Un Match de Rugby!

Last night, I went to my first rugby game! Rugby is extremely popular in southern France; my host family tells me it is even more popular than soccer here. The game was between Union Bordeaux-Bègles and Toulon. Obviously, Union Bordeaux-Bègles is the local team; I guess a few years ago Bordeaux and Bègles combined rugby teams in order to create one elite team. It was kind of last minute; I had just gotten back from going downtown with some friends, when my host family asked me if I wanted to come with them, like 15 minutes before we left. I was pretty exhausted - but pourquoi pas!

For the first half of the match, all I could think was, "This. Game. Has. NO. RULES." Tackling? Allowed. Two players lifting up a third to catch the ball? Allowed. 20 person pile-ups? Play doesn't even stop. Having a huge brawl to get the ball after a penalty? Oh, that's a mêlée.

(And really, what even counts as a penalty in this game?)

Anyways, after I got used to the ridiculous lawlessness, the match was interesting and fun to watch. We had a pretty good view, and my host family explained to me what was going on. The crowd got really excited whenever Union Bordeaux-Bègles was close to scoring, and I clapped and chanted along with them (when I could understand what they were chanting anyways). Sadly, Bordeaux-Bègles lost 16-27, but my host family insisted that was just because Bordeaux-Bègles only recently moved up to the top level of rugby.

I also learned that French people are really bad at doing the wave. Three people bothering to stand up and everyone else sort of limply raising one arm does not a good wave make.

À bientôt!