By Dave Begel Contributing Writer Published Oct 25, 2011 at 10:07 AM

A number of years ago I wrote a column claiming that rugby wasn't nearly as rough a sport as the players wanted you to believe.

Well, the Milwaukee Rugby Club invited me to come down and play and I ended up thinking it was a rough sport, indeed.

But watching the World Cup final between New Zealand and France over the weekend really brought it home.

When someone gets injured during the game, the trainers run out onto the field to care for the injured athlete.

BUT THE REST OF THE GUYS KEEP RIGHT ON PLAYING!

They run around the trainers and injured guys, they run over them, the treat the group like just another barrier to moving the ball down the field.

It does, indeed, take leather balls to play rugby.

Dave Begel Contributing Writer

With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.

He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.

This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.

Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.