that Hunt is a big fan of basketball and the NFL.

Here's hoping things go well for the multi-talented athlete. Fortunately for Karmichael Hunt, there shouldn't be any sign of "Rabbits" Warren (see video in link) or Fuifui Moimoi (see second video in link) in Biarritz or the AFL.

Americans, Meet Fuifui

2009-10-08T11:53:00.003-04:00

The Melbourne Storm may have beaten the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League Grand Final, but the Eels put on a show as well--particularly on U.S. television. The Eels played in three of the four finals matches shown on Spike TV's weekly American broadcasts, making them the most-seen side in American during the series (the Storm appeared in two matches and the Gold Coast Titans, Canterbury Bulldogs, and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles were each seen in one match).

Among the most memorable Eels players for the American audience week in and week out must have been Tongan-born Fuifui Moimoi (who is also eligible to play for New Zealand internationally). He got audiences' attention with hits so big that they can only be appreciated fully with the aid of science (sometimes a little too big), though his memorable name may have garnered as much notice from new viewers as his tremendous play.

If you found yourself becoming a new fan of Moimoi's, but were as captivated by the cult figure's interesting moniker as you were by his tremendous efforts, you're not alone. Moimoi is the subject of a song focused on his name and acheivements, as seen below:

We assume he doesn't mind the song because it will be playing when he enters the boxing ring for a charity match (the bout has been delayed by the Eels' success). If you're not a fan, though, you can see examples of Fuifui's imposing play without the soundtrack:

Now and then, of course, Moimoi is on the receiving end as well:

Here's hoping Spike TV and other U.S. networks see fit to show us more of Moimoi and the NRL's other luminaries in the future!

Interchange Coming to Union?

2009-10-02T19:38:00.004-04:00

About a year ago, we mentioned that union might want to consider a league-style interchange law for substitutions after a Tri-Nations match featured something of a curious blood substitution.

In the wake of the now-infamous "Bloodgate" scandal involving a faked blood substitution during a Heineken Cup match earlier this year, a similar solution has been proposed. Among 16 suggestions made by an England Rugby Football Union task force on how to improve the sport is the recommendation that open "rolling" substitutions be given a trial run in an English domestic competition.

The idea has some prominent supporters.England manager and former England captain Martin Johnson argued today that the practice may be needed to discourage dishonest substitution practices. Of course, the suggestion has its detractors as well, particularly those who are concerned that opening up substitutions would dramatically affect the size and build of players used, but it looks to be getting taken seriously.

Will this be one way the rugby codes grow more similar than different over time? We'll see. In any case, something need to be done to stop the substitution cheating. As the video of the "Bloodgate" incident shows (follow the link to view the clip), it's certainly hard to catch the cheats under the current system (at least while the match is on). It certainly isn't as obvious as this "reconstruction" we found online, anyway:

Waiting for Invictus? American Rugby Union Documentaries can Tide You Over

2009-09-21T17:09:00.006-04:00

The 2008 film Forever Strong may have been rugby union's most visible recent appearance in American media, but another film dealing with rugby union in America is on the way soon. This year, the big news about rugby union in the movies is the upcoming release Invictus, which focuses on South Africa's 1995 World Cup victory. On a quieter scale, tohugh, we'll see the appearance of a documentary on the history and present state of rugby union in America titled A Giant Awakens.

The documentary, whose title is a play on the "Sleeping Giant" term often used to describe the state of rugby union in America, will not be released in major theaters but will aim for other exposure via film festivals, television, sales, rentals, and online streaming delivery.

Visit the film's official site for more information on its pending release, and have a look at the trailer below for an advance look:

A Giant Awakens - Trailer HD 1 from sylvain doreau on Vimeo.

In the meantime, you may want to have a look at the 2008 documentary Try for another chance to see American rugby on film. It is available for twenty U.S. dollars, and can be previewed below:

Springboks, We're Really Happy for You ...

2009-09-16T16:04:00.008-04:00

In the wake of this week's big music scandal over Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards (which even got the U.S. President's attention), we decided we'd better get in on the fun everyone is having with photo and video spoofs of the event. Considering that the Springboks clinched their first Tri-Nations series win since 2004 this past Saturday, Armchair Playmaker couldn't help but imagine what things might have been like had West been around to comment:

If you think that joke has already grown old, then at least you can enjoy these highlights from the match:

NRL in the USA

2009-09-10T08:23:00.001-04:00

For U.S. viewers, at least one good thing has come from the otherwise depressing saga of Setanta Sports' ongoing financial crisis, though it's happened indirectly. After Setanta U.S. quietly dumped their National Rugby League coverage, the Spike TV cable channel has picked up the slack by showing one tape-delayed match a week starting this weekend and running through the end of the season. Spike is on many cable packages, so many more Americans can have a look than before. If you're undecided about whether to flip the channel starting tomorrow at 11:00 p.m. Eastern U.S. time, have a look:

Wimps Need Not Apply | SpikeTV | SPIKE.com

Follow your Favorites on Twitter

2009-09-08T14:19:00.004-04:00

The Twitter online social networking tool is a hot buzzword right now, though not everyone may understand how it works or what it's for.

In a word, Twitter is a site that allows people to make accounts and post very short sentences about what they're doing, sites they'd like people to read, questions for others, etc. In that way it's not so different than a blog, but with entries of only 140 characters each. (No, the Armchair Playmaker site doesn't have a Twitter account to go with this site--we just don't have enough to say for two sites!) (UPDATE: A day after this post went up, we decided we couldn't resist snooping on the stars and make an ACP twitter account.)

One of its most popular uses, though, is not to post but to read others' entries. Users can make an account and "follow" another user to see what that user posts, so many people choose you "follow" friends and celebrities.

We're not weighing in on whether the Twitter phenomenon is a passing fad or here to stay, but given the topic of the bog we may as well point out that there are a number of rugby union and rugby league personalities who use Twitter. Here are just a few of the well-known people and organizations from the rugby codes you can "follow" with Twitter to see what they have to say (or, if you don't have a Twitter account, you can just look at their sites anyway):

-David Campese, former Australia rugby union star (not to mention uncle of current league star Terry),
-Will Carling, former England rugby union captain,
-Canterbury of New Zealand, popular union and league kit provider,
-Karmichael Hunt, best known at the moment for his impending jump from rugby league to AFL,
-Leinster Rugby, the 2009 rugby union Heineken Cup champions,
-Victor Matfield, South African rugby union star,
-Ewen McKenzie, who may need to change his "LeLink" Twitter name after getting sacked last -night as coach of Stade Francais, and
-Lote Tuqiri, former Australian union and league star who has used Twitter a fair bit of late to keep his fans informed.

You may find more of your own favorites if you look for youself. If you can't resist the Twitter phenomenon, have a look at the video below to learn how to get on board. Just beware that you might be part of the majority of Twitter users who quit the service in the first month.

Anyone we missed who you'd like on the list? Leave a comment below with your recommendations.

The League to Union Disaster: Not Bad as Disasters Go

2009-08-14T07:55:00.003-04:00

The recent departure of two high-profile Australian league-to-union converts from rugby union, Lote Tuqiri and Timana Tahu, has many deeming Australian rugby union's practice of "poaching" high-profile league players over the past few years an epic failure. The same might be heard elsewhere, such as in England where Andy Farrell did not dominate at the national level after switching to union or in Ireland where Brian Carney's swap to rugby union only lasted two years and was also low-key in terms of performance.

Andrew Slack, who knows a bit about rugby union as a former Wallabies captain and selector, begs to differ. He argues that in general (with exceptions), the code crossers have done well for his country by starring in a number of test matches and hitting other performance goals.

It's a compelling point, and similar arguments might be made for other nations. Jason Robinson left league in England to become a legend in union, and Farrell made a contribution by managing to play for his country in union despite being well out of his prime before the switch. Brad Thorn has starred for New Zealand in union and Australia in league, swapping codes and countries more than once in an ongoing career. (In fact, as much talk as there is about failed code switches, it is nation switches that may be the some teams' bigger worry.)

Another issue worth mentioning is that other code transfers who continue to shine in union after switching before their prime, such as Berrick Barnes and Rocky Elsom, also seem to be quietly ignored in the criticism. In fact, the Wallaby Tri-Nations squad a year ago had five former NRL players in it if one counts the oft-forgotten Barnes and Elsom.

With all the money involved in some of the code swaps, there is plenty of room for debate on what counts as a good investment, just as there will be with Karmichael Hunt's impending change to Aussie rules. That said, it's hard to look at moments like these as evidence for total failure:

Rival Codes all Around

2009-08-13T08:10:00.000-04:00

It's been a couple of weeks, but our cross-code focus here demands we at least mention the big Karmichael Hunt code swap. Just as a series of washouts seems to have put the brakes on rugby union's hunt for rugby league players in Australia, Aussie rules has launched something of a cross-code battle by nabbing the big-name Broncos back.

Reactions have varied, with some seeing promise in the move and others sure that disaster is in the offing for Hunt (and maybe for the whole AFL).

We won't bother to comment, except to say that it will be interesting to see if he can go from this:

to this:

No Dead Rubbers Here

2009-07-27T15:26:00.005-04:00

Major League Baseball's World Series is a best-of-seven series, but of course they don't bother to play them all if someone "clinches" the series by winning four games before all seven are played. Similarly, the National Basketball Association and National Hockey League finals don't bother playing more once they know who has won the series. These leagues' playoff matches leading up to the final follow a similar format, the idea being that there's no need to keep playing once a series winner is determined.

Considering that logic, the format of July's two biggest three-match series in rugby league and rugby union might seem a bit odd to Americans. The British and Irish Lions tour culminates in a best-of-three test match series against the hosting nation, and the State of Origin interstate series is a best-of-three as well. This year, both series were "clinched" after two matches. On the Lions' tour, South Africa won two in a row against the visitors while Queensland won the first two Origin matches against New South Wales. That left the final matches of both series with the derogatory "dead rubber" title. Competitors and fans were left with two matches that meant nothing to the series outcome.

One might ask: "Why bother playing them if they don't matter?" The dead rubbers don't matter to the series, sure, but have a look at these clips from the third matches of the two series and see if you think they didn't matter:

British and Irish Lions match three:

State of Origin match three:

Dead rubbers indeed!

Americans: Vote with your Remotes, Mouse Clicks

2009-06-30T21:37:00.002-04:00

With the future of the Setanta Sports network on unsteady ground, Americans' access to rugby union and league is in jeopardy. If you haven't already subscribed to Setanta in the United States, you probably either can't or won't, but this weekend there's an easier way to help out rugby union in the United States.

ESPN, which doesn't exactly air a lot of rugby union, is showing the USA v. Canada World Cup qualifying match this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern. If you want to see rugby union on television in the United States, you're only part of the solution if you show ESPN why it's worth their time to broadcast it. "They should show rugby on TV," is a comment lament heard in the United States among enthusiasts, but not all of them step up to make it worth the networks' trouble.

Problem is, it's unlikely that ESPN will know you watched the match unless you are in one of the relatively few households that are used to collect ratings data by Nielsen (or some other group). So how else can you tell ESPN that you like seeing rugby union on television?

If you have access to ESPN360 on the Internet, you may want to watch it there to help the most. Only some Internet providers have access to ESPN360, so you may not have the option, but if you do you may want to watch the match online (a few times). Strangely enough, it can be more positive for a television program's success if you watch it online than if you watch it on television because of how Internet viewing is tracked (plus some tendencies preferences associated with the online audience that are attractive to some advertisers). Incidentally, there is plenty of other rugby and rugby league to see on ESPN360 if you have access.

If you can't or won't watch the match online, you can still us the Internet to cast a vote for rugby union. One option is to send a quick comment to ESPN through their online form to let them know that you are glad to have the match on and want to see more. While you're at it, you can take a second to hit the little "recommend" button on the USA Today story about this week's match to show your support for news coverage of rugby as well.

A drop in the bucket, of course, but not a lot of work and better than nothing. Want to see more rugby on American TV? Do something about it!

In the meantime, the Eagles have their work cut out for them. The United States haven't beaten Canada since 2005 and did not finish strong when the sides met last year. While you're waiting for Saturday, have a look at some moments from the 2008 USA-Canada showdown:

Irish A's are Smiling

2009-06-24T18:32:00.005-04:00

The Churchill Cup is a key event each year for rugby union in the United States as it provides a large portion of the U.S.A. Eagles' annual matches and was even held in the United States this year. Although a few of the tournament's other entrants (Canada and Georgia this year) are also national sides, many of the other participating nations put a second-level version of their national side in the competition. The 2009 competition was won by one such side, Ireland "A," on Sunday.

That "A" is a key letter in the team name, as it indicates that the side is Ireland's second side and not the "true" side. That might imply that their matches don't mean as much, but you wouldn't so from looking at the Irish side as they won the tournament final 49-22 over their English counterparts, the England Saxons.

