Why didn't Rugby take off in the Indian subcontinent? (feddit.uk)

submitted 8 months ago by Oneeightnine@feddit.uk to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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There's a good crossover between the best Rugby nations and the best Cricketing nations; I'm assuming this is down to good old fashioned British colonialism?

Which leads me to wonder why Rugby never gained the same level of support in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as it did in New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Fiji.

Or am I totally wrong and the two things aren't remotely related?

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[-] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 13 points 8 months ago

This is a good question tbh

[-] baatliwala@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

Kabaddi is a thing in India. It's not the same but similar-ish enough.

[-] Sizzler@slrpnk.net 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Are you kidding, they are killing each other over Kabaddi in the UK.

No wait, just fighting

The kabaddi player who was murdered was probably to do with gang violence

[-] doublejay1999@lemmy.world 1 points 8 months ago

Great question. My first guess would be the ground is mostly too dry and hard. It probably played a part, but doesnt explain South Africa .

[+] 01011@monero.town -38 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Because it's a stupid game. Rugby "took off" in places with a significant settler/invader population, which India lacked (relative to the size of the Indian population). Plus, India has its own sports that are far more interesting and then there's cricket which is a superior game of skill and tact.

Rugby isn't even popular in the country that birthed the game.

[-] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 21 points 8 months ago

This is an asshat take 🤣🤣. It's laughable. Nice bait though.

[-] Quicky@lemmy.world 11 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Rugby isn’t popular in England? Are you mad?

Rugby union playing countries

[+] 01011@monero.town -7 points 8 months ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

It's the third most popular sport, after cricket which most people that I've met in the UK have no interest in.

[-] Quicky@lemmy.world 8 points 8 months ago

And 2 million people in England are registered players. That’s 3.5% of the population. That’s just official registered players, not even fans. Your comment is absurd.

[-] MrsDoyle@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

I wish it wasn't popular in the UK. I hail from NZ originally and everyone assumes I love rugby as much as they do. Any time there's a big tournament on people keep trying to talk to me about bloody rugby. I hate it, HATE it. An English friend who's a fanatic dragged me along to an All Black/Scotland test match - booooring. I don't know anyone who isn't at least interested in rugby, chats about the latest big game etc etc. Bloody rugby.

Sorry to rant, but I've just put my car key fob through a washing machine cycle, so I'm not in a good mood.

[-] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 2 points 8 months ago

It is a shite game but your comment is still shite.

[-] yolobrolofosholo@lemmy.world 5 points 8 months ago

Go back to Reddit

[-] pop@lemmy.ml 2 points 8 months ago

The indian brigade on reddit is wild. If their lies aren't picked up by others, anything that props up India is flooded to the top and any criticism is considered racism.

One of the benefits of overpopulation on the internet.

this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2024

59 points (90.4% liked)

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