Kinda Like Football

For the most part, the only things that separate American football and American rugby are pads, a few rules and the fact that Americans don’t know shit about the latter. Honestly, could you or anyone you know define a “scrum,” a “ruck” or a “maul”? But you don’t have to be a rugger-bugger (heavy drinker) or an alickadoo (old fart) to enjoy the spectacle of a sport that eludes the energy-drink-addicted masses. The Kansas City Blues have been getting their rug on for 41 years, and the team still fields a brutish squad despite dropping out of the high-stakes Super League in 2006. (They now compete in the West Rugby Union.) Today’s free tournament at Blue River Soccer Park (99th Street and Blue River Road) features the Blues 7s: a seven-member team that takes advantage of a wide-open field to demonstrate their athletic prowess. For more information, see kcblues.org.

Sat., July 19, 2008