I really hoped someone wouldn't go there but I guess getting a dig in at the sport is too much.

It's different than any other sport, especially one that people are constantly bashing into one another trying to move ball around while the other people are flopping left and right trying to get a card pulled out to hurt the other team. People accuse the players of being softer than those ruggers, well to say that ti's clear that they never put on shoulder pads and a helmet and gone full speed into another human attempting to tackle someone while that person is trying in vain to avoid you and another is heading straight at you to keep you from that avoiding player.

People who have never played it competitively have no idea about the planning, counter-planning, physical and mental exertion that goes into the game nor do they understand just how much is going on in those 20 to 30 seconds of gameplay or why it is constantly changing even as the play is going on. But they don't want to know, they would rather go after the sport because it makes them feel superior. So be it, people who have actually worked at the sport, spent time learning its complexities and participated in it appreciate just what is going on and don't need to belittle another sport, they just appreciate it for what it is.