What nation would you like to see play Rugby ?

[Da Grappla]

Welll...because of their demographics and money...big countries like China, Germany, Rusia, USA and of course, Spain.

These guys, 2013 world handball champions, would have performed well at rugby if it were a popular sport in our nation when they were children.

And a dark horse would be Cuba; half Africa, half Spain.



P.S: ey, belgians...come back to your mother and rejoin Spain.

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

They must make Zeke part of the Management team. Then they will get somewhere


What about a West Indian team?? their backline would certainly be one of the fastest...

There is rugby on most of the islands from the British influence. I myself own a Barbados shirt. However having been to Barbados and witnessed first hand thir sporting culture (I got hit in the plums with a wet tennis ball, which is a lot more painful than it sounds, playing cricket on the beach with some locals) is that sport there is either hardwired into their culture like cricket is or if its taken off in the States, the NBA was everywhere in Bridgetown. I think in rugby terms theres only one pitch on the entire island.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Ghana.
Pretty much every dude of Ghanain extraction that I went to school with was a naturally gifted player.

The Chinese could produce some very talented front rows too.

 

[Aristodemus]

Difficult to say isn't it.

Obviously with american football the US could translate into a very good side in a short time with the correct motivation. China dominate some sports like table tennis, they are in the process of taking over at snooker which hasn't taken long and if they were to embrace rugby I doubt it would be long before they were competitive. Germany I agree could be a great side, that was interesting about Hitler, and matches between the old friends of England and France would be awesome.

As for what is most likely I think Russia and Japan are the only guys I can envisage becoming a strong side in the relatively near future. Perhaps China will embrace it due to the olympics, I really hope so.

 

[Big Ewis]

Ghana.
Pretty much every dude of Ghanain extraction that I went to school with was a naturally gifted player.

yup, pretty much all black peoples (notice the 's') are good at sports. For any potential malicious-minded attempt to put me at fault here, I'm just saying it's obvious peoples of Africa or of African descent have good predispositions when it comes to physical prowess.

While they have great runners though, I don't think black Africans would mesh perfectly with the sport of Rugby though. If you look at a country like France, a bunch of third rowers and backs (particularly wing and center) are of African origin. They can possess the athletic ability required on the wing (Benjamin Fall, or Habana and JP Pieterson for the Boks) or pure foot race speed, as for center (Fofana, Fickou..) and third row (Ouedra, Nyanga, Camara from Toulouse or Dusautoir and Lauret who are both mixed).
But then when it comes to scrummaging for example, the Latin rhino-type physique of relatively short and purely square-shaped men seems to be the most efficient one. France has rarely ever had guys of African origin in the scrum.

I would say a properly trained group of African folks would typically produce some of the best wingers/centers and loosies (particularly 6 and 7) in the world.

 

[profitius]

I'd love to see rugby catch on in West Africa. Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast etc... Their strength and speed will bring a new dimension to the world game

Just checking out average heights.

Ghana 5'6" 1.695m
Nigeria 5'4" 1.638m
Ivory Coast 5'7" 1.701m
and the mighty Egyptians 5'7" 1.703m

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height


compared that to all the top tier rugby nations who average 5'9" or 5'10"


Theres more to it than height. You have different types of build etc too. Most Africans make better wingers but theres no evidence to suggest they would bring a new dimension to the world game.

 

[Big Ewis]

Just checking out average heights.

Ghana 5'6" 1.695m
Nigeria 5'4" 1.638m
Ivory Coast 5'7" 1.701m
and the mighty Egyptians 5'7" 1.703m

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_height


compared that to all the top tier rugby nations who average 5'9" or 5'10"


Theres more to it than height. You have different types of build etc too. Most Africans make better wingers but theres no evidence to suggest they would bring a new dimension to the world game.

As someone who has seen a ton of Europeans and a ton of Arabs in my life (notably Egyptians), I can tell you if someone told me I had to fight some random pick in a batch of Europeans, or Egyptians, I'd pick European pretty quickly. Of course, what I'm saying is approximate, but you get the message. They just have this natural strength...can be quite the impressive sight some times...

