Rugby World Cup

Rugby World Cup

Discussion: Rugby vs. football

whereas, while, unlike, contrary to

comparatifs

Audio: elllo 234

Listening: Shawn talks about rugby

1. What sports does Shawn compare rugby to?

American football and soccer

2. What are the differences between rugby and those sports?

Ball is about the same size as in American football

In rugby you pass backwards

80 min games

less stoppages

3. What qualities do you need to have to be a good rugby player? Why?

You have to be really strong and have stamina because you have to be able to run for 80 minutes

4. In what way has rugby changed Shawn?

It helped him to develop his leadership and social skills, and taught him how to work in a team. It also taught him not to go over the limit even though you’re often pushed to the limit because the game is very aggressive.

Text: Rugby the game that divided a nation

Overall comprehension

1. Introduce the document (type of doc, source, date, etc.)

2. Pick up words related to sports

Vocabulary

1. Find equivalents to:

For example (part1) / For instance
To lift from the ground (part2) / To pick up
A match (part2) / A game
Veracity, accuracy (part2) / Truth
Regulations, laws (part2) / Rules
To allow (part2) / To enable
Today (part2) / Nowadays
Lower-class (part3) / Working class
To be intent on (part3) / To be determined to
To affirm, to declare (part4) / To claim
In the end, eventually (part4) / Ultimately
To create (part4) / To set up

Detailed comprehension

Part 1 (line 1 to 21)

1. What do the British boast about? Justify with the text

They claim that they the British have invented the most popular sports (line 1-3)

2. Explain in your own words how the British consider American football, justify with words from the text (30 words)

They think they have also invented American football because they consider it to derive from rugby. But for them, American football is only a lower version of rugby with ridiculous outfits. (“bastardized”, “silly costumes”)

Part 2 (line 22 to 50)

1. Why is “rugby” called that way?

Because this sport was invented at a school in the town of Rugby, in England.

2. a. According to the legend, explain in your own words the invention of rugby.

In 1823 at Rugby School, during a football match, William Webb Ellis picked up the ball, and so rugby was created.

b. Actually, what did the British really invent?

They actually invented the rules of rugby, as different kinds of games were played differently all over the place. They in fact invented referees

Part 3 (line 51 to 78)

True or false? Justify by quoting the text

1. Rugby is more popular than football

F. line 54-55

2. Public schools are attended by impoverished pupils

F. line 58-59

3. The official rules of football were decided on in 1861

T. line 63-65

4. football became popular in aristocracy and upper classes

F. line 73-74

5. The official rules of rugby were decided ten years later

T. line 75

Part 4 (line 79 to the end)

1. How was the working class kept out of the opportunity to play rugby? (30 words)

The organizers of the 1871 conference simply decided that only amateurs could play, asserting rugby as a non-professional sport. Besides matches were played on Saturdays (when people were working) Thus, only rich people could afford to play, and workers couldn’t play anymore since they had to miss work and weren’t paid to play.

2. Explain what the story of William Webb Ellis really was (20 words)

Actually, it was all made up to make people think rugby was an aristocratic game.

3. What was the consequence of the 1871 conference?

Consequently, working class players created the Rugby League, allowing players to be professional.

Translate from line 109 to 117

En homework ou ppc: “football is a gentleman’s game played by hooligans, and rugby is a hooligan’s game played by gentlemen”