The contest between these representative sides brings to mind the broad variety in the names so many nations provide for their second-tier side. It can cause a bit of confusion, particularly given that at the club level many sides choose to refer to their first side as an "A" side and can thus misinterpret the "A" designator's meaning at the national level. To help out any confused parties, here's a list of prominent national second-level sides in rugby union with a brief explanation of each:

"A" sides: In addition to Ireland, a number of other nations refer to their second side as the "A" side. Scotland, France, Italy, Wales, and Australia have all fielded "A" sides in recent years, though the latter two of these countries are not presently fielding an "A" side.
England Saxons: The Saxons used to be referred to as England "A" (and previously as England "B," to add to the confusion), but have been known as the Saxons since 2006.
Junior All Blacks: Though the term "Junior All Blacks" might suggest an age-grade side, the Junior All Blacks are New Zealand's second-grade side and do not have any age association.
New Zealand Māori: Not technically a second-level side, New Zealand Māori can be mentioned on this list as a similar and unique national rugby union side. Players for the side are New Zealanders with at least one-sixteenth Māori heritage. Although the Junior All Blacks are New Zealand's actual second-level side, the New Zealand Māori outfit has sometimes functioned as something similar to a second-tier New Zealand side by occasionally participating in tournaments such as the Churchill Cup and the Pacific Nations Cup in the Junior All Blacks' stead.
Emerging Springboks: Like the Junior All Blacks, the Emerging Springboks might sound like an age-grade side, but they are South Africa's second-level representatives. Given that they earned a draw against the touring all-star British and Irish Lions yesterday, some might say they've already emerged!
Argentina Jaguars: Like the Saxons, the Jaguars have a dedicated nickname that differs from their first-grade counterparts the Pumas.

In rugby league, officially-named second-tier national sides are featured less frequently, though there are some interesting representative sides such as:

New Zealand Māori, which has the same eligibility requirements as the union version of the side,
Indigenous Dreamtime, an Australian counterpart to the NZ Māori whose players are all at least one-sixteenth aboriginal in heritage, and the
Prime Minister's XIII, a side picked each year by the Australian Prime Minister to play against Papua New Guinea.

Hopefully that will help you keep track of all the monikers given to these second-string sides, which provide as much excitement as their first-grade versions in tournaments all over the globe each year.

Are any "A" sides missing from the list? Post a comment if so.

The "French Exception" to New Zealand's Dominance?

2009-06-15T21:13:00.004-04:00

Scholars of politics, culture, economics, and other fields talk of "The French Exception," an apparent tendency for France to consistently show uniqueness in opposition to trends and patterns of various types across Europe and around the globe. After last weekend, it may be time to add another example of the French exception to the annals: France's refusal to follow the pattern of New Zealand's dominance in rugby union.

New Zealand has the top side in the world, says the International Rugby Board's rankings formula. They won the 2008 Tri-Nations series and went undefeated in ten 2008 matches against Northern Hemisphere opponents. In their first match of 2009, the favored New Zealand All Blacks were hosting a depleted French side.

But France didn't do what they were supposed to do this past Saturday. Instead, France went ahead and beat the mighty All Blacks 27-22.

Alone, one result like this isn't too surprising. However, looking at a few other key France-New Zealand contests in recent memory shows an interesting pattern. In 2007, New Zealand were the World Cup favorites, but lost 20-18 to France in a quarterfinal match. That's a little bit like 1999, when New Zealand were also the favorites but lost 43-31 to France in a semifinal match.

In addition to boosting the local arrest rate, this most recent loss has even rattled some hopes in New Zealand about the 2011 World Cup despite it being a couple of years away.

France and New Zealand square off again this Saturday. Will there be more of the "French Exception?"

Here are some highlights from last week's win:

And some from that 2007 upset:

And from 1999:

East Meets West Revisited

2009-05-30T22:57:00.002-04:00

About a year ago, we looked at the results of the various U.S. rugby union championship competitions and declared a slight edge for the Western United States over the Eastern United States. If this weekend's Men's Club Championships are any indicator, that Western dominance continues.

This year, the Division I, II, and III playoff formats were all arranged such that in each division, 16 clubs played in Eastern and Western regional brackets with two teams from each region advancing to the semifinals. This meant that each semifinal match at level of play featured an Eastern Side versus a Western side. In those semifinal matches, played today, not a single side from the East survived. Six semifinal matches, all won by the Western representatives.

That mean that not only will all of these competitions be won by a Western side, but an Eastern side won't even appear in the final at any of these levels.

Although other American competitions used different playoff formats, they also point toward Western dominance. The Collegiate Men's Division I championship match last month featured a pair of Western sides, as did the Boy's High School and Under-19 age-grade competitions from two weeks ago.

Tonight's Rugby Super League final and last month's Girl's Under-19 final were also won by Western sides, though the runners-up were from the Eastern side of the country in both cases. The 2009 Women's Club final has yet to be played, but a Western side bested an Eastern side in the 2008 tournament. The only exceptions to this pattern of Western dominance are the Women's Collegiate Division I and II tournaments and the Men's Collegiate Division II tournament, which were all won by Eastern sides in May.

Of twelve national champs, then, that means nine are from the West. Again, perhaps just as telling is that more than half of those championships didn't even feature an Eastern side in the final. More Western dominance next year? We'll see ...

Two Codes is Not Enough?

2009-05-28T16:11:00.005-04:00

Crossover star Sonny Bill Williams courted plenty of controversy last year when he ditched rugby league for rugby union in France. A professional career in two highly physical sports would be enough for many, both in terms of accomplishment and in terms of punishment. For Sonny Bill, though, a little more challenge seems to have been called for as he began his boxing career to much fanfare this week. After some pre-match friction, Williams took down Gary "The Baboon" Gurr in the second round of a shortened-rounds bout.

Although Williams will be busy with rugby union thoughts for a little while as he plays for the Barbarians against Australia next weekend, he has mentioned that he'd like to fight again. Although there have been some complaints that the fight was a farce, the video clips below suggest that Williams has promise if he wants to return to the squared circle.

The leadup:

Pre-fight antics:

Bout highlights:

The entire first round:

What's next for Sonny Bill? You tell us.

They Have to End Some Time: Tiebreakers

2009-05-10T07:26:00.001-04:00

Last weekend's dramatic Heineken Cup semifinal between Leicester and Cardiff will be long remembered for its penalty shout-out finish after all other attempts to separate the sides were exhausted. Here's how the grueling process went down:

The sides were locked at twenty-six points apiece after regulation, so two ten-minute extra periods were played.
With the draw unbroken after extra time, the number of tries scored in the match was the next tiebreaker. This was moot, however, as each side had scored two tries during the match.
each side nominated five kickers to attempt one placekick at goal each from the 22-meter line in front of the posts.
After each side made four goals, the kicking competition went into "sudden-death" mode (wherein the first side to miss a goal loses, so long as the other side made a goal in the same round) with a new set of kickers. In the third round of this segment, Cardiff flanker Martyn Williams pushed an attempt wide to end the marathon and send Leicester into the final to be played in a couple of weeks.

The format was unpopular with many given that it forced players specializing in things other than goalkicking to do as much with the match at stake, but it was still exciting. Aside from the tense finish, the match also served to answer a few fans' curiosity regarding how a tie is resolved in a knockout match after extra time.

Or did it? Actually, even though the format seen last weekend is used in the Heineken Cup, the format will be reconsidered next year. Further, other competitions don't do it the same way, so seeing the shoot-out last weekend actually tells very little about how the matter is settled throughout the sport.

If you've read this far, we assume you're interested in hearing how all of the competitions settle a draw in playoff situations where a winner must be determined, so here's a partial list of competitions and their tiebreaking methods:

The Guinness Premiership (England's top domestic competition) has a similar format as the Heineken Cup, but the kicks vary in placement by round with some in front of the posts, some 15 meters from the left and right touch lines, and some 5 meters from each touch line.
In the Super 14 (featuring top sides from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa), two formats are used, on for the semifinals and one for the finals. In the semis, the sides play two ten-minute extra time periods, after which the deadlock is broken by number of tries scored in the semifinal. After that, though, the similarities with the Heineken Cup and Guiness Premiership end, as the winner is decided by who finished higher during the regular season. The final works the same for the most part, except that the championship is shared as a draw after two periods of extra time if the scored are still level.
The Magners League (featuring top sides from Ireland, Wales, and Scotland) doesn't have to deal with the issue, as they don't have knockout matches and determine their winner after the regular schedule. This year, in fact, Munster clinched the title two matches left to play
We couldn't find a clear statement of the American Super League's format, but we know from the 2008 final that "sudden-death" extra time is played after two extra time periods until one side scores to win.
The tiebreaker methods used in the Top 14 (France's top domestic competion) and Super 10 (Italy's top domestic competition) elude Armchair Playmaker's limited translation resources. Readers who are more adept at French and Italian are encouraged to chime in!

How do they handle it in rugby league? We'll spare you the details, but note that for most competitions a "golden point" sudden-death period is either played after 80 minutes (as is done in the National Rugby League in every match) or after two short two extra time periods. The golden point seems to work pretty well--in fact, Leicester seems to support the idea after suffering through the alternative.

Hopefully, that satisfies your curiosity about how a draw is avoided when a draw will not do. Meanwhile, here are a few views of last weekend's historic moment:

Here's how the cameras caught it:

And here's how it looked from at least one spot in the crowd:

We're not sure it's fair to focus on a missed goal from a player of Martyn Williams' stature, especially considering that he probably never expected to be kicking at goal that day, so we'll end here with a cheerier moment from early in Williams' standout career (this one from more than a decade ago, before he ever donned a Cardiff shirt):

BYU seeing Yellow, Gold

2009-05-03T00:22:00.000-04:00

BYU snatched a U.S. Collegiate Division I Championship from usual champs California by a 25-22 margin in a thriller a few hours ago, and they did so despite often playing shorthanded with four players receiving yellow cards in the match. Considering that a yellow card puts a player on an unreplaced rest for ten minutes, that's roughly akin to leaving a player out for half the match (though not quite so in this case given that BYU sometimes had 13 players in action due to overlapping offenses).

Typically, a yellow card--or in this case, enough of them for a good start to a poker hand--hurts the offending side's chance to win, so it amy be a surprise that BYU got by despite the number of players temporarily sent off. On the other hand, a look at the nature of the offenses tells a bit about what BYU had to show Cal on the night. The cards were given out for a tackle in the air, a high shot, a hit with no arms, and repeated offenses. Ten minutes an offense is a tough fine to pay, but might be worth the price for the intimation that can come from hitting hard and pushing the limits of the law.

Given the outcome of the match, one wonders if BYU's championship offers a hint at the future of the American game. American football allows, even encourages, most of the offenses that got BYU players sent off, so there is a nation full of potential players out there who are suited to test the physical limits of their opposition. No one should encourage cheating and dirty play, and no one has claimed that's what BYU was up to. They just offered hard hits, even at the expense of strict penalties, and it paid off with a win despite the personnel disadvantage. If this is the way forward in American rugby, this year's college final might be recalled as a turning point in the U.S. game.

Watch Age-Grade Tournament Online

2009-04-23T14:57:00.002-04:00

Based on information about what posts people look at here and what search keywords they use to find us, it looks like many Armchair Playmaker visitors end up here after looking for places to watch rugby union and rugby league online for free--especially in the United States. That group might be interested to know that the Junior World Rugby Trophy matches being held this week can be viewed live or after the fact at the International Rugby Board site.

The competition is a second-tier international tournament for players under 20 years of age, as the top 16 teams play in the Junior World Championship. The JWRT will still interest many American fans, though, as the United States is one of the eight teams playing in it after moving down from the top tier following a winless showing at the Junior World Championship last year. The United States has already beaten the Cayman Islands and will play home side Kenya Saturday.

The video work is very simple and is sometimes unaccompanied by commentary, but the video is also clear and from a good viewpoint. If you're finding it hard to see good rugby matches on the television or computer because you don't have a subscription to a pay service, have a look.

U.S. College Canings Indicate Disparity AND Parity?

2009-04-22T23:37:00.002-04:00

The U.S. Men's Collegiate Division I National Championships, which aren't the top-level competition in the nation but may be the most widely followed given their ready-made university audiences, got underway last weekend with the "Sweet 16" and quarterfinal rounds. The results included a few close matches, but also plenty of stompings.

Some of these whippings point to the gap betweenthe best and the also-rans in American college rugby. California, for example, cruised in their two matches as a reminder of their perennial dominance in the competition. On the other hand, a few of the blowouts said as much about the competitiveness of the competition as the tight matches did. One side who won big in the opening round, Louisiana State, was appearing in the tournament for the first time and spanked Navy, a fairly regular national title contender. Another big winner in the first round, Arkansas State, was making only its second appearance and beat Utah, another regular title contender. Both sides lost in the next round, but not a bad start!

There were plenty of closer matches as well, but to see newcomers arrive at the tournament and roll over established competitors seems to be as promising sign a sign as any for American college rugby. After all, everyone loves the upsets, Cinderella stories, and so on as much as they love a dynasty, and a tournament where a newcomer can come in and give a stalwart a hiding is an exciting tournament. Meanwhile, we'll wait for the semifinals and final on the first weekend of May to see if the tale of the year is about the continuing Cal dynasty or a surprise from of of the other semifinalists (BYU, San Diego State, and Army)

A Different Sort of NRL?