And what the average height is in those countries is absolutely irrelevant to the topic. We're picking the best 15 guys, we're not planning a war of all the men in the country against all the men of another. And from everything I know and have seen, Egyptians would make some pretty scary Rugbymen. They have both the sheer strength type, and athleticism and mobility type. I'd love to see the kind of scrum they could put together, if trained properly...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Big E, I can't agree with you regarding 'pretty much all black peoples (notice the 's') are good at sports'. At least that is not the case in SA and I would argue the reverse is true. Yes, you'll find the SA 100m sprint champion is black 8/10 times, middle distance 6/10 times and long distance 8/10 times again but that is about where it starts and stops. Field items, skill sports, team sports, power sports, 'focus' sports you name it and the white guy and/or white team probably comes up trumps more often than not.

I don't buy the 'interest and opportunity' argument totally (though certainly it can be apllied to some degree) for two reasons; 1) shear population disparity 10;1 and the fact that for 20 years now we have seen preference shown for black development and 2) as from personal experience Afrikaans people generally know nothing of soccer but when I have played for all white teams in both high school and uni we've beaten the black teams prety much 9/10 times. We just have more presence on the field physically, are able to match ITO speed and just have better organization and a better 'team attitude'. I am of course generalizing and am by no means saying this is the case everywherre every time but it certainly was my personal experience so don't sell us whiteys short.

I do think SA is in a unique position to harness the diversity and we all know rugby is a sport where diversity is rewarded. Just on a side note we wouldn't see JP Pietersen or Habana as black in SA, they wouldn't themselves and our government doesn't. They are of mixed decent and though I can't of course say for each individual I would be surprised if they didn't have at least equal (but probably more) European (who landed in the Cape), Khoi-San (who were essentially limited to the semi-arid Cape and Northern Cape regions due to the black tribes displacing them elsewhere) and Malay (who the Dutch East India Company brought in as slaves in the Cape where you'll find the colored people) descedants as opposed to African.

That said I am still backing Nigeria to be able to field a team of XV monsters even if rugby does need a lot of technical skill and organization.

 

[Big Ewis]

stormer:
you know what I mean in sense, roughly. Let's not make this simple statement a complicated one: people of black Africa (or black African descent) have superior predispositions for many things physical. 85% of the NBA is black, they're the fastest runners, highest jumpers...etc.

But in my comment I do mention they're not necessarily superior by default in any physical discipline when I mention they mostly make for great backs and loosies.

Oh and, about JP Pietersen and Habana, sure sure, call them mixed if you want. But let me put it this way, let's be honest for just one second, it most probably ain't their white genes that allow them that speed and athleticism. And while we're at it, let's name those genes: native African.

 

[Da Grappla]

Israel should do well too...big russian/polish/baltic/arab (Big Ewis is right regarding arabs) guys with argentinian help.

Playing only on saturday at night, of course.


P.S: nobody wants to see Spain , just me.

 

[Da Grappla]

stormer:
you know what I mean in sense, roughly. Let's not make this simple statement a complicated one: people of black Africa (or black African descent) have superior predispositions for many things physical. 85% of the NBA is black, they're the fastest runners, highest jumpers...etc.

But in my comment I do mention they're not necessarily superior by default in any physical discipline when I mention they mostly make for great backs and loosies.

Oh and, about JP Pietersen and Habana, sure sure, call them mixed if you want. But let me put it this way, let's be honest for just one second, it most probably ain't their white genes that allow them that speed and athleticism. And while we're at it, let's name those genes: native African.

Narrow it to Guinea Gulf and Western Africa and you'll be right if we talk about explosivness/strenght and Eastern Africa if endurance.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

LOL, lets agree that the black peoples in the US and in my experience central west Africa have soem serious **** going on ITO speed and power. But in SA, you'll find that if you pick randomly the white guy will probably have the edge in the physique department.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Israel should do well too...big russian/polish/baltic/arab (Big Ewis is right regarding arabs) guys with argentinian help.

Playing only on saturday at night, of course.


P.S: nobody wants to see Spain , just me.

You guys have almost everything else you try so leave rugby and cricket for the rest of us

 

[Big Ewis]

Israel should do well too...big russian/polish/baltic/arab (Big Ewis is right regarding arabs) guys with argentinian help.

Playing only on saturday at night, of course.


