Why do they say Rugby is played in heaven? He claims that it is not easy to find an answer, or indeed the origin of this idea, although a number of web sites present a case for this audacious claim.
ABCTales.com gives one version titled, 'The game played in heaven' but it is long and complicated. It's more of a drama than a reason.
http://www.abctales.com/node/542865
Paul Sheehan, writing in 2007, concluded his piece titled 'The game played in heaven in dying' with "It means rugby has to stop being a game for which you need a law degree to work out why the referee is usually the star of the game, even as they pay millions to a few players in a bid to prop up the box office of a game whose problems are deeper than a dull local team." He had to pay $56 to watch a game (2007).
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/the-game-played-in-heaven-is-dying/2007/03/14/1173722557990.html
Alan Adams in his piece on the 2011 Rugby World Cup writes: "Rugby is often cited as the game that's played in heaven and perhaps the closest connection to this old cliche can be found in a small chapel in south west France. Called Notre-Dame-du-Rugby, its four stained glass windows are proof that rugby is a religion around here. In one window, there is the figure of the Virgin Mary with a small boy in her arms and a rugby ball is in his hands. At their feet, players are jumping in a line-out."
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/news/newsid=2006096.html
But none of these provides the reason for this claim. The closest that M V Tronson has come to understanding the statement is from a personal encounter. It was the mid '80s. Wallaby captain Nick Farr-Jones met with him as the Australian cricket team chaplain and the Right Reverend Dr Brian King for lunch in Sydney. Brian King was a sixties Waratah representative (NSW touring representative team).
I listened as they spoke of rugby as their 'beloved'. It was like the Song of Solomon. Brian King recounted an incident in which he was hit (tackled) so hard that he (a huge man of 6'4") was flung backwards as if he were a match stick. The relish on his face as he praised the technique and execution of his opponent was angelic! And Nick Farr-Jones' eyes light up as if they were both whisked away on the floating delicacies of a symphony orchestra's finest hour. It was one of those 'you had to be there' moments!"
Nevertheless, Rugby is popular and the Super 14 gets under way this weekend. On Friday night, the Blues and Hurricanes (New Zealand teams) play in Auckland; Western Force and the Brumbies (Australian teams) battle it out in Perth; and the Cheetahs and the Bulls (South African teams) put on their show in Bloemfontain.
On Saturday, followers can see the matches of: Crusaders and Highlanders (New Zealand teams) in Christchurch; Reds and Waratahs (Australian teams) in Brisbane; Lions and Stormers in Johannesburg; Sharks and Chiefs in Durban.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/super14-fixtures
Whether the game is played in Heaven or not remains to be seen, but in the meantime, it is certainly to be enjoyed by many people here on Earth. This writer however is not one of them, he prefers field hockey – as sticks are celebrated in the Scriptures!!! (1 Kings 17:12)