@Gelderland
No, although some countries have worse histories than others. None is completely untainted, but some certainly have done a better or worse job than the rest.
I assume that's a reference to the story immortalized in the book (and later movie, although I've never seen it) "Alive?" Nice one, although the bites here are to inflict pain and therefore to gain an advantage on one's opponents, not for sustenance. Yes, it's a sport that can be very cathartic, and one where pure physicality at least can be more important than strategy. There definitely is a good bit of strategy involved, especially in some positions, but it is possible to play with less thinking than in many other team sports.
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@Gelderland
No, although some countries have worse histories than others. None is completely untainted, but some certainly have done a better or worse job than the rest.
I assume that's a reference to the story immortalized in the book (and later movie, although I've never seen it) "Alive?" Nice one, although the bites here are to inflict pain and therefore to gain an advantage on one's opponents, not for sustenance. Yes, it's a sport that can be very cathartic, and one where pure physicality at least can be more important than strategy. There definitely is a good bit of strategy involved, especially in some positions, but it is possible to play with less thinking than in many other team sports.