2009-04-13T21:42:00.003-04:00

Considering that the United States has been okay with the idea of a guy making some money for playing a rough game of football for more than a century, it may be surprising that rugby league isn't more popular in the United States. That may be changing, though, if a new competition has anything to say about things.

Although the American National Rugby League has been running a competition for more than a decade without interruption, the proposed United States National Rugby League aims to take things to another level with a fully professional league in cities across the nation. Although there is plenty of disbelief about the league becoming a reality as proposed in 2010, the competition is taking declarations of interest from potential players, coaches, and referees. Even top NRL coach Craig Bellamy is excited about it.

Got an opinion about the USNRL? Share it with a comment here or on their forums. Until we see what happens, we can all settle for the AMRNL as the American Rugby League presence, as you can see in the below highlights from last year's grand final:

ELV Kick-Frenzy Blame Misplaced?

2009-03-31T22:38:00.005-04:00

As an International Rugby Board conference met today to discuss the Experimental Law Variations that were introduced to rugby union globally last year, discussion about their appropriateness has been resurgent. Although some have been sanguine about their effects on the sport, the law variations have been controversial. Among the loudest complaints has been the claim that the ELVs have turned rugby union into a "kickfest" with aimless hoofing of the ball taking the place of exciting play.

Without trying to sort out the reasoning behind this claim, Armchair Playmaker thinks it's a good time to have a look at the way things where before the ELVs. The consternation about the ELVs making rugby union a "tedious display of kicking" might suggest that rugby union before 2008 was a slashing display of running rugby. To jog our memory, let's consider the biggest match played in the year before the ELVs came our way: the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final.

A glance at the match statistics reminds us of a few things. For one, there were zero tries scored in the match. For two, each side only had one clean line break. But that's a pretty superficial peek.

Let's look closer. The stats also say possession was kicked away 92 times in the match (48 times by South Africa and 44 times by England). Meanwhile, there were 185 attempted tackles (97 by South Africa and 88 by England). If we assume that almost all phases of play end with an attempted tackle or a kicked ball, then adding the total tackle attempts to the total number of times possession was kicked away gives us a total of about 277 phases of play. If 92 of those phases involved possession being kicked away, then that means about 33% of the total phases in the match ended with posession being kicked away.

A third. Not a third of the times they had posession. A third of the total phases. So every time the ball went to a player from a ruck, scrum, lineout, kick, etc., there was about a one in three chance a player kicked it away. This estimate is a little rough, and is actually probably a little bit low if we consider that some phases might have had more than one attempted tackle in them if a player was able to break a tackle or two, so the percentage of phases where possession was kicked away may have been even higher.

We know this is just one match, and may not be representative in a lot of ways. But it was also probably the most-watched rugby union match ever. And for every three times a team picked up the ball to play with it, they kicked it away once.

The ELVs, of course, have the convenient alibi of not being at the scene because their global implementation came several months later.

Armchair Playmaker suspects that if you see a side kick away possession a lot in a rugby union match, it has less to do with the ELVs and more to do with the oft-repeated statement, "The contest for possession of the ball is one of rugby’s key
features." You'll find that said in a number of places, such as a playing charter document provided by the IRB. When possession is constantly at risk, territory is at a premium. Kicking is a quick way to gain territory. Seems simple to us. And rugby union still seems okay to us as well.

If rugby union fans really can't stand the kicking, though, they can always play and watch a code that where we usually only see a kick every six tackles. But wait: We also see people saying the ELVs have made rugby union too much like rugby league.

o the ELVs make people kick too much possession away and they make rugby union like rugby league, a sport where people don't need to kick as much possession away because there is less ongoing contest for posession? There's just no pleasing some folks.

The IRB will make a final decision on the ELVs in July. In the meantime, have a look at the video below if you want another chance to see what could be causing such chaos in so many disparate ways--and all at once:

American College Rugby Milestone on TV

2009-03-29T13:14:00.004-04:00

Last night marked the first ever U.S. college rugby match shown live on national television. Which network showed it? Thinking of a good guess.

Think again. The first nationally televised American collegiate rugby match wasn't on a specialist sports network, but on BYU TV, the network run by Brigham Young University that airs nationwide on satellite providers cable networks.

If the match is remembered for its television coverage, it will be less remembered for its drama, as national contenders BYU walked away 111-3 winners over Utah State. Whenever the second live television broadcast of a college match takes place, we'll hope it's more of a thriller.

Those interested in getting a look at the match for posterity's sake can see a replay at BYU TV's streaming video site by choosing the "Live TV" section at the botton, then clicking on "Saturday, Mar 28, 2009" at left and then "7:30pm College Rugby" at right.

For a quicker look at BYU in a more evenly-matched challenge, see these brief highlights from BYU's win over the Senior Men's Division I Denver Barbarians in February (though the amateur video is a far cry from the BYU TV production quality, of course):

Anticlimactic Irish Feat Suggests a Modest Proposal

2009-03-17T12:45:00.004-04:00

It's difficult to say there's anything ho-hum about the news that Ireland is likely to win its first Six Nations ever this Saturday (technically speaking, because they last won the tournament in 1985 when it was the "Five Nations" tournament), but the fact that Ireland can lose to Wales by 12 points this weekend and still win the tournament takes some intensity out of the "deciding" match.

So far, Ireland has won all four of their Six Nations matches so far and scored 46 more points than their opponents in those matches, while Wales has won three of the four matches and scored 21 more points than their opponents. If Ireland loses this weekend, the tournament is decided by total points difference throughout the tournament. For example, if Wales wins by 12 this weekend, both sides will have won four of five matches, and Ireland will have a points difference of 34 points, while Wales will have a points difference of 33 points. In that case, a beaten Ireland walks off the ground with the tournament trophy.

In Cardiff.

Awkward...

A similar situation happened last season, when Wales beat France on the last weekend of the Six Nations for an unbeaten "Grand Slam" tournament victory, but Wales had only needed to lose by less than 20 points to win the tournament.

Of course, one could argue that this setup is fine, as Wales can still control their fate by putting a 13-point (or more) beating on Ireland (just as Ireland can render the issue moot by beating Wales), but it's a little bit strange to walk out on the ground with the scoreboard effectively reading "Ireland 13, Wales 0" as far the Six Nations tournament stakes are concerned. Also, the general practice of points differential as a tie-breaker might encourage teams to pour on the points against weaker opponents when a match have already been decided. That seems to be against the spirit of the sport.

Why not make head-to-head matches the first tiebreaker instead? In other words, if two teams each win four of the five matches (or some similar, but less likely combination of equal win-loss records at the top of the table), the first tiebreaker could be head-to-head results--namely which team won when they played one another. Points differential could be the next tiebreaker, such as if three teams all went 4-1 in the tournament and each had beaten only one of the other two teams (for example, if France beat Ireland, Ireland beat Wales, and Wales beat France, but all three sides had won their other matches). Making head-to-head results the primary tiebreaker wouldn't make score differential unimportant, but it would make it a lot harder to lose a match to a team, then walk off with the tournament trophy while your victorious opponent claims the runners-up crown.

Of course, Armchair Playmaker won't advocate tipping the scales against Ireland on a day when even the fountains at the U.S. White House are dyed green, but head-to-head might be the way to go as a general practice.

That said, we have a sneaking suspicion that the Six Nations organizers are looking to Armchair Playmaker for insight on how to run their operation. So let's look at some Irish rugby highlights from recents years to commemorate their likely Six Nations win:

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NRL Season Wastes no Time Getting Started

2009-03-13T16:55:00.005-04:00

The 2009 National Rugby League season got a great start today with one match going into extra time and the other decided by a single point in the last five minutes. If the matches for the rest of the weekend and the rest of the season keep up this pace, it will be a good one for sure.

An exciting year will also help to live up to the promise of the sport's recent television promotions, such as this ad for the new season (before the campaign was scrapped as another scandal looms over the NRL and featured player Brett Stewart):

Similarly, Reg Reagan alter ego Matthew Johns is pitching club memberships with the promise of fun for all:

The thriller of the 2009 ads, though, is no doubt this ad for the upcoming State of Origin series:

Will the matches live up to the hype? Let's hope so! Of course, no discussion of NRL promos is complete without the classic "That's my Team" campaign from a few years back:

Monstering the Myth: Cal's Phantom Scholarships

2009-02-27T22:06:00.004-05:00

On the heels of the University of California at Berkeley's win over the University of British Columbia to launch the annual two-match series between the schools, it's a good time to crash-tackle one rumor that has persisted for decades about a source of Cal's dominance.

That fable pertains to Cal's alleged supply of athletic scholarships for rugby union players. There is plenty of reason to believe such a story, as Cal has won the national collegiate Division I title all but five of the 29 times it has been contested since its 1980 foundation. The last time someone else won was 2003, and before that 1990. In addition to its stranglehold on the college game, Cal boasts not one, but two former U.S. national coaches and players on the U.S. national side and professional European club contracts.

They also have symbolic varsity status, which affords them some access to special advising and training resources, but what they don't have is player scholarships. Although the varsity status has been raised as an excuse for Cal's dominance by some, Cal raises its money and recruits its players without the benefit of the athletic scholarships that feed American varsity teams in most sports across most campuses nationwide (including many other Cal varsity teams).

Now and again, one hears talk of scholarships at Cal, but it's a tale. Cal emphasizes its lack of scholarships in its own promotional material. If you don't believe that, you can consider the case of touted American football prospect Cole Huntley, who recently decided to turn away college scholarship offers in the gridiron game for a chance to play rugby at Cal sans athletic scholarship.

There's plenty of great things behind Cal's success, but scholarships are not among them. Armchair Playmaker reckons the winning has a lot more to do with what the players are choosing to do (and not do, especially in terms of some leisurely rugby union "traditions" ) at school than how they're being brought there. In any case, the results come out well, as in the below highlights from the 2007 grand final:

Second (and Third) Chance to See Great U.S. Sevens Showing

2009-02-16T13:20:00.006-05:00

Rugby union sevens fans in the United States who missed the home side's strong performance at this past weekend's USA Sevens in San Diego, California, have another chance to get a look ... if they have access to the ESPN360 online network. The tournament which was won by Argentina after they bested the Americans in the Cup semifinal, is being replayed on ESPN360. The network's availability in the United States varies across Internet providers, but is available on most university campus among other places. If you've got ESPN360, you can see pretty much the entire two-day tournament (more than eight hours of coverage per day), but the replay may not be available much longer as the network removes access to some video after 48 hours or so.

Those without access to ESPN360 can also see a one-hour special about the 2009 USA Sevens on the ABC network on Sunday, 22 February, at 5:00 p.m., but you'll have to make do with this short highlight reel from the 2008 event for now:

Super Weekend

2009-02-15T20:52:00.002-05:00

If the first weekend was any sign, the 2009 Super 14 rugby union season will be a thriller. Consider these figures from Week One:

Close matches: Six of the seven matches ended with less than a converted try between the sides. The average difference in scores for all seven matches was 5.7 points.
Plenty of tries: No fewer than 45 tries were scored in the seven matches. The average tries scores per game was 6.4, or 3.2 per team.
Plenty of stars: On the weekend, 42 players scored tries. Three players scored two. A couple of players also scored drop goals, not to mention the less exciting penalty kicks and conversions.

It all goes on until the end of May, so let's hope the competition stays just as exciting. As we wait for Week Two, here are a few highlights from 2008:

Code-Swapping Epidemic Spreads to Coaches?

2009-02-13T00:31:00.005-05:00

Australia has produced many a code-swapper across the nation, with league and union players switching sports to find fortune and fame across the globe. Now, former Australia Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, who is involved in some form of coaching with approximately half of the rugby union sides on Earth, is interested in coaching rugby league.

Will we see a dual international...coach? That might be a stretch, but time will tell. Here's Jones' decision to leave his current primary club, straight from the source:

No Justice in Any Code?

2009-02-01T22:49:00.002-05:00

Although Armchair Playmaker's emphasis is on rugby union and rugby league, we saw parallel's between tonight's American Football Super Bowl and another championship match from the last year.

Although the Steelers managed to win a great contest, their victory was no doubt marred by unsportsmanlike play from defenders James Harrison and Ike Taylor. Aided by penalties against the pair, the Steelers briefly conceded the lead but got the win in the end.

Not so different was the 2008 Super 14 final, wherein the Crusders managed a win over the Waratahs despite similar misbehavior from Brad Thorn.

All of the offenders in this tale, of course, we duly punished, with the Steeler offenders giving up 15-yard penalties and Thorn getting sent off for ten minutes and costing his side a try to boot. All the same, it would seem a bit more poetic for the odd punch-thrower to end up on the losing end of one of these championship matches!

