Does Rugby matter in the world of sport?

I'm sitting here watching the Rugby sevens World Series (or something) on the telly (well, I say that, but really it's just background) and wondering what people out there in the world (i.e. not the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - oh and some tiny Pacific Islands) would think of it all.

I mean, there are other teams in it. France have just murdered Moldova (I think it was them, anyway) about a million to nil, and Russia and Portugal treated us to a display of ball dropping, but in these countries Rugby must be played about as much as Korfball (and I know you're thnking: What the **** is Korfball? - hint - ask Tom Cross). How this sport can have a "World Cup" and a "World Series" I don't know. It's about up there with Cricket.

Of course, I'm being deliberately provocative. Rugby can be an exciting sport to watch, although as a Scot (but neither a farmer nor a public schoolboy) I don't have a big emotional connection to rugby (Ok, another provocative statement).

Advocates will point to the greater respect shown to the referee, compared to football (soccer) and also the diving and feigning of injury that your see in football. It's interesting to note that football wasn't always like that. Of course, it is only very recently that Rugby became a professional sport. As it's profile grows, and the financial stakes increase, will we start to see a rise in the 'evils' that have befallen the beautiful game? Will rugby be able to keep its relative innocence (if you can count fist fights and stamping as innocent) as the game progresses commercially?

We'll see.

In the meantime, roll on the Olympics and the new football season.

Rob ;-)