Rugby 7's

I don't think I've ever been to a more exciting, fun, crazy and entertaining sporting event in my life. In the middle of the desert near Dubai a stadium that holds about 40,000 people was built to host the Rugby 7's and people came. And they come every year and bring friends.

Rugby is normally played with 15 players from each team, but in this version it's 7 member teams on the same size field. So picture American Football with about 5 guys on the same size field running and tackling. There are very few scrums in 7's so you really don't see the guys piling on each other. It's pretty much constant action except for the 3 minute break at halftime.

The games are only 14 minutes long and continue non-stop from Thursday - Saturday. Many of the games are between club teams from different countries that have entered the tourney, both womens and mens teams. The main attraction begins on Friday when the national teams representing 16 countries compete in the pool play.

Australia, France, US, England, Kenya, South Africa, Russia, Samoa, Fiji, Scotland, Portugal, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and more. They play like crazy, run wild, tackle and score. I had never been to a rubgy match before, but we have it on our calendar already to go back next year. Much to our surprise when we showed up they were actually selling alcohol at the stadium. You could buy a 12 pack of Heineken and take it right into the stands. Of course I didn't do that (my kids are reading this), but some of the guys I was with might have done it.

Then you get the social aspect of people dressing up for the occasion in bizarre costumes that have nothing to do with matches or costumes that show their national pride. For instance these folks in their Union Jack outfits with the fake belly's.

Or these folks in their Pirate costumes (click on the picture it should open up larger)

Or the Purple crayon people.

I think these guys got sidetracked from their Mardi Gras parade. For all their NFL gear and the guy in the robe actually had a Paul Pierce Boston Celtic jersey on, they weren't even American, they were from Australia.

So if you have non-stop on the field entertainment, all these partying types, beer and wine along with food available in the stands and weather consisting of sunshine and 75 - 80 degrees you get a great sporting event.

And to revisit a classic photo: This is how you end your day.

QOB: "The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been." Alan Ashley-Pitt

Where are you walking today?