Umaga Wears Many Hats

2009-01-28T09:45:00.003-05:00

As his Toulon club struggles to avoid relegation from France's top domestic competition, it has been announced that New Zealand rugby union legend Tana Umaga will be swapping his coaching kit for playing gear. The star's return from a brief retirement may not save his currently last-placed side from slipping to second grade, but it won't hurt if he can recapture some of the from displayed in the highlight reels below:

Of course, even the greats get it wrong now and then:

Monstering the Myth: When Forward is not Forward

2009-01-27T19:54:00.001-05:00

We've seen it on television, in matches while playing, and in afternoon touch rugby games. A player with a head of steam tosses a pass to the right or left and by the time it's caught by a teammate, the ball is in front of where it is thrown. Sometimes the lines marked on the grass make it obvious, sometimes it's that the passer or another defender stops and the ball has clearly passed that player by (in a forward direction) in the air. Yet no forward pass call gets made, or if one is made the passer disputes it fervently. Ridiculous?

Not so fast. The ball can travel forward without being illegally passed. Why? The rugby union laws define "throw forward" thusly:

A throw forward occurs when a player throws or passes the ball
forward. 'Forward' means towards the opposing team’s dead ball line.

The fine distiction here is that the player must propel the ball forward to throw it forward. If it is passed backward or sideward and travels forward in space, that's fine. How does a backward or sideward throw travel forward? Momentum. Have you ever been standing on a street at night and watched someone toss a cigarette out the window? You will note that:

1) the person doing so is a tosser in more ways than one, and
2) the cigarette will fly forward and continue to roll forward on the ground, even if it was thrown backward a bit by the driver, because it has momentum from traveling in a car moving forward very quickly.

Although your average rugby player can't keep up with a car on a street and a cigarette is not much like a rugby football, the principle is the same. The football will continue to carry the momentum of the forward-running player, so it may drift forward in space even if thrown sideward.

If that analogy is for the birds, just watch this old video from the Australian Rugby Union and try to complain a little bit less about though not-so-forward throws (though beware that not every referee is familiar with the concept--feel free to recommend this site!):

Curious Photo Begs the Question: Cross-Code Merchandising in the United States?

2009-01-22T08:27:00.002-05:00

A theme of Armchair Playmaker is promotion of both rugby union and rugby league in harmony despite the former code's relative dominance on the global stage in the the United States. Today, we take that mission's focus off the rugby ground and into the shop window.

World Rugby Shop is one of the most prominent online shops in the United States when it comes to rugby union equipment and other merchandise. The site is run by 365, Inc., of Birmingham, Alabama, which is in turn part of Sports Endeavors of Hillsbourough, North Carolina. World Rugby Shop advertises extensively online and also promotes their material via their RugbyRugby news site, which accompanies World Rugby Shop ads with imported news content generated and collected by South Africa's Primedia Online This may solve the mystery for any American users curious about the site's occasionally disproportionate focus on South Africa, and conspiracy theorists may also see a connection to the RugbyRugby 2008 team of the year including six Springboks in the first fifteen (40% of the team, in other words) despite South Africa finishing last in the Tri-Nations tournament and failing to put a side in the Super 14 final as well (though they did finish the year well with an undefeated European Springbok tour).

At present, the World Rugby Shop spread is limited to rugby union gear, both in terms of its playing gear and its replica gear for fans. The playing gear decision makes sense, as there are not a large number of league players in the United States needing rugby league shoulderpads, footballs, etc. For the rugby league fan, however, there is no chance of grabbing a New Zealand Kiwis shirt, despite a sea of All Blacks merchandise. Considering that World Rugby Shop offers such unique items as a Kyrgystan national shirt, one might think that offering some replica gear for American rugby league fans (thereby sparing them international postage ordering rugby league gear from some overseas site) might be a nice addition.

Could World Rugby Shop make the code jump? A while back, New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons shirts were briefly offered among the Waratahs and Reds gear, but they are no more. That said, have a look at this recently-spotted World Rugby Shop ad:

That's the Blues before a State of Origin match!

One assumes that the image was just selected because it looked sharp, and perhaps World Rugby Shop doesn't even know they're featuring a league side in their advertising. That said, it brings up a good point: How about some cross-code merchandising in America? Surely there are enough folks around the nation who pick up league merchandise and are eager to skip the shipping bill from overseas--at least as big a market as there is for the Azerbijani nation rugby union side's guernsey. Last weekend, 5,700 people went to see the Leeds Rhinos and Salford City Reds play in Jacksonville, Florida, and around 12,000 turned up to watch Leeds and the South Sydney Rabbitohs there a year ago. If you'd buy a league shirt from World Rugby Shop, tell World Rugby Shop, or post a comment below. If not, well, no harm done. Just doing our bit to spread the cross-code harmony!

ACP Commemorates Historic Political Moment

2009-01-20T06:51:00.005-05:00

The items featured on Armchair Playmaker tend to stay clear of political issues, rugby-related and otherwise. All the same, today's inauguration of United States President Barack Obama is a historical event the world over, whether you voted in the U.S. election or not (or, if you voted in it, whether you voted for Obama or not). Given the special day, a departure from the site's focus (sort of) seemed appropriate.

To recognize the event, Armchair Playmaker presents its own (playful, but with no disrepect in mind) tribute in the form of a rugby-related response to the famous blue-and-red Obama portrain image created by Shepard Fairey (feel free to save and share, or create your own using any image at Paste Magazine's "Obamicon me" site):

Best of (Late) 2008

2009-01-09T22:36:00.003-05:00

As 2009 begins, Armchair Playmaker can think of no better way to start the new year than with a quick look back at the last part of 2008. Below are highlights from the October/November international rugby union tours:

And while we're in a retrospective mode, we may as well take a quick look at the historic 2008 Rugby League World Cup Final as well:

Hopefully 2009 will offer as much excitement in both codes!

The (Game) Play's the Thing

2008-12-30T23:46:00.004-05:00

Armchair Playmaker has featured a few posts about rugby union and league in the media, but until now hasn't mentioned the codes' place in the popular video game industry. Given that we're still on the back edge of the holiday gift-giving season, a quick glance at the sports' recent video game offerings is in order. No product reviews here, just a short listing and some game footage.

Union:
Electronic Arts' EA Sports brand has had a strong grip on the rugby union video game market for some time, releasing several games internationally in the last few years. Their most recent offering, Rugby 08 (though it was actually released in 2007), is available for the Playstation 2 and for personal computers. It was also released in both the NTSC (playable in the United States and Canada, among other places) and PAL (playable in the Unitd Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and much of Europe, among other places) formats. Here's a quick video:

No word on when the next incarnation may be out, though a Rugby 10 game is plausible considering the previous incarnation was Rugby 06.

Ubisoft's Rugby Challenge 2006 is another recent rugby union release. Fans can play the game anywhere in the world on their personal computer, but the XBox and Playstation 2 versions appear to have been released only in PAL format. Here's a clip:

A different sort of rugby union game is Cyanide Studios' Pro Rugby Manager 2, released for personal computers in 2005. Unlike the other rugby union video games, the player doesn't actually control any match play here. Instead, the game is about what it sounds like: managing a side and watching their progress. Interested players don't need to wait for this game to arrive in the mail, as this game can be purchased and downloaded online from Cyanide Studios' online store for 29.99 Euros.

League:
Sidhe Interactive's Rugby League 2, released in 2005, is the main notable rugby league offering. It was released for personal computers, so it can be played worldwide, but the XBox and Playstation 2 versions are available in PAL format only. Here's a look:

A new World Cup Edition of the game, which features the same play but updated teams, players, etc., and a World Cup option, was released this year, but only on Playstation 2 in the PAL region. Rumors of a Rugby League 3 game have circulated, but nothing more yet. Meantime, there are some player-created updates that Rugby League 2 owners can download and install (at their own risk).

So there's the whirlwind tour of what's out there in video games for the rugby union and rugby league enthusiasts. Did I miss any? If so, drop a comment.

Sevens Going for Gold

2008-12-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

The 2008-2009 IRB Sevens World Series is off to a flying start, with South Africa threatening to break New Zealand's perennial dominance after winning the season's first two tournaments in Dubai and George.

Although the international sevens season has just begun and the next tournament in the series is not until February, the seven-a-side variant has been a hot topic all year because of high-profile attempts to get sevens into the Olympic Games. The effort has failed before, but some say the sport is a perfect fit. Earlier in the year, the International Rugby Board even went so far as to release a video lobbying for sevens' inclusion. Have a look at the video, which primarily features spokespeople and clips from the more traditional version of rugby union, and see if you're moved (or just to see the somewhat bizarre scene in the first twenty seconds wherein a woman briefly appears to be pregnant ... with a rugby football?):

"Marshall Plan" is a Busy One

2008-12-13T14:29:00.004-05:00

While a lot of players are crossing codes to cash in and get a change of scenery, Wests Tigers and New Zealand Kiwis star Benji Marshall is looking to get the best of both worlds--or at least, the busiest.

On the heels of the Kiwis' first ever Rugby League World Cup win, Marshall has expressed an interest in playing union. It is possible, though, that he may stay in league by playing union in Japan during the league offseason.

The possible move, considered by some to be strictly a cash grab, may not be on given that Marshall has no union offers yet. That said, the speculation continues.

So is Benji Marshall good enough to play two codes at once? You be the judge:

Watch Rugby Union Online for Free

2008-12-04T11:59:00.002-05:00

In the United States, it's difficult to watch rugby union free of charge. Occasional matches are provided through some of ESPN's stations and their alternate online venue, though access to both of these outlets is not universal. Subscribing to the Setanta Sports television channel or broadband access is another option, though the price may be too high for some. Others have chosen to use the Rugbyzone online service from Mediazone, though it too comes at a price.

But not for a little while. If you want to watch rugby union in America but don't have access to a subscription service, it looks like Christmas has come early. At present, the Rugbyzone site has a large number of videos available free of charge and without any form of registration at all. For now, users can just go to the site, click on a video, and watch a streaming feed. As the Rugbyzone site explains, this stunning windfall for the cash-strapped American rugby fan is a temporary result of Rugbyzone's construction of a new site infrastructure and video delivery format, and will end in early 2009 when the new site is ready. In the meantime, enjoy the video. There is lots of it, with a large archive of matches going back several months.

Enjoy it while it lasts!

Barbarians at the Gates

2008-12-03T08:04:00.000-05:00

The famed Barbarians representative side will be back in action today, taking on Australia as the latter side ends a European tour. The century-plus history of the invitational side is rich, though some consider the tradition an outdated one.

In any case, the match should promise some exciting rugby, as is evidenced by these brief highlights from their 2007 end-of-the-year clash with South Africa:

And of course, no discussion of the Barbarians is complete without a mention of their famous 1973 match against New Zealand, a few classic moments from which are below:

NZ Grand Slam in Sight

2008-11-26T20:13:00.006-05:00

Although winning matches is nothing new for the New Zealand All Blacks, this weekend could bring them an acheivement they've only enjoyed twice before: a grand slam tour. Although an undefeatedtour is not uncommon (Australia and South Africa are on the verge of that feat as well), the grand slam occurs only when a side beats all four "Home Nations" from the British Isles (England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland)in the same tour. The All blacks did it in 1978 and 2005, and they've picked a strong side in hopes of earning another this weekend.

Considering the possibilty of such a momentous event, we'll recap the tour in the form of Jed Thian's short and comedic Alternative Rugby Commentary preview videos (Caution: Rude language and profanity):

First, Scotland fell:

Next, Ireland succumbed:

Last weekend, NZ topped Wales:

Now, only England stands in the way. We'll see what happens:

Shane Williams is on Top of the World

2008-11-23T22:07:00.003-05:00

The International Rugby Board named Shane Williams the world's Player of the Year for 2008 today. How does one win an award like that? By getting around the park like this (though the below highlights are not just from 2008):

RLWC Final Great for the Sport

2008-11-23T08:18:00.002-05:00

Australia had not failed to win a Rugby League World Cup since 1972. With the tournament held at sporadic intervals and in varying formats over the years, that's a total of six in a row. Australia had also won nine of the twelve world cups ever held since 1954. The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was written off as a contest for second from the start, and claims that the cup was pointless mounted as Australia continued to dominate through the ealy matches. Poor New Zealand surely wouldn't stand a chance in the final.

But for some reason, they went ahead and held the grand final yesterday anyway. Predictably, Australia jumped to a 10 lead in the first quarter of the match. Amazingly, New Zealand battled back and took a 12-10 lead shortly before the half, the first lead Australia had rescinded in any match all year. Then Australia recaptured a 16-12 halftime lead, and things seemed to be back on track to a ho-hum conclusion.

Except that the Kiwis forgot to follow the songbook and won 34-20. In perhaps the greatest upset in rugby league history, New Zealand won the nation's first ever Rugby League World Cup. In an era where rugby league is criticized as a sport played in only a few nations (though some point out that rugby union is not as much of a "world game" as it is purported to be either) and some call a Rugby League World Cup pointless, Australia suddenly cannot be found on the comfortable seat at the top of the heap after the Kiwis shocked the world. Even an Australia fan has to enjoy that.

