Rugby is the most significant global sport I had never seen in person.

That void on the resume has been addressed.

Tonight, our French friend, a rugby aficionado, took us to see an international match at the nearby “big” city, Beziers.

The U.S. women’s national rugby team, versus France’s women, at the Stade de la Mediterranee, as both teams prepare for the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland.

Final score: France 35, U.S. 10.

My first rugby match left me impressed on several levels.

–The crowd. A lot of people attended the match, more than 3,000 and I wonder how often the U.S. women’s team has played before a crowd of that size. Rugby is obscure in the states, and the women’s game even more so.

–The peripherals of the match. Beziers is not one of France’s leading cities, but it is a very much a rugby town, and the locals also seemed to take seriously the notion of a “full international” in their town. A band was recruited to play behind two singers who did the national anthems. The band also played peppy tunes during the 80 minutes of action, which the crowd seemed to like. I hope the U.S. team noticed this stuff — the French locals were trying.

–Women’s rugby is not for the faint-hearted. The hitting was impressive, verging on terrifying. Players on both teams were more than ready to square up on ball-carrier and deliver a blow — often “completing the tackle”, as coaches used to say, by driving the ball-carrier, backwards, to the ground. The crowd ooh-ed and aah-ed whenever someone was pancaked. It was far more violent than I expected.

The U.S. has a significant history in women’s rugby, embracing the sport (to a point) in the 20th century. The first full international pitted the U.S. against Canada, and the Americans won what was eventually recognized as the first women’s rugby World Cup.

However, the Yanks failed to keep pace when the world’s leading (male) rugby nations took up the game, and the world leaders are the usual suspects — New Zealand, England, Ireland, France …

The U.S. brought a big and strong team to France, but the 23-person team (15 players are on the pitch at the same time) are weak in speed and skill. France’s players were likely to win any footrace, and also to make the key pass that would yield a long run.

The Americans were often beaten at the edges, and rarely strung together more than two or three passes. This is a team that needs a Mia Hamm, for her skill, athleticism and star power.

Still, the Americans led 7-5 and were tied 10-10 on a penalty kick by Kimber Rozier. France scored as the first half ended, and broke away in the second half.

Our French friend suggested the Americans “weren’t bad”, and the crowd seemed to enjoy the game. No one left until it was over, despite a strong wind.

The same teams meet again, up the road in Montpellier, this weekend.

Will I see more rugby matches?

I am not all that interested. American football provides us with the recommended daily adult level of sports violence. Rugby people will complain about breaks in play, but football fans will miss the concept of “plays” run 70 or 80 times after a brief stoppage.

However, I currently live in a rugby hotbed. For reasons still not clear to me, the English game is very big in the south of France. Bigger than soccer, in many communities.

I can see our French friend getting us to see a game featuring male professional players. Maybe rugby would grow on me.

This match was a start.