I’m deaf, hoarse, and my neck is sore on account of watching Ireland play France in World Cup Rugby at an Irish bar called Waxy O’Conner’s in Piccadilly Circus. I met Shane there before the game started and it was already wall-to-wall people, stationing themselves for a good view of the big screens sprinkled about this multi-level pub. I think every Irish person in London was there, as well as some brave French. We met a couple from Donegal; Irish man married a French woman who kept joking about how they’d be divorced tonight. My ears started ringing during the singing of the Irish national anthem and this was even before the game started.

I realized I know absolutely nothing about the game of rugby, but it was pretty easy to tell what was going on depending on the shouting of the crowd. Plus, who can argue with watching a bunch of muscular men in short shorts? But seriously, these guys are pretty amazing athletes. And they show the entire forty minute halves with NO COMMERCIALS!! If mainstream American sports did this, I might actually watch them. Unfortunately, Ireland lost 25-3 and are now out of the cup.