There are sad stories, such as seeing Australian legend Darren Lockyer walk off the ground with a loss, but Lockyer has had plenty of great wins as well. Everybody loses when the same side always wins, but this time that wasn't the case. The sport will surely benefit from the grand final result, just as it will from the great tournament in general.

If you missed the grand final, here are a few highlights. If you've never been interested in rugby league, this is a good match to start with!

And here's an extra video of the Kiwis arriving home with a trophy that had sat in Australia's trophy case for more than three decades:

League World Cup Nears a Close

2008-11-22T00:54:00.003-05:00

The 2008 Rugby League World Cup will end in a few hours in the grand final between Australia and New Zealand. The smart money is on Australia, as it has been since the beginning, but the Kiwis have surprised the Kangaroos before and there is still plenty of excitement surrounding the match.

In general, the worldwise event, which wasn't even held in 2004, has been a success and is giving rugby league some definite momentum for future years. Here are some highlights from the previous 17 matches of the tournament:

A New Twist on the Haka

2008-11-19T08:07:00.006-05:00

Despite their great record of successes over the years and their legendary uniform, the New Zealand All Blacks are perhaps as famous for the haka they perform before matches as for anything else. Famed Irish author James Joyce even referenced it in his renowned work Finnegan's Wake. The haka tradition saw a bit of a different Irish tribute yesterday, though, when Munster's four players of New Zealand origin performed their own haka before the club's mid-week match against the All Blacks.

The ritual nearly inspired Munster to repeat their classic 1978 upset of New Zealand. This time, they led New Zealand until the All Blacks pulled ahead in the last four minutes to win 18-16. To be fair, the New Zealand side included several new and lesser-seen faces, but the match was a thriller nonetheless. Here's a look at that haka that started it all:

While we're at it, here are a few highlights from the match:

Here's one try from that 1978 match:

And last of all, to give some idea of the cultural significance of that historic day in 1978, you can also see a video of that same try re-enacted with LEGO blocks:

Knocking it Dead: A Common Practice in League, a Big No-No in Union

2008-11-18T21:52:00.002-05:00

This past Saturday's match between Ireland and New Zealand, which New Zealand won 22-3, featured a moment that underscored one key law difference between the rugby codes. In rugby league, it's extremely common to see players slapping the loose footballs into touch, especially in their own try zone, to prevent others from scoring.

In rugby union, though, Law 10.2(c) tells us that knocking, throwing, or placing the ball out of play can get you in trouble, as we see in the punishment doled out to Tommy Bowe in the clip of highlights below (incident happens just after 1:30 has elapsed in the clip, and the replays and deliberations last until about four minutes in):

(Almost) Everyone's a Winner in League World Cup (At Least Once)

2008-11-12T08:14:00.000-05:00

Sure, Australia is a heavy favorite in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup and hasn't lost yet. While that may be grounds to call the tournament a joke, naysayers would do well to notice that every other side has been beaten at least once, and that all sides but one have won a match a well. Papua New Guinea bowed out of the even at 0-3, victims of a tough draw in a pool that also contained the three strongest teams in the cup. (That "super" pool, incidentally, also produces three of the four semifinalists in the somewhat controversial tournament layout, with the other spot determined by a playoff between the other two pools' winners.) In the other two three-team pools, though, every single side won at least one match.

That's right, each of the six teams in the two smaller pools finished 1-1. In Pool 2, France started things off by beating Scotland 36-18. Then, Fiji spanked France 42-6. Scotland, however, bounced back and edged Fiji 18-16. In the end, only a favorable for-and-against scoring margin put Fiji atop the pool.

In Pool 3, it was more of the same. Tonga got by Ireland 22-20, Samoa beat Tonga 20-12, and Ireland completed the circle of parity with a 34-16 win over Samoa that also put them atop the table on points difference.

Don't be too quick to write this tournament off as a mere formality preceding Australia's coronation. If you do, you'll miss a lot of good matches--like Fiji's 30-14 win over Ireland in a playoff match that sees them into the semifinals along with the three top finishers in the "super" pool--and also sees them pick up a big payday. This weekend, Fiji will take on Australia in one semifinal while New Zealand plays England in the other. Meanwhile, Fiji's tries from that playoff match with Ireland are below:

Eagles Back on Track

2008-11-11T17:08:00.003-05:00

The United States Eagles national rugby union side hadn't won in a while before Saturday, but they corrected that with a 43-9 win over Uruguay in Salt Lake City, Utah. One report put attendance at more than 5,000, which is nothing stellar by global standards but a decent showing in the United States.

Unfortunately, the match wasn't televised in the United States, so if you weren't there you couldn't watch. That's been cleared up now, though, as you can watch a full replay online for free at the USA Rugby Network site. Have a look!

Interestingly, Setanta Sports broadcast an ad selling tickets to the match even though they didn't bother to televise the match itself:

A Code Compromise of a Different Kind

2008-11-03T00:30:00.003-05:00

Here, we talk a lot about rugby union and rugby league, and don't see a lot of need to continue any feud between the codes ... especially now that the main reason for the original schism, player payments, is moot given that rugby union has allowed professional play since 1995. Although some have pushed for an introduction of a hybrid game, at least at the youth level, such proposals are met with resistance and a widespread hybrid game seems unlikely in the near future.

That said, an exhibition match seems logistically feasible. Why? Just last week, Australia and Ireland contested a two-match International Rules Football series. The series featured a hybrid of Australian rules football and Gaelic football, and was narrowly won by Ireland. Although interest was so-so, the matches were televised internationally.

If two such disparate codes can have a hybrid series, why not the rugby codes? It has certainly been done before, but such cross-code matches seem rare. The obvious answer is that neither code would want to risk losing audience to the other by way of such a match, but a few matches here and there might also open the door to new sources of fans and revenue.

As a testament to the entertainment a cross-code contest can provide, here are a few clips from the recent International Rules series:

RLWC No Dud so Far

2008-10-30T13:39:00.004-04:00

Although some predicted that the 2008 Rugby League World Cup would be a joke due to lopsided scorelines, all but one match so far have been contests. Last weekend, Tonga squeaked by Ireland 22-20 Monday, trailing until they scored a late try to win. On Sunday, Scotland stayed within a try of France at several points before succumbing 18-38. And Saturday, Papua New Guinea was beating England at the half before England took control in the second period for a 32-22 win.

Of course, Australia's lopsided 30-6 win over New Zealand Sunday leaves many thinking that the Kangaroos are still the overwhelming favorites, but three close contests from four is not a bad outcome for the tournament's opening weekend. Even the exhibition match between an Australian Indigenous side and a New Zealand Maori side was a thriller, with the Maori holding a lead as late as the last ten minutes before losing 34-26.

If you haven't had a look yet (U.S. viewers can watch on the Setanta network or online on Espn360.com), reconsider it. This weekend has some exciting clashes ahead, including a Tonga-Samoa showdown that promises to be intense.

Here's a bit of what you've missed so far:

Tonga v. Ireland:

PNG v. England:

Australia v. NZ:

And if you're a fan of traditional pre-match ceremonies such as the famous New Zealand Haka, you won't want to miss the spectacle that took place before the Maori-Indigenous exhibition match:

Cracking the Ton

2008-10-26T11:57:00.000-04:00

This is Armchair Playmaker's 100th post. This site is a small one, but it's a privilege to share a few thoughts, stories, and clips with readers scattered around the globe. While we're thinking of centuries, it's probably best to commemorate the event by looking back to another recent century from rugby union: New Zealand's 101-14 thrashing of Samoa early last month. Clips below are highlights from the Alternative Rugby Commentary site, accompanied by Jed Thian's unique narration (Caution: Rude language, profanity, etc.):

Part 1:

Part 2:

Good Start to the "Other" Rugby World Cup

2008-10-25T23:58:00.004-04:00

The official Rugby League World Cup opening match isn't until tomorrow, but the tournament began today with England getting by Papua New Guinea 32-22. The favored British side trailed 16-12 at half time in an exciting match that shows nothing can be taken for granted in a tournament that some consider a joke due to Australia's expected dominance.

Rugby league is far behind rugby union in terms of worldwide audiences, but it looks the opening match has earned at least one new fan in the British press. Will the tournament win you over as well? Have a look at the tries from the first match as you think it over:

A Year and a Day Ago

2008-10-21T07:38:00.000-04:00

It's been just over a year since South Africa won the 2007 Rugby World Cup on 20 October 2007. We've got a while to wait until the 2011 event, so in the meantime here are a few highlights from last year's tournament:

And while we're at it, here are some moments from the final specifically:

Wiki Gets Some Help at the End

2008-10-20T11:38:00.003-04:00

The 2008 Rugby League World Cup doesn't get underway until this Saturday, but the lead-up action has been going on for some time. On 13 October, a New Zealand "All Golds" side defeated a New Zealand Maori side 44-10 World Cup warm-up match. Although the All Golds side featured a number of players from New Zealand's national team, the side is actually a commemorative team which has played several matches since late 2007 to honor the original professional New Zealand side that introduced professionalism and rugby league in the Southern Hemisphere.

Although New Zealand Maori came off on the wrong end of the scoreline, they didn't have to have been beaten by quite such a margin. At the end of the match a number of players eased their pursuit on defense to allow retiring New Zealand legend Ruben Wiki into the try zone unmolested in his final appearance. After that, another retiring Kiwi, Logan Swann, was allowed a shot at a difficult conversion, which he made. Many of the All Golds players moved on to play for the Kiwis when they smashed Tonga in a final warm-up match last Saturday, while New Zealand Maori will be surely hoping their goodwill pays dividends as they take on an Australian Indigenous side in an exhibition match this coming Sunday (just before a match between Australia and New Zealand).

The classic try and conversion are in the clip below, along with a disallowed try to New Zealand Maori that allowed Wiki his final score:

South African Clubs Carry on Grand Tradition

2008-10-14T21:01:00.005-04:00

When the Blue Bulls and Natal Sharks battle in in the Currie Cup final on 25 October, they'll be contesting for one of South Africa's most prized domestic sporting trophies. For those unfamiliar with the series, here's some brief background.

The trophy itself is actually from Great Britain, having been sent by shipping magnate Donald Currie with a British touring side in 1892. The trophy was to be awarded to the first hosting side to win a match before becoming a domestic competition trophy, but the travelers won all of their 19 matches. The trophy was therefore handed over to Griqualand West, who had lost only 3-0 to the visiting side, after which it became the prize for an interprovincial competition as it remains today.

A few things about the Currie Cup competition have changed in the 116 years since the trophy arrived in South Africa, though. The Currie Cup was contested sporadically until 1968, the first year it became an annual event. Since then, competitions such as the Super 14 have perhaps shaded the Currie Cup in significance, but the competition remains a big event.

In its current format, the Currie Cup competition features eight teams in the Premier Division and six teams in the lower-tier First Division. Each team plays all of the other sides in its division twice. After that, the top four Premier Division sides advance to the Currie Cup semifinals, with the winners of that match contesting the final. The winner of the First Division, meanwhile, plays a two-match series with the last-place side from the Premier Division, with the series winner playing in the Premier Division the following year and the series loser playing in the First Division in the following year.

This weekend's match is not the first big match between the Bulls and Sharks in recent memory. They met in the final in 2003, with the Bulls prevailing, but also met in the Super 14 final in 2007 (though the player base for the Super 14 sides differs slightly from that of the Currie Cup sides given that there only five South African Super 14 sides). Even though it's a different competition, if the thrilling finish of that Super 14 match is any indicator, we're in for an exciting final. Here's the end of that 2007 Super 14 showdown:

And here's a slightly longer video of highlights from that Super 14 final:

Injury Curse Continues for Code-Jumping Tourists

2008-10-08T15:20:00.000-04:00

As high-profile National Rugby League players head north to France and across the rugby code barrier for big rugby union money, they seem to be having bad luck with injuries. Last year, Craig Gower left the Penrith Panthers and off-the-field scandals for Bayonne, but had some injury troubles in his new setting.

Then, high-profile convert Sonny Bill Williams skipped town on the Canterbury Bulldogs to star briefly for Toulon before breaking his leg.

Now, Mark Gasnier, who stunned St. George-Illawara by leaving for exquisitely-kitted Stade Francais, has succumbed to an ankle injury.

Given the strange trend, all we can say is that we hope that Luke Rooney, another Penrith player bound for France this year, is going to be careful!

At least Gasnier got to dot this debut try down before he came up hurt:

Leeds Super Again

2008-10-05T13:29:00.004-04:00

Although Melbourne couldn't repeat their 2007 National Rugby League Premiership in today's grand final, there was one repeat champion this weeked as Leeds defeated Saint Helens in the 2008 Engage Super League grand final yesterday. As with today's NRL final, the match featured the same pair of team two years in a row, but unlike the NRL final, Leeds managed to win two from two.

All rugby league eyes will turn now to the Rugby League World Cup, but early next year Leeds and Manly-Warringah will face off in the World Club Challenge, an annual exhibition contested between the NRL and Super League champs. Leeds also visited the United States early this year for an exibition match with he NRL's South Sydney Rabbitohs, though sadly a repeat visit seems unlikely after South Sydney spoke poorly of the trip's effect on their 2008 season. We can still hold out hope, though!

Below are a few moments from the Rhinos' win this weekend:

While we're at it, here are some highlights from the 2007 grand final as well:

A Tale of Two Grand Finals

2008-10-05T13:11:00.003-04:00

In 2007, the Melbourne Storm and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles met up in the National Rugby League grand final. That year, Melbourne proceeded to demolish the Sea Eagles 34-8.

Shorty after the final, the Sea Eagles promised they'd be back, and they've made good on their promise. Today's 2008 grand final once again featured Melbourne and Manly-Warringah, but that was where the similarities ended as the Sea Eagles came away with a 40-0 win.

What a difference a year makes. This video, put together by a fan to tease the Storm and back the Sea Eagles, ended up being prophetic:

Shaky Isles Still the Best at One Code

2008-09-29T08:08:00.002-04:00

The New Zealand Warriors' gallant run through the National Rugby League finals playoff matches ended this past weekend with a 32-6 loss to the Manly Sea Eagles. Qualifying for the matches as the eighth and lowest seed, the Warriors fell just one match short of the final--the best finish ever for an eighth seed in the current system.

Although the Warriors' strong run seems to have boosted their following in New Zealand, its end will no doubt have all attention back on the Kiwis' favorite code. We've talked before of rugby union's proportionally massive following in New Zealand, and it's been rewarded lately with success. Americans who don't follow rugby may be more familiar with other ambassadors from the smaller nation, but the New Zealand All Blacks have been so successful over their history that they are a key national icon, though they have had suprisingly bad luck in bringing home World Cup wins--a fact not missed by All Blacks detractors. Now, they hold the top spot in the International Rugby Board world rankings, have just clinched a fourth straight Tri-Nations title, and will be the side to beat as the tour Europe in the coming months.

That ought to take some of the sting out of the Warriors' loss, also shedding a bit of light on why it's hard for rugby league to gain a foothold in the land of the All Blacks.

This video shares a few moments from the All Blacks' storied history:

Meanwhile, as the Warriors bow out of the 2008 NRL season, here's one of their greatest moments from a memorable year (if you're in a hurry, the excitement starts about 3 minutes and 30 seconds into it):

Booze and Lose

2008-09-22T06:51:00.002-04:00

There's a lesson to be taken from the Melbourne Storm's last-minute 16-14 win over the Brisbane Broncos in last weekend's National Rugby League playoffs. Given that the match was decided with mere seconds to spare, one could argue that the teams' differing attitudes toward off-the-pitch preparations made the difference.

The Melbourne players have been off alcohol since the middle of August. On the other hand, the Broncos' recent night-time misbehavior has led to allegations of sexual misconduct for three players after a washroom incident and public embarrassment for typically well-behaved captain Darren Lockyer after he tackled a nightclub manager about a week later. Lockyer's apology was accepted by the nightclub), and the players in the other incident have yet to be charged with any crime, but the incidents clearly indicate that the Broncos were spending a lot of time out for a playoff-bound club. The last-minute playoff result is being seen by some as justice for both the teetotalling Storm and the partying Broncos, and that's a valid conclusion given that alcohol clearly exacerbates the wear and tear of a long rugby league season.

The Broncos may not have set the right example this year, but hopefully, their failure--and Melbourne's resurgent success--can show players young and old the way ahead.

To give an idea of how close it was, here's a clip of the end of the match, as well as some post-match footage. Did the clubs' differing alcohol policies make the difference? Post if you have an opinion.

Ralph Lauren Pioneers more Law Variations

2008-09-18T10:55:00.000-04:00

Ralph Lauren could hardly be described as a close friend to any rugby code, having unsuccessfully attempted to trademark the term "rugby" for his Rugby clothing line (which would have prevented others who sell rugby-related gear from using the term).

Now, Lauren's advertising suggests that he might be keen to create his own new code. We've discussed weird media representations of rugby on this site before, but surely nothing tops the bizarre "rugby" scenes in the below video, which is also featured on the Ralph Lauren Rugby line's Web site:

Please post a comment if you have any idea what those fellas are up when they're dancing that jig to about 20 or 30 seconds in. By the way, if you do want to buy rugby-themed clothing that's a bit more fashionable than a replica jersey, don't buy it from Ralph Lauren given his attempt to take over the name. Buy it from Canterbury of New Zealand, the world-famous rugby union and ugby league supplier that now runs a fashion line that is marketed internationally, including in the U.S..

Congratulations to the World Champions: United States

2008-09-17T07:34:00.001-04:00

Armchair Playmaker enjoys following both rugby union and rugby league, with occasional attention to variations such as rugby union sevens, but today we'll note that there is another rugby code out there...and the United States are the best in the world at it!

The United States wheelchair rugby team won the gold medal yesterday at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China. The U.S. side, who also won world championships in 1996 and 2000 but lost in the semifinals in 2004, defeated Australia in the 2008 final. This may come as good news to fans of the 2005 documentary film Murderball, which followed the United States' thwarted world championsip run in 2004 and brought wheelchair rugby to a massive worldwide audience.

In case you haven't had a chance to watch Murderball, or in case you just want to see a bit more of the sport, we've compiled some videos here. For those interested in how wheelchair rugby is played (there are also other variations, such as wheelchair rugby league), the below clip provides some basic background:

Here are some highlights from the United States' win over Canada (the nation where the sport was invented) earlier in the 2008 games:

Here is a video from the 2008 silver medalists, Australia's Steelers:

Finally, here are a few big hits to show that wheelchair rugby is definitely intense:

McIntyre a Hero in Melbourne Today

2008-09-14T14:56:00.003-04:00

The eighth-seeded New Zealand Warriors made National Rugby League history today by stunning the top-seeded Melbourne Storm in the first round of the 2008 playoffs, becoming the first ever eighth-seeded NRL team to win such a first-round matchup in the process.

In most competitions' playoff arrangements, the Warriors' 18-15 win would spell doom for Melbourne, but Storm followers have been gifted a second chance by Kenneth McIntyre. McIntyre was a rennaisance man who was a lawyer, historian, and mathematician during his life and is perhaps best known for claiming that Australia was first discovered by Portugese travelers. Somehow, he also found time to devise the playoff system used in the National Rugby League since 1999 (though it was originally adopted by the Australian Football League, which no longer uses the format).

As an alternative to typical "knockout" playoff formats where winners advance and losers are eliminated, the McIntyre system presents a higher likelihood for the top two seeds to appear in the grand final and more possible combinations of sides that can appear against one another in the grand final. Here's how it works:

Eight teams are seeded based on regular-season performance. In the first week, the qualifying finals are played: 1st vs. 8th, 2nd vs. 7th, 3rd vs. 6th, and 4th vs. 5th. The two lowest-seeded losers are eliminated after this week. For example, if the 7th and 8th seeds lose, they are out. If the 7th and 5th seeds lose but the 8th and 6th seeds win, then the 7th and 5th seeds are out. If the 8th, 7th, 6th, and 5th seeds all win, then the 3rd and 4th seeds are out. The 1st and second seeds, though, cannot be eliminated.
After the qualifying finals, the remaining six teams move on to the semifinals (which may seem oddly named given that the matches before the grand final are called the semifinals in most other playoff formats). The top-seeded winners from the first round get to sit out the semifinals while the other four sides play, which matchups determined by qualifying performances. The two semifinal losers are eliminated.
Then, the preliminary finals begin. The sides that got to rest during the semifinals host the two semifinal winners, with the losers of each preliminary final eliminated.
The remaining two sides then play in the grand final, with the winner named champion.

It all looks like this. The upshot is that the sides who did well in the regular season are rewarded with favorable matchups, a greater likelihood of a second chance if they lose in the first round of the finals, and a greater likelihood of a week off if they win in the first round.

Criticisms of the McIntyre system were common well before today's upset win, and they will no doubt continue, but the Warriors' shock win seems to have added some new excitement to the system by showing how much an upset win can disrupt the finals matchups and predictions.

In any case, the Storm must be pleased about the McIntyre system, as it means their season is not yet over. The Warriors, meantime, must be happy simply to be playing next week.

Nothing "Minor" about Another Storm Minor Premiership

2008-09-08T08:39:00.001-04:00

As the 2008 National Rugby League regular season wrapped up this past weekend, the Melbourne Storm finished the regular season at the top of the table to win a record third straight minor premiership. (For those unfamiliar with the term, "minor premiership" describes the top team at the end of the regular season before the playoff rounds begin; the minor premiership winner is awared the J. J. Giltinan Shield). The minor premierships have so far led to back-to-back grand finals. In 2006, the Storm went upset by the Brisbane Broncos in the grand final, but won handily over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2007 and will be hoping to repeat in 2008.

It's easy to see why, given that Storm players have been involved in two of the most exciting tries in rugby league this year. First, Greg Inglis set up an Australia try with this magical move in a test match against New Zealand:

Then, Israel Folau scored a pair of tries for Queensland in the third match of the State of Origin series, the second of which was gravity-defying:

It will be exciting to see what these and other Storm stars will do in the upcoming NRL knockout matches. Of course, not everyone is a Storm backer, as you can see in this insurance company ad from a few years back featuring some Brisbane Broncos:

Playmaker Pals: Highlanders' Hit-Ups and Hijinks

2008-09-07T22:38:00.004-04:00

Armchair Playmaker introduces a new feature in this post by debuting the "Playmaker Pals" category. "Playmaker Pals" are readers and friends of the site who send us news, commentary, and video for us to post here, starting with today's contribution from the Highlanders U-19 club based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Founded in 2005, the Highlanders have already established a bit of a regional dynasty by winning the 2006, 2007, and 2008 North Carolina state championships through the hard work of head coach and co-founder Rob Joseph and a great staff of assistants. The Highlanders attended the national tournament in 2005 and hope to return soon.

The Highlanders have done Armchair Playmaker a favor by passing along their 2008 and 2007 highlight videos. As we gear up for this month's premiere of the youth rugby-themed Hollywood film Forever Strong, enjoy these youth rugby highlights from our "Playmaker Pals" in North Carolina:

2008:

2007:

Thinking Outside the Box on Code-Swapping

2008-09-02T15:40:00.004-04:00

The 53-8 thrashing South Africa gave Australia Saturday didn't affect the outcome of the 2008 Tri-Nations series, with next weekend's match still the decider, but it certainly may have knocked Australia's morale down a notch.

Meanwhile, Australia's cricket side is struggling with the uncertain future of star Andrew Symonds, who was counted out of an upcoming tour and may be looking at walking away from international competition in the sport.

We have a solution (albeit a tongue-in-cheek one, of course) to both troubles. Symonds can take a break from Australia's cricket side and help the Wallabies out. Symonds considered a career in rugby league, but given that Australia's cricket and rugby league sides are both currently world cup champions he might be put to better use in rugby union.

Consider the below clips, which show Symonds handling a streaker during a test earlier this year. Although he wouldn't be able to shoulder charge without arms in rugby union, we can sympathize with his decision not to wrap up in the tackle in this particular instance (Caution: Given that the videos include a streaker, there is some brief backside nudity):

Would Campese Find it so Easy?

2008-08-29T14:09:00.003-04:00

From the top Armchair Playmaker field correspondent comes this story of conflict among retired Australian stars. George Gregan, whose ended his illustrious international career after the 2007 Rugby World Cup but will play in Japan this year, has made plenty of waves this week with the release of his book Halfback Half Forward. Among the exciting tidbits from the book are claims that the Australian Rugby Union inadquately supported the Wallabies during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, but for controversy nothing in the book tops the claim that legendary Australian outside back David Campese wouldn't be able to make it today. Campese, who is reconciling with the Wallabies after some awkward years during his service with South African sides and has not always been glowing in his assessment of Gregan, has noted that Gregan is entitled to his opinion, just as Campese is entitled to the opinion that Gregan "will go down as being remembered for making one tackle and then living off it for the next 15 years." The "one tackle" note is a reference to a try-saving, match-saving tackle Gregan made on New Zealand All Black Jeff Wilson in 1994.

Some have jumped to Campese's defense, but we'll stay out of the fray and let you decide after having a look at a couple of clips of "Campo" in action:

While we're at it, here's that "one tackle" as well...

...plus a couple of parodies to show the cultural significance that "one tackle" has had (Caution: some rude imagery and gestures in the first clip):

A Different Sort of Code Swap

2008-08-27T08:10:00.001-04:00

Given Armchair Playmaker's dual-code focus, we talk a lot about code-swapping. Usually, this means players moving back and forth between the fifteen-man rugby union code and the thirteen-man rugby league code, but recent news about Waisale Serevi is another matter. The Fijian legend, who played extensively for the Fiji rugby union side but is more famous for his performances with the successful Fijian rugby union sevens side, is set to play in a rugby league nines tournament in the United Kingdom next Wednesday. The crowd is in for a treat if he is as dazzling playing rugby league nines (a rugby league variant with nine players per side and 7.5-minute halves) as he was in rugby union sevens (a rugby union variant with seven players per side and seven-minute halves), as seen below:

Ups and Downs for Eagles in Setanta Club Challenge

2008-08-26T11:14:00.002-04:00

Although the U.S.A. Eagles endured a sound 42-22 beating from Munster in last weekend's Setanta Challenge Cup, there were some positive points. On the bright side, the United States scored twice to earn an 8-0 before Munster answered, and was down only 20-15 at the half. Less promising was the second half, when the Eagles continued their recent habit of poor second stanza showings by getting outscored 22-7.

See a few highlights from the match below:

Home Away from Home?

2008-08-25T13:33:00.002-04:00

Are times changing? Just after we talked of the historical advantage owned by home sides in the Tri-Nations, series, Australia sneaked a 27-15 road win over South Africa.

The win was notable because it means that all three sides have now won at least one away match in the series this year, an event that has never occurred in any previous Tri-Nations series. (Although in 2001, all three sides earned at least a draw, if not a win, on the road.) Further, South Africa's only win of the series so far was on the road, while Australia is the only side in the tournament not to lose a home match yet.

Is the power of the Tri-Nations home ground advantage fading? With two matches left in the series, we shall see.

Americans: Don't Forget to Turn on the Television Today!

2008-08-23T09:00:00.001-04:00

ESPN Classic and Setanta Sports U.S. are simultaneously airing today's Setanta Challenge Cup match between the United States national side and Heineken Cup champions Munster. The match airs at 3:00 p.m. Eastern U.S. time, so don't miss it!

No Place Like Home

2008-08-23T06:47:00.000-04:00

As the 2008 rugby union Tri-Nations series continues today with a match between South Africa and Australia, things look grim for the Wallabies. Not so much because Australia's last match was a 39-10 loss to New Zealand, but because Australia is playing in South Africa and it is historically very, very hard for the away side to win in the Tri-Nations. In the twelve previous years of the series prior to 2008 (the tournament began in 1996). As our chart below shows, The home side historically tends to win in home matches. Up to 2007, the home side has won about 72% of its matches (not counting one draw in 2001):

For the opponents in today's match, the home ground advantage is even stronger, as our second chart shows. While New Zealand has managed to win just more than half its away matches over the history of the Tri-Nations, Australia has only won 20% of them and South Africa has won even fewer:

The lesson: If you can get an even bet on the home side in a Tri-Nations match, take it...especially if the All Blacks aren't visiting. For a reminder of that key exception to the Tri-Nations home ground advantage, have a look at highlights from Jed Thian's gleeful Alternative Rugby Commentary coverage of New Zealand's 19-0 road win over South Africa last weekend (Caution: Rude language, offensive humor, etc.):

More Code-Swapping for U.S. Side

2008-08-16T17:36:00.003-04:00

Given that there's not a lot of money to be made playing either rugby union or rugby league in the United States, players swapping codes or playing both codes simultaneously doesn't quite bring the controversy that it does elsewhere. That said, there are a lot of interesting crossovers between the codes going on in the United States. Considering that the U.S. rugby union team's coach, Australian Scott Johnson, hails from a country with a pretty strong rugby league tradition, it is perhaps unsurprising that Johnson is digging deep into rugby league for players.

For the United States' match against ASM Clermont Auvergne last weekend, Johnson brought in Tyrone Coppedge from second-tier Australian rugby league club Souths Logan Magpies. For next Saturday's Setanta Challenge Cup match against Munster, Johnson has brought in American National Rugby League star Nick Isbrandtsen, who also plays lacrosse at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, for a trial. Coppedge also returns to the side for a second match.

In anticipation of Isbrandtsen's debut, here are a couple of Connecticut Wildcats clips featuring Isbrandtsen. He can be seen playing at lock forward (a.k.a. loose forward, a position similar to a rugby union number eight) and wearing jersey number 15:

MediaZone Revamps Streaming Content Site

2008-08-14T08:22:00.000-04:00

A little while back, we mentioned MediaZone's online Rugby Channel site among our list of places to get video content. Now, MediaZone has updated their rugby offerings with their new RugbyZone site.

As before, the site primarily offers pay-per-view content (both subscription and match-by-match), but also has some free content and a number of features, columns, etc. The site covers a lot of rugby union, though sadly no rugby league. Have a look if you get your rugby union content online and have limited television access to rugby!

Bright Spots in Another USA Loss

2008-08-13T20:57:00.003-04:00

The USA Eagles national rugby union side continued its losing streak Saturday, falling 37-14 to French club ASM Clermont Auvergne in Charleston, South Carolina. Despite the loss, which was suffered without the services of start flyhalf Mike Hercus, the Eagles enjoyed a few good moments and blooded some talented new players. See below for a few highlights:

Great ELV Video Guide Online at Rugby Dump

2008-08-12T16:26:00.006-04:00

One form of the rugby union Experimental Law Variations began its worldwide trial on 1 August. While other versions of the "ELVs" will be used by some professional competitions this year, most players, including all U.S. players, will be playing under the laws that went into effect this month.

While the International Rugby Board has released a very good printed guide to the new laws, their video, which has been posted at Rugby Dump, is a very handy way to get up to speed on the new laws and their application:

All Smiles Now in the Land of the Long White Cloud

2008-08-11T21:45:00.004-04:00

With the 2008 Tri-Nations series past the halfway point, there is everything to play for with all three sides still in it. New Zealand recently the series lead by giving Australia a 39-10 thumping, but South Africa is also in a comfortable position with three consecutive home matches in a row to come.

While there is a lot left to the tournament, the win over the Wallabies has spirits lifted in New Zealand. Although New Zealand was under a fair bit of pressure before the match, things are looking up for the world's most rugby-mad nation. This is perhaps no better emphasized than by the joyous tone of the Alternative Rugby Commentary coverage provided by Jed Thian during the most recent match. Highlights are below, and Thian seems to sound a fair bit more cheerful than he did during commenting on the All Blacks' recent losses to Australia and South Africa(Caution: Profanity, rude language, etc.):

Part 1:

Part 2:

Like it or Not, SBW is a Union Man

2008-08-09T11:18:00.004-04:00

The world-famous sudden defection of Sonny Bill Williams from league to union reached a landmark Friday when he played in his debut for Toulon. Starring in the 50-5 friendly match win despite receiving a yellow card for also bringing his legendary league-style shoulder charge to rugby union, Williams also managed to duck papers pertaining to an Australian injunction until after the match.

Williams looks to be dead-set on his code switch, claiming that he's ready to go to jail over it, so it may be time to get used to seeing him in the fifteen-man game. To get you started, here are a couple of clips from his debut:

Report Gives the IRB a Spray

2008-08-02T21:19:00.002-04:00

An independently commissioned report released this week targets the International Rugby Board with severe criticism about its efforts to maintain and grow rugby union's global standing. Putting Rugby First, a report co-authored by the Spectrum Value Partners consultancy firm and the Addleshaw Goddard law firm and commissioned by an anonymous "group of concerned rugby supporters," lambasts the IRB for shortcomings such as:

failing to pursue growth opportunities, particularly in large nations where rugby union is not popular (including the U.S.),
providing an undemocratic environment by favoring the eight oldest "foundation union" nations in its policymaking, and
falling behind other sports (including so-called "North American" sports such as American football).

Both the full report and an executive summary thereof have been posted online in an effort to espose as many readers as possible to the report. Whatever the outcome, it looks like the announcement should prompt some interesting discussion!

Tri-Nations Boiling Over

2008-08-02T02:25:00.002-04:00

In about an hour, the 2008 Tri-Nations series will reach a crescendo in its fifth match, which features Australia against New Zealand in Auckland. Australia has hopped to the top of the table with two straight wins over South Africa and New Zealand, but each of the other two sides in the competition have won a match each and there are plenty more matches to go.

To make things more interesting, Australia hasn't won a Tri-Nations road match in quite a while. That and the pressure on New Zealand to win should ensure an intense showdown.

As we get ready for kickoff, here's highlights from the last match, as narrated by the Alternative Rugby Commentary's comedic (and rabidly pro-Kiwi) commentator Jed Thian (Caution: Contains profanity, rude language, offensive remarks, etc.):

Part 1:

Part 2:

Big Weekend for Both Codes in America

2008-08-01T23:05:00.005-04:00

There are plenty of big rugby union and rugby league matches on in the U.S. this weekend. In rugby union, the North America 4 series wraps up with its grand final and consolation final Saturday. The U.S. Falcons and Canada West will meet in the championship decider, while the U.S. Hawks and Canada East will play for third. The semifinal matches, played earlier this week, can be viewed online in the video archive of the Glendale Raptors, hosts for the semifinal and final rounds at their Infinity Park home ground in Glendale, Colorado. The consolation final kicks off at 6:00 p.m. local time (5 p.m. Pacific U.S., 8 p.m. Eastern U.S.), and the grand final starts at 8:00 p.m. local time (7 p.m. Pacific U.S., 10 p.m. Eastern U.S.).

Both matches can be seen live at the NA4 site, and will presumably be archived in the can be viewed online in the video archive of the Glendale Rugby video archive. In the meantime, here are some highlights from the first clash between the grand finalists, which was handily won 55-3 by Canada West:

In rugby league, the final week of the American National Rugby League's regular season is on. With only six teams of the ten-team league qualifying for next week's knockout rounds and the top two sides getting a bye in those rounds, there is a lot to play for. The Aston DSC Bulls and New Haven Warriors are locked at the top of the competition points table. This weekend's match will determine what seed them and the other playoff qualifiers will take during the postseason. This weekend comes on the heels of last week's intense "War at the Shore," an annual regular-season feature wherein all of the AMNRL sides leave their home grounds to meet at one venue and play the weekend's fixtures back-to-back. The War at the Shore atmosphere also features tag rugby matches and other festival events. See highlights below:

The Sonny Bill Williams Defection: What League Lost

2008-07-30T18:58:00.000-04:00

The sporting media have been in a frenzy this week over news that star New Zealand and Canterbury Bulldogs forward Sonny Bill Williams has abandoned rugby league without warning to join French rugby union club Toulon. Armchair Playmaker discussed this year's surge in code-jumping league players earlier this month, but Williams' change of venue tops all because Williams has left rugby league in mid-season with more than three years left on his contract with the Bulldogs.

Because Williams is walking away from his contract, the Bulldogs and NRL are pursuing legal recourse, while Williams's camp is considering a legal challenge to the NRL's salary cap. The outcome of the debacle will have implications for both the current episode and future events, but for now we'll just give you a look at why Sonny Bill is worth all the trouble. Below is a series of clips from the recent test between Australia and New Zealand, held 9 May to honor the 100-year anniversary of rugby league in Oceania:

Hell of a Game

2008-07-29T15:57:00.003-04:00

Want to see how strongly they feel about rugby union in New Zealand? In the wake of Australia's 34-19 win over New Zealand last Saturday, a loss that prompted an apology from the All Blacks, the Kiwi version of the Rugby Heaven news site temporarily changed its name to "Rugby Hell." The stunt has been pulled before, including after New Zealand's shock quarterfinal loss to France in the 2007 World Cup. The temporary logo whas been removed, but whether or not it will stay gone may depend on the outcome of this weekend's rematch with Australia.

Below is a clip of post-match interviews with New Zealand's embattled head coach Graham Henry, star flyhalf Dan Carter, and backs coach Wayne Smith. As you can see, losses go down tough for them.

Did the All Blacks Bring the Interchange to Rugby Union?

2008-07-26T12:53:00.004-04:00

The rugby league laws allow for a total of twelve interchanges, or substitutions, using a bench of four players. These interchanges can be made in any combination desired, and for any reason, so long as no more than twelve total swaps are made. For example, one reserve player can be brought on and off six times for the same starting player if a team desires.

In the rugby union laws, seven substitutions are allowed from a bench of seven reserve players, and they can also be for any reason (Law 3.4). Unlike rugby league, though, rugby union does not allow a replaced player to return to a match (Law 3.7). There are two exceptions for safety reasons, though. For one, if a front-row player is replaced and that replacement is injured, then the original player can return to ensure safety in the scrum (Law 3.12). For two, a player with a bleeding wound can be temporarily replaced to prevent transmission of bloodborne illness (Law 3.12; see also 3.10 and 3.11). Aside from those exceptions, though, a player who leaves the match is done for the day.

Until now. In today's thrilling Tri-Nations match, which saw the Australia Wallabies get over the New Zealand All Blacks 34-19, New Zealand seemed to make a dubious use of the blood replacement law to keep a halfack in play. Starting halfback Andy Ellis was replaced by Jimmy Cowan early in the second half. Later, Cowan limped off the field with an apparent knee injury, and Ellis returned to play. After a few minutes, confused referee Craig Joubert inquired about the situation and was informed that Ellis had come back on due to a bleeding wound, despite there being no apparent blood on Cowan at the time he had limped off the pitch. Cowan later returned, as is allowed with a blood replacement, with a heavily strapped knee. (Interestingly, Cowan would later be seen bleeding from the nose, though only long after returning from the original blood replacement.)

