When it comes to a quirky sport that I'm unfamiliar with, I proceed with caution. I became rather bored with the likes of snooker (and even more uncomfortable with an old video game based on it), and I just can't imagine who thought of the concept of water polo. But sometimes a sport can catch you off guard and really grow on you, and, after checking out the first rugby match in like forever, I really want to find a good local pub and just watch a match as I down a couple of brews. But, I assure you, trying to find a bar in Denver that airs a rugby match is almost as difficult a task as finding the perfect woman, so I guess I have to make do with the next best thing- Rugby 2005.

EA's latest Rugby game is actually a vast improvement over last year's PS2-only Rugby 2004, lost amidst below-average visuals, unfocused gameplay, and just a general lack of interest. Now on the Xbox and the PS2, we have a much tighter game on our hands, letting you play rugby as if you were actually wearing worn-out shorts and kicking the ball around like a beer-happy Rich Karlis. It's missing a few things that mar its perfection of the sport, but it still sports a toothy grin that you'll want to catch.

If you're unfamiliar with the sport of rugby, it's kind of a variation on our football game, but with no real protective gear, thinner uprights, no forward passing and certainly far less endorsement and dollar deals. But not to worry, it's rather easy to catch on. In fact, the first thing that the game goes into upon launching it into your system is Rugby 101, a quick and helpful tