Six Nations Rugby
Over the weekend I went with my dad and my brother to see the Six Nations Rugby match between England and France at Twickenham. It was the second year in a row we attended a Six Nations game, having been to Scotland vs. France in Edinburgh last year.
The Six Nations for those that don’t know is an annual tournament held between the six largest rugby nations in Europe: England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy. After the World Cup, which is held every 4 years, it’s the second most prestigious tournament in international rugby.
Growing up I never really followed rugby but my brother has been getting me into the sport and I’ve enjoyed the games I’ve been to. It’s a very different atmosphere to the football matches I usually attend.
For one, fans of opposing teams are seated next to each other. There’s no home and away end. There’s well natured banter between supporters, but it’s peaceful. At football matches rivaling fans are seated in separate areas and often surrounded by stewards to protect against altercations.
Another noticeable difference is the respect players have for each other and the referee. Rugby is an extremely physical sport, but its played in a fair way. You don’t players see seeking to gain an advantage by overreacting to a tackle or crowding the referee to influence him into making a decision in their favor. I love football, but it there’s sometimes too much playacting on the pitch.
The game on the weekend was a close contest with England surprisingly beating the French late on. I really enjoyed the experience and I think we’ll start making it a yearly tradition to go to the Six Nations.
