Miss Football and Friday Night Lights? It’s Time for Texans to Give Rugby a Shot.

The concourse of Choctaw Stadium buzzed with rugby enthusiasts as lightning streaked across the night sky above Arlington. At halftime of the May 6 game, the Dallas Jackals had maintained the lead against Old Glory DC until the opposing team scored a last-second “try,” equivalent to a touchdown in rugby. The Jackals fans, sporting white and mint green jerseys, nervously waited to see if the game would resume with their team trailing 3-7. Just minutes earlier, the crowd had erupted with cheers as the team displayed their skills on the pitch. Despite their efforts, the Jackals ultimately suffered a loss as the match was called off due to inclement weather.

Even though the Jackals never got the chance to play on, the fans’ enthusiasm was undeniable. Almost everyone stayed until the official announcement before leaving the stadium. The disappointing defeat didn’t dampen the fans’ support, despite the team having won only one match in its two-year history. This fervent love for the sport and the camaraderie of backing a local team should resonate with Texans seeking an alternative to Friday night lights until the next football season.

Texas-based rugby enthusiasts invite football fans to explore their sport, which has firmly established itself in the state. Major League Rugby, headquartered in Dallas, began in 2017 with seven teams, including the Houston SaberCats and Austin Elite (later rebranded as the Gilgronis). The Dallas Jackals joined the league last year, increasing the total number of teams to 12 (Austin’s club departed before the season commenced). The regular season concludes on June 18, with the SaberCats qualifying for the playoffs starting on July 1.

Rugby presents a natural attraction for football aficionados due to its similarities in delivering excitement. Both sports involve teams vying for possession to score points, although in rugby, the action rarely pauses as play continues without interruption, contrasting with the stop-and-go nature of football. This non-stop intensity may captivate fans who appreciate the raw athleticism and physicality inherent in football.

Michael King suggests that those who appreciate the hard hits and action in NFL or college football are likely to enjoy the faster tempo of rugby once they grasp the rules. As a member of the Plano Rugby Club’s board of directors and a devoted Jackals fan, King perceives rugby as a natural source of entertainment for a football-centric state like Texas. Notably, the Plano Rugby Club is renowned as the largest youth rugby club in North Texas, supporting boys’ and girls’ teams from kindergarten to 12th grade.

The game itself, although seemingly intricate, is not too difficult to follow, and many teams extend a helping hand in understanding the sport. First-time attendees at a Jackals match are not left in the dark about the game’s dynamics, as a pregame hype video on the jumbotron provides a comprehensive overview of rugby’s gameplay. Furthermore, ardent supporters are always willing to explain the rules and strategic nuances when approached. Even during matches, the announcer takes the time to elucidate the implications of each penalty, eschewing assumptions about the crowd’s knowledge.

Rugby merges the hard-hitting nature of football with the fast, continuous pace of soccer. Keith Hendon, president of the Jakl Den, the Dallas Jackals fan club, highlights that the objective is to place the ball over the try line with hands, earning five points, while a two-point conversion can be obtained through a successful kick. Comparable to football, teams can also secure three-point goals at various points in the game, and passing, kicking, and tackling occur as the teams maneuver across the pitch. The absence of forward passes, rigidity in tackling regulations, and constant lateral passing contribute to the game’s dynamic and enthralling nature.

The professional players’ athleticism may strike a chord with seasoned football enthusiasts, even though they do not don protective gear unlike their football counterparts. Tackles happen frequently but are mandated to adhere to strict rules for safety, such as outlawing tackles above the shoulder. Notably, the game encompasses players of diverse body types and is inclusive of both men and women, fostering a sense of community and unity across social classes.

The appeal of rugby extends beyond its likeness to football, as it offers the potential to be a unifying force and a platform for camaraderie. As the United States prepares to host the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the subsequent women’s event in 2033, rugby enthusiasts aspire for increased participation in the sport, both as fans and players.

In summary, rugby in Texas beckons football enthusiasts to explore a sport that has rooted itself deeply in the state’s sporting landscape, offering thrills, inclusivity, and potential as a unifying force.