Posted by alan truelove on June 18, 2006 at 18:50:22 from 12.191.193.70 user atruelove.
In Reply to: Re: Football in WH posted by alan truelove on June 16, 2006 at 18:12:58:
I have to update my comments, at least re my old "Public School" City of London. In fact, Rugby Football totally disappeared (both for current pupils and Old Boys) at some undetermined time years ago, and Soccer (or 'Football' as it is now called without confusion), is paramount.
One could speculate- Rugby is a brutal unpleasant (altho' exilirating) game and the risk of injury, Insurance claims etc is too high - much easier to go with the low-impact sports like Soccer & Basketball. So John's School Rugby experience is now a dated reference, or he attended one of the few (boarding) schools that have maintained a Rugby presence. (I'm not sure how many there are now).
Rugby is still a prestigious sport for Club and National teams (incl. France), and is practiced by semi-pros in the North of England in the form of Rugby League (see the movie "This Sporting Life")