Rugby between the game and its narration
a reflection on the educational value of the 'sport for all'
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5380/ra.v17i2.99434Abstract
Rugby, traditionally associated with a set of values that highlight its ethical and educational qualities, is often portrayed as the emblem of an inclusive, fair, and community-oriented sport. This paper aims to critically examine this narrative by shedding light on its contradictions in relation to actual practices and the sociocultural frameworks that shape them. Through the lens of Motor Praxeology, rugby is analyzed as a space for the construction of meaning, where formal rules and symbolic codes interact in defining what is acceptable, valued, or marginalized within the sporting context. With a particular focus on the Italian context, this interpretation explores the historical roots of the discipline and the role values play in shaping the cultural identity of the rugby movement. In light of the structural ambivalence of sport as a system, attention is drawn to the pedagogical and social implications of such representations especially regarding gender dynamics and the processes of inclusion and exclusion that occur both on and off the field. This reading aims to move beyond the idealized portrayal of rugby as an inherently virtuous sport, recognizing it instead as a complex practice shaped by educational, cultural, and political tensions whose formative value lies precisely in the capacity to critically engage with these tensions.
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