My First Rugby Match

Friday night football?  Try again.  Friday night rugby!  Rugby is football to South Africa, but it’s better. 

A couple weeks ago, my roommates and I met up with the Boston College kids, here on a service trip, again.  This time we only had to walk down to Main Road from our apartment.  We all met at Cocoa Wah Wah on Main Road, a small bakery and restaurant, for some pasta and sangria.  Then, it was off to Newlands Stadium for South Africa’s favorite sport.  Currently, the international team, the Springboks, are in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup.  But we settled for the next best thing, and watched a match with the teams from the national league, comparable with the NFL in the U.S.  The Sharks versus the Western Province.

 (Newlands Stadium)

The night was cold to say the least, and it was raining.  The group found seats on the first floor and farther back so the balcony above us shielded the rain.  Because of the rain the stadium was far from full, but Trevor, the 2-way guide who came with us, said it is usually packed.  The lights of the stadium were shining bright and the rain was falling hard as the two teams finally came onto the field to start the match.  Maybe it was because they don’t wear pads, maybe it was because I was in a foreign country, maybe it was because this sport was completely unknown to me, or maybe it was a culmination of them all…but whatever it was, I had the greatest time and in two 40 minute halves, I fell in love with the sport.  Though the fans were sparse, there was no lack of cheering and the screaming crowd engulfed me in their celebration of the game. 

I sat in the cold, my eyes never leaving the game, asking questions of Trevor, cheering, and sitting in amazement at the vendors walking around the stadium.  In the U.S. we have the usual cold drinks and the usual popcorn, cotton candy, and regular candy.  In South Africa they more than one up the U.S.  There were boys walking around with these huge black backpacks, which turned out to be huge containers of hot water.  On the sides were shoots holding plastic cups and a long spout that the boy could pull to the front of him to fill a cup with hot water.  But, of course, it wasn’t just hot water it was hot chocolate!  The boys carried around instant hot chocolate to make right in front of the fans. 

 (Hot Chocolate Vendor)

But the best vendor of all was the donut man.  Yes, they sold freshly baked donuts covered in chocolate. 

(Donut Man)

But enough of the atmosphere, back to the game.

As I live in Rondebosch, I am supposed to be a Western Cape fan.  However, Trevor and Megs were Sharks fans and pulled us into their group.  As the game progressed I learned a few of the rules.  The ball can only be passed backwards.  What is called a touchdown in football is called a try in rugby and is worth 5 points.  A kick through the goal post is worth 2 points.  A scrum is when the two teams lock heads and kick the ball around in their circle until it is kicked out. 

(Scrum)

Sometimes the ball is put into play by throwing it to the two teams from the sidelines, and each team lifts up one of their players to try and catch it. 

(Lifting up players to catch the ball)

Lastly, the game doesn’t end at the buzzer; it continues until the play is dead, which doesn’t happen as often as in football.

The first half of the game was a bit slow, but by the second half it became a lot closer.  In the end, the Sharks won 21-19!  It was my first rugby match ever, and it certainly won’t be my last.  The UCT rugby season is just beginning, and I will be sure to attend their games, as I am now an expert.

 (BC at the Rugby match)

Off to read my first birthday card and first mail I have received here in South Africa from Meredith “Meremaid” Behm!