RugbyX – The Next Big Thing
Within the world of rugby, it’s pretty rare that anyone goes against the grain or invent anything new. That’s because the game and the community which is built around it is so finely polished that it needs nothing new. However as bonusbets.com discovered, there is something new in the pipeline. It’s time to talk about RugbyX, as Bonusbets.com has discovered alongside many others.
What we’re looking at here is the brainchild of Ben Ryan, Olympic gold medal winning coach. His goal was to bring five-a-side teams to indoor rugby. Why the concept may seem strange to some, it does have the official backing of World Rugby and is an attempt to use internationally known players to bring new interest to the game. The game itself will be relatively simple, with 10-minute games and full contact allowed, as well as no breaks.
On the 29th of October, the O2 Arena in London will play host to the grand reveal of this event, with an expected turnout of 12,000 people. Because this is a different event to rugby, there will be certain modifications to the rules to allow for it to be played correctly. For example, people will see that there will be five players on each team, and the field will measure 32 m x 55 m. There will be no lineouts, no conversions, and every game will be officiated by certified referees, the same people you’d find watching over a set of proper rugby matches.
There is no doubt that these new games will change the way that we look at Rugby and the way the industry is perceived. Despite a healthy community and a loyal fan base, there are many among the higher up positions of rugby who feel that as a game, it has stagnated. The interest that people had when it came to watching the games and celebrating and supporting team isn’t as prominent as it used to be, and so this is an attempt to recapture the magic.
The presumption is that players will be able to give a better performance in a short time and that people will be more interested in watching for 10 minutes as opposed to 90 or 100. It’s no secret that favourite games of rugby tend to go on a little bit, and it’s easy to see how this could impact people’s appreciation for the game, especially with slower matches.
However, there is every chance that this will go on to mark a new exciting phase in the rugby industry. It’s always interesting when someone comes up with a brand-new idea which has the potential to change everything, especially with something as time honoured and thrilling as rugby. Naturally, there will be many people who will wait with bated breath to try and figure out precisely what the impact will be of Rugby X, and how it will affect general attitudes to the game and the world it’s created.
