Virtual Rugby Sites Reviewed

Online rugby competitions can generally be categorised into two main groups. Fantasy Rugby, where you cherry pick players (based on a variety of constraints, usually a virtual budget and specified numbers of player from a team or position) to create a dream team or Virtual Rugby, where you predict the results of matches (i.e. win, draw or lose and often a margin). This focuses on the latter, Virtual Rugby; more specifically New Zealand Virtual Rugby competitions (e.g. Air New Zealand Cup, Super 14, Tri-Nations etc) and in the hope that it will assist you in choosing the best virtual rugby website for you.

Virtual Rugby sites or virtual sports sites in general for that matter are not a new phenomenon. A lot of virtual rugby sites have been around for years, with many more popping up briefly before fading away again into the void of the world side web. However, there are a few that come to mind that have withstood the test of time for various reasons.

Of the lesser known websites offering virtual rugby competitions, NZ Virtual Sport is up there with the best of them. This site has been around for a few years now and appears to be establishing a stable user base and for good reason. NZVS does what Jimungo attempted to do (but without the corporate sponsorship). NZVS is a slick and well oil machine which creates an excellent user experience. The tabbed navigation, the confirmation and summary screens, the ability to make and change predictions right up until kick off of each match, the private challenges you can create, all lend themselves to one thing and that is enjoyment for the players. Unlike Jimungo, NZVS does have to rely on advertising however this is kept to a minimum, no annoying pops up, so it’s not too intrusive and should not put anyone off using the site. All things considered, NZVS offers a fantastic virtual rugby competition and much, much more. Two thumbs up.

The most widely recognised, and perhaps most overrated of these, is Jimungo Virtual Rugby (formerly Telecom Virtual Rugby). Although Jimungo probably has the largest market share (I don’t have any statistics to back that claim – just a best guess based on advertised numbers scattered around the web) it is lacking functionality and usability in many areas. The site is cumbersome, slow at the best of times, navigation is awkward, functionality is extremely limited (if you miss the Thursday cut off you miss all your picks for the entire weekend! Not exactly cutting edge) and possibly worst of all for a website it is not exactly pleasing on the eye. It looks as if it was designed by a bunch of school kids. The main thing going for this site is the fact that the NZRFU has taken it upon themselves to partner up with Jimungo and make this the official NZRFU virtual rugby site.

Although not strictly (and by that I mean at all) a New Zealand based site (it’s run by a bunch of Aussies), footytips is worthy of a mention. Footytips offers some great functionality, such as tipping (prediction) competitions, fantasy competitions, player of the year comps, message boards, feeds of recent activity, built in emails, statistics on teams and individual players but is unfortunately often overshadowed by the overwhelmingly cluttered feel of the site. There is so much on screen that the eye is drawn away from the multiple competitions by various advertisements and promotions. Another downside to the site is the mere fact that it is heavily focused on that dreaded sport, Aussie Rules. AFL. Why? OK if you are some kind of genetic throwback living thousands of kilometers from the rest of the civilised world it may be of interest but really who in their right mind would play or support such a game? Those few negative points aside, footytips is worth a look, and it’s got some decent prizes on offer (if you live in Australia – current comps have weekly movie and Hungry Jacks vouchers and xBox for end of season).

Of the worthwhile sites, the only other worthy of a mention is Sporty Web. Truthfully it’s not great by anyone’s standard but it does claim to have around 10,000 users. Check it out if you must but don’t waste too much time on it.

My recommendation to you then, if you want a great virtual rugby site go to NZ Virtual Sport, if you want to run with the masses then Jimungo is your man, if you want stack loads of unnecessary options and information footytips might be the place for you. Steer clear of Sporty Web and any of the other less well known virtual rugby sites.