P.S: nobody wants to see Spain , just me.

actually, I meant really just Egyptians. Real Arabs (from here, from the Gulf) don't have anything special physically, and guys from Lebanon/Jordan/Palestinians are kind of a joke physically.

I also know other North Africans, i.e. Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia...) and Libyans, would do really well for a fact based on strength too. Algerians have some of the most athletic/flexible pros I've ever seen in my life, including black Africans and Pacific Islanders.
They've got some street basketball players who do some routines or play exhibition games in France, and some of those Algerian guys are just ridiculous with their physical qualities. I mean just Sofiane Guitoune (playing against Tonga this weekend for his first cap) is testament to what I'm saying. And they've also got pure girth too, just take a guy (again in the French national team ! ) like prop Rabah Slimani.
North Africans (notably Egyptians, then Algerians and Libyans) would be an absolute treat to coach and develop for someone with a lot of time and money.

P.S.: yeah, what stormer said ! screw you buddy !!!! Oh...oh, he didn't say that ?...oh sorry, I meant uhmm...yeah ! leave us one sport you greedy person, you !

 

[dragos03]

These nations would be interesting:
- Papua - a big Pacific Island and I guess they would come up with some interesting type of "haka" as well.
- Bulgaria - they have good qualities for rugby as most of their men are quite well-built and agressive. It would give Romania a handy sparring partner as well.
- Turkey - stocky, powerful dudes. They also have a national sport similar to wrestling that is handy for rugby. It's also a big country and their fans tend to be fanatical.
- DR Congo - huge country, the ethnicities that live there have different physical attributes. Would make an interesting team.

 

[Big Ewis]

These nations would be interesting:
- Papua - a big Pacific Island and I guess they would come up with some interesting type of "haka" as well.
- Bulgaria - they have good qualities for rugby as most of their men are quite well-built and agressive. It would give Romania a handy sparring partner as well.
- Turkey - stocky, powerful dudes. They also have a national sport similar to wrestling that is handy for rugby. It's also a big country and their fans tend to be fanatical.
- DR Congo - huge country, the ethnicities that live there have different physical attributes. Would make an interesting team.

yippy, another haka-dancing nation.................
Agreed on all 4 though.
Turkey has certainly come a long way in sports, they're actually GOOD in basketball now, and have apparently a fine football squad. They do have those beefy Turks there, strong thick men...but those guys eat too many shawarmas and kebabs, that would surely lose them as pro athletes.

And is Eastern Europe somewhere to go look for Rugby potential you would say (though I know Romanians don't consider themselves entirely "eastern european" !!) ?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

These nations would be interesting:
- Papua - a big Pacific Island and I guess they would come up with some interesting type of "haka" as well.
- Bulgaria - they have good qualities for rugby as most of their men are quite well-built and agressive. It would give Romania a handy sparring partner as well.
- Turkey - stocky, powerful dudes. They also have a national sport similar to wrestling that is handy for rugby. It's also a big country and their fans tend to be fanatical.
- DR Congo - huge country, the ethnicities that live there have different physical attributes. Would make an interesting team.

Turkey is a very good call!

 

[Aedaphon]

India, but more specifically the Sikh population. Culturally they are just absolute warriors.

A couple of Sikh boy from my school played and they honestly made fantastic tight forwards.

 

[Big Ewis]

India, but more specifically the Sikh population. Culturally they are just absolute warriors.

A couple of Sikh boy from my school played and they honestly made fantastic tight forwards.

yeah but Indians only do 3 things: cricket, cricket, cricket.
They don't play one single major sport, though they have tremendous resources now, and kind of a good demography to pick from. Basketball, football, you name it. Sports just are so far from their culture.

I'd say the Patans (Pakistan), those rugged ogres from the mountains, would make some pretty awesome tight forwards.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

yeah but Indians only do 3 things: cricket, cricket, cricket.
They don't play one single major sport, though they have tremendous resources now, and kind of a good demography to pick from. Basketball, football, you name it. Sports just are so far from their culture.

I'd say the Patans (Pakistan), those rugged ogres from the mountains, would make some pretty awesome tight forwards.

Hey, ho, ****, me, whaoooo!! Stop right there; Cricket.. not a major sport!?! Well, ****. CRICKET!?!.. C'mon!