Jacksonville Axemen

[BridgeTroll]

I just found this... had NO idea.  Anyone been to a game?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacksonville_Axemen

The Jacksonville Axemen (also known as The Axemen of Jax Axe) are an amateur[2] rugby league club located in Jacksonville, Florida in the United States...

A cool combination of football, soccer, and hockey.

http://www.youtube.com/v/4SV_Jah19V4

Their Team website...
http://www.jaxaxe.com/

Check this out...
http://www.youtube.com/v/ZAY0aoGlzPc

[Joe]

Yup, rugby is pretty awesome.

For people not familiar with the game, that video is not showing any unusual highlights. Those are fairly typical types of plays for a rugby game. It's very fun.

[Traveller]

I've been to a few matches.  They are definitely a good time, and the dollar draft beer doesn't hurt. 

Just a note of clarification, the Axemen play rugby league, which is slightly different than traditional rugby union.  Rugby league is sort of a hybrid between rugby union and American football.  You don't have rucks, mauls, contested scrums, and line outs, things that make rugby union really exciting in my opinion.  Instead, each side gets six "downs" to either score a try, kick a field goal, or punt.  The scoring is a little different as well.

The Jacksonville Rugby Football Club (http://www.jaxrugby.org/) is a local amateur club that plays by union rules.

[BridgeTroll]

Thanks Traveller... I had no idea there were two different versions of the game.  I guess it goes without saying that I have NO idea what a ruck or maul is...   I think I am ok with scrums and line outs...

[ProjectMaximus]

BT, did you miss that whole "Super Bowl" of rugby exhibition game in Jax organized by Russell Crowe a couple years back?

[BridgeTroll]

I did miss it... I think I was out of town.

[blizz01]

Boston named as the Axemen Playoff opponent
The game is scheduled for a 4pm kick off at Hodges Stadium at UNF this coming Saturday. (Aug 22) As always walk-up entry is only $5 and kids 12 and under are free. This game is included in the schedule for Season ticket holders and Members.
Gates will open at 3.15pm as the Axemen are expecting the season record crowd for their first ever 2nd round home playoff.

The Boston 13's have had a dream run during their first season in the AMNRL by advancing into the second round of the playoffs.

After going down to the Axemen during their opening game of the season they have slowly chipped away at the ladder and now find themselves as the 4th seed with only one round to go until the National Championship game on Aug 29th.

The Axemen are well aware that the Boston side will have improved a great deal since their first encounter and are taking no chances in the preparation. Practice sessions have been increased and the team is starting to feel the intensity of the post season with the players now feeling the excitement.

"We beat Boston at their home ground in what was their first ever game in the AMNRL competition. You would be pretty naive to think they have not improved more than any other team during the season with players now knowing each other better and understanding how each will react on the field" said Axemen Prop Jaime Uyttewaal. "They are coming to Jacksonville with three things in their favor. They are a better team than they where when we faced them last, they are on a high after getting to the second round of the playoffs in their first ever season and I am sure they are using the home lose to us as motivation for their players. It is our job to just play the same way that has given us an undefeated season and not get caught up in any of the mental aspect of this game. We just need to keep believing in ourselves and I am sure we will be fine."

[ProjectMaximus]

howd it go?

[blizz01]

Won playoff game - lost in finals in New York - promising future........

[JaxByDefault]

Very cool. Hopefully more people will check out the team in the future. ...even if it isn't the glorious, brutal, strategic, play of union.

[blizz01]

This league & this sport are slowly carving out a niche in this country - & quite possibly, this city.  I was listening to sports radio on Friday and the Axemen's coach (I believe) was being interviewed.  He indicated that from an international standpoint, Jacksonville is immediately identified with the sport in the U.S. on most news outlets & blogs.  While I'm not sure just how big it could grow, there is yet another high profile event (within the Rugby world) scheduled in a couple of weeks when THE U.S. National Team takes on Jamaica in Jacksonville.  Couple that with recent events (the Axemen going undefeated in the regular season, Russell Crowe's team making a domestic debut when the South Sydney Rabbitohs took on the Leeds Rhinos to much fanfare & with star power)......

http://www.jaxaxe.com/SpecialEventPage/tabid/558/Default.aspx

[ProjectMaximus]

sweet! whatever gets us in the international news

[danno]

I am a good friend of the Dr for the Leeds Rihnos and they plan to be back for spring practice next year.

[Sportmotor]

I have been to a couple rugby games, they are fun