Sociolinguistics of Rugby

Rugby, as defined by fans it is considered a sport, but as defined by its players it is life. The jargon of rugby players is rather descriptive, and quite confusing. Like all other sports understanding the language is understanding the game. The knowledge of the argot is vital for the fans and players alike.
At the age of twenty, Christine has been playing rugby for three years. Though never formally introduced to this sport prior to attending the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) as a student, she has gained a love and understanding of rugby through participation. As a Rookie, otherwise known as a first year player, Christine was labeled Rookie of the year, and has since provided her skill to assist the UNR woman’s rugby team to win second place at nationals.
To understanding of the game begins with the language. Like any other sub-culture, rugby has a complete dictionary of its unique terms. “Learning all of the lingo was difficult, it took me about a year to fu...