There are 15 maniacs on each side who try to carry the ball into the end zone, while getting clotheslined by people who look like they eat nails for breakfast. It’s violent poetry in mud-soaked shorts. It’s chaos. It’s beautiful. It’s the perfect mix of glory and stupidity, and I’m all for it.
The United States has nationally embraced a new sport over the past couple of years: rugby. Youth participation is up 15% from 2024, and more than 50% of Major League Rugby’s players are American or Canadian born, according to USA Rugby. Rugby is where American football gets its roots, and is quite similar, which makes the experience quite enjoyable for any American football fan.
With one major difference. It’s better in every way.
Similarly to football, there are plenty of deranged young men and women who are hungry for a brawl. Just like football, it takes a great deal of athleticism and teamwork. Just like football, there is plenty of action, unhealthy food for the fans to enjoy, and cult-like followings.
Except said young men and women, in my extremely arrogant opinion, are even more bloodthirsty and athletic—which is a wonderful combination, by the way—and the fans are even more cult-like. The game is much more fluid, with fewer stoppages and more time reserved for bone-crushing hits.
With the NFL in its offseason, it’s the perfect time to take a gander at Major League Rugby. Seattle is the proud home of the Seawolves, who are two-time league champions.
The stadium, Starfire Sports in Tukwila, while tiny compared to an NFL field, is always jam-packed with energy akin to an NFL playoff game, no matter the occasion. You get absorbed with excitement only a rugby match can bring, and the game kicks off.
Tickets are much cheaper than major sporting events, averaging around $55 per game, in comparison to the Seahawks, which cost nearly $200. The venue is nice. You don’t have to take out a second mortgage to pay for parking, and you get everything you would out of a football game for so much less. The players are some of the most athletic people you will find on this planet, and a rugby match provides even more entertainment than a live NFL game.
So, I implore you to check out the beautiful game of rugby next time you’re looking for a Seattle sports experience. You won’t be disappointed.