Questions are being asked about the legitimacy of the maneuver, and the commentators covering the match for FOX Sports enjoyed several jokes about the possibility of "finding some blood" on other players to give them a rest (even playfully suggesting the clandestine use of a razor blade by a trainer to free up a replacement).

Given that the blood replacement rule is imperative for safety, it will be difficult for referees and opposing sides to challenge such questionable situations without compromising safety standards. At the same time, incidents such as this threaten to make a joke of the rugby union replacement laws. Armchair Playmaker suggests that rugby union should bring in some sort of interchange, similar to that of rugby league, before the blood replacements become a sham altogether. Why not allow seven total interchanges among any players in a side, or perhaps ten or twelve given the fast pace of the game under the new experimental law variations? It's worth noting that bringing the interchange to rugby union was also suggested recently by rugby union legend Mark Ella, weeks before today's halfback circus.

If something isn't done, we may see a lot more rugby union players wheezing for air or clutching at sore knees and shoulders as they limp off for "blood" substitutions.

Oh Captains, My Captains

2008-07-24T00:05:00.004-04:00

The exciting 2008 Tri-Nations rugby union series gets a new wrinkle this week with news that both Australia and New Zealand will be without their usual captains for their first clash this Saturday. Australia is short center Stirling Mortlock, while New Zealand will look to make do without flanker Richie McCaw. Both stars are going missing due to injury.

Although some are downplaying their absence, others are predicting that the missing players will have a big impact.

There is certainly an impact on the fans. To get an idea of how iconic McCaw is for All Blacks followers, for example, check out this brief tribute from the Alternative Rugby Commentary site :(Caution: Profanity, rude language, crude imagery, etc.)

An even closer look at how New Zealand fans feel about Richie McCaw can be gleaned from this Pulp Sport skit (also featured in this recent post on the great RugbyDump rugby union clip site), which features an unlucky television co-host who dares to walk through Christchurch on the day of an All Blacks match wearing rival fan gear and a disparaging message about the All Black hero(Caution: A whole lot of profanity and aggression, predictably):

Soccer Fronts Up

2008-07-19T11:17:00.000-04:00

Now and then, there is a fair bit of teasing about the comparative physicality of the rugby codes and their distant cousin known as football/futbol/soccer/etc., but it looks like some airline representatives from the world's most popular team sport stepped up on a recent airline flight.

Armchair Playmaker figures no one on that flight was likely to question the toughness of the New England Revolution players. Then again, a little bit of good-humored joking across football codes, such as the extremely parsimonious example below, is good fun so long as it's only in jest:

Will the 3N Thrillers Continue?

2008-07-19T08:46:00.003-04:00

With today's tense 16-9 Wallabies win over the Springboks, the 2008 Tri-Nations series is off to a screaming start. Three matches in, each side has won one, and two sides have lost one as well. The average margin of victory so far is less than seven points per match, with two of the three matches played so far ending with a converted try or less between the sides. In other words, everything's still up for grabs.

Sounds great. The only downside is that if the tournament doesn't stay this tight, it will risk dragging on. Since its inception in 1996, the tournament has typically included six matches, with each side (Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa) playing a home and away match against each of the other two (a "double round-robin" format). In 2006, the tournament was expanded to nine matches, with each side playing three matches against its two foes. New Zealand strolled that year, clinching the tournament with three matches to go and losing only the final match of the series. It suffices to say that sort of timing can take the excitement out of the last few weeks of the event.

In 2007, the series went back to the old six-match format to make room for the Rugby World Cup, but this year it's back to the marathon nine-match format. This year's series began 5 July, and will end more than two months later on 13 September. If these thrillers keep coming and the wins keep getting split up, Armchair Playmaker says bring it on. But if the winner is known in say, mid-August...well, let's just hope this one goes down to the last match of the series, just as it did last year.

ARC Throws Down the Gauntlet

2008-07-18T16:16:00.003-04:00

In anticipation of the upcoming Bledisloe Cup clashes between Australia and New Zealand, which begin 19 July when the rivals meet in the ongoing 2008 Tri-Nations Series, the pro-Kiwi Alternative Rugby Commentary site has issued a stern criticism of all things Australian. This clip should give some idea of how heated the annual feud over the Bledisloe Cup can be:

The Alternative Rugby Commentary site also provides a humorous (if rude) live audio commentary for All Blacks matches. If you're planning to watch any New Zealand matches live, you can turn down your television set and use the "Listen Online" feature on the Alternative Rugby Commentary Site. For an idea of what the commentaries are like, you can have a look at the clips (also available on the Alternative Rugby Commentary site's "Videos" section) for highlights from the first two tri-nations matches between New Zealand and South Africa--New Zealand won the first and South Africa won the second) (Caution: Lots and lots and lots of profanity in the commentaries):

Match One, Part One:

Match One, Part Two:

Match Two, Part One:

Match Two, Part Two:

Match Two, Part Three:

Even More NA4 Online for Free this Weekend

2008-07-17T17:00:00.002-04:00

In recent posts from early this week and late last week, we've noted that matches from the North American Four (NA4) representative rugby union series can be viewed live online for no charge.

There will be more such matches Saturday, when Canada West and the U.S. Falcons (who currently share the top of the table with 2-0 records) play at 2:00 p.m. Pacific U.S. time (5:00 p.m. Eastern U.S. time). After that, Canada East and the U.S. Hawks (both 0-2 so far), will play at 4:00 p.m. Pacific U.S. Time (7:00 p.m. Eastern U.S. time). These matches, the last of the round-robin series, will determine seeding of the semifinal matches to begin at the end of the month. Live feeds of the matches will be available at the NA4 site.

If you can't wait for the live feeds, some clips from the first match of the series (played in May between the two Canadian sides) are available below. Armchair Playmaker will be sure to share more match clips as they turn up.

Watch More NA4 Online For Free

2008-07-15T12:14:00.003-04:00

As the 2008 North American 4 representative rugby tournament continues, a doubleheader is available for free viewing online tonight. First, the U.S. Hawks take on Canada West at 5:15 Pacific U.S. time (8:15 Eastern U.S.), while the U.S. Falcons take on Canada East at 7:15 Pacific U.S. time (10:15 Eastern U.S.). To get a link to the live feeds, go to the official NA4 site just before kickoff.

"Raging Bull" Charges Gasnier

2008-07-14T22:10:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, Armchair Playmaker mentioned that rugby league might be losing one of its big names to rugby union. The confirmation is in with today's announcement that Mark Gasnier will sign with French rugby union club Stade Francais. It's no coincidence that the side is coached by Ewen McKenzie, who coached a few rugby league converts while with the New South Wales Waratahs.

Australian rugby league legend Gorden Tallis, known as the "Raging Bull" during his playing days, says good riddance, opening his newspaper column yesterday thusly:

"Mark Gasnier is a wonderful player, but if he is so driven by money that he wants to go and play rugby union in France, I say au revoir."

Gasnier's departure is certainly timed poorly for rugby league, given his prominence in the advertising campaign for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup (see this earlier Armchair Playmaker post for one ad featuring Gaz). Considering that, Gasnier might have got off easy from Tallis, considering what we've seen him do to opposition in the past:

Code-Swapping Epidemic Imminent?

2008-07-13T23:10:00.003-04:00

It's been less than two decades since a rugby league player couldn't switch to rugby union, having lost his eligibility for the latter sport by having to audicity to take a wage for his troubles. Those days are gone, now, though, as is evidenced by converts such as Jason Robinson, Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri, Mat Rogers, Brad Thorn, Wendell Sailor, Ryan Cross, Timana Tahu, Andy Farrel Lesley Vainikolo, Brian Carney, Clinton Schifcofske, Craig Gower, and Andrew Walker (and more). It may be a challenging move, but changing codes has appealed to many in recent years.

The code-swapping epidemic appears to be finding a higher gear, though, with news that Penrith Panthers back Luke Rooney is bound for French club Toulon, while rumors swirl that St. George Illawara star Mark Gasnier is headed to French club Stade Francais.

Will player drain increase talk of a hybrid game? There doesn't seem to be much optimism that it would work outside of Australia. The concentration of resources a hyrbid code would bring might be promising in the United States as well, though, where both codes struggle to gain the eyes of fans and a little rugby league physiciality might spice up the rugby product for an audience raised on American football collisions. Any hybrid game is nothing more than talk for now, but perhaps the United States would do well to listen.

Meantime, here's a look at the two latest converts (one rumored) in action:

Watch Live U.S. Representative Rugby Tonight

2008-07-10T08:36:00.000-04:00

The North America Four (NA4) series, a representative senior men's competition featuring two all-star sides from Canada and two all-star sides from the United States, continues tonight. The schedule features round-robin matches between the four sides, followed by semifinal and final matches based on round-robin results.

In the 2008 series' first match on May 17, Canada West beat Canada East 20-15. Tonight, the U.S. Hawks play the U.S. Falcons in the second match of the tournament. You can watch the match live for free at the NA4 site starting at 6:30 p.m. Pacific U.S. Time/9:30 p.m. Eastern U.S. Time.

Given the United States sides' recent troubles, the good news is that an American side looks like winning tonight!

Monstering the Myth: Don't Saw the Molded Studs

2008-07-09T15:51:00.004-04:00

For years and years, a lot of rugby union players across the United States have been running around with butchered boots. Unfortunately, this is due to a ridiculous misconception, and Armchair Playmaker is going to step up the mark in trying to dispel it.

Given that some American rugby union players come from an American football background, no small number of Americans play their first rugby union match in Amerian football boots. as with boots for rugby union, of these boots have detachable studs, while others have molded studs. Unlike rugby union boots, American football boots typically have a single stud on the toe.

Here is where the confusion comes in. The single toe stud has been banned in rugby union since 1981, so American football boots with detachable toe studs are not allowed. Some have also incorrectly interpreted this ban as a ban on molded American football boots with toe studs.

This is not so. Although Law 4.4(i) states, "A player must not wear a single stud at the toe of the boot," Law 4.3 (b) states, "Moulded rubber multi-studded soles are acceptable provided they have no sharp edges or ridges." In a clarification a couple of years ago, Peter Watson of the USARFU Laws Committee confirmed that the toe stud ban was only pertinent to boots with removable studs. Specifically, the clarification stated:

...I have heard reports of referees requiring that players cut a toe stud off molded rubber soles. This is not a requirement in Law. In fact, I have seen the results of this and they can be actually dangerous after a sloppy trim job, with sharp edges created when cutting off the stud...The prohibition on single studs is meant for boots with replaceable studs. Soccer style cleats with molded bottoms are covered in Law 4.3 (b), as are many boots intended for other sports such as football...In a similar vein, the boot style known as “blades” were accepted provisionally in 2001. That has not changed...

In other words, stop telling people to hack off that molded toe stud with a pocketknife! While football boots with removable studs must have the toe stud removed, no modification is necessary for molded boots. Let's get rid of this myth by spreading the true story on molded American football boots in rugby union.

Hint of Bias for ELV Naysayer?

2008-07-06T21:02:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, New Zealand defeated South Africa 19-8 in the first-ever international rugby union match played under the Experimental Law Variations (albeit a more experimental set than those to be used worldwide starting in August). After the match, Springbok captain John Smit was nonplussed with the new laws, noting that the match "certainly wasn't the most fun I've had."

It may indeed have been the new laws that had Smit displeased with the match. It may have been the final scoreline. Or maybe, just maybe, this illegal dump tackle off the ball from Brad Thorn (who gets in trouble on the field rather than off it, noting over the weekend that he's no longer a drinker) had a little bit to do with Smit's dour outlook:

Mortlock: The More Things Change...

2008-07-04T16:04:00.003-04:00

As Australia and France get ready for the second match of their two-match test series, Armchair Playmaker thinks back on how familiar one moment from last week's match looked.

It's been almost five years since Wallaby center Stirling Mortlock broke Kiwi hearts with his intercept try in the 2003 Rugby World Cup semifinal match, but he pulled off an eerily similar maneuver last weekend. The takeaways were at different points on the pitch and from different sorts of passes (one was from a long cut-out pass from flyhalf and one was from a ball going back inside in the midfield), but Archair Playmaker sees common threads nonetheless. See below to compare:

Here he is in the 2003 World Cup:

And here he is in the France match last week (at about 3:45 in the video clip):

Same old Mortlock?

Queensland Win Great State of Origin Series

2008-07-03T21:42:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Queensland came away with a 16-10 win in the deciding match of the 2008 State of Origin series. Featuring high-flying antics from man of the match Israel Folau, It was an exciting match and a gripping series, as you can see from the highlights below:

12 Hours to Origin Decider

2008-07-01T18:00:00.001-04:00

With the 2008 State of Origin series level at one match each, Queensland and New South Wales will battle in the decider in exactly twelve hours. The below ad for this year's series should give some idea of what the series means to those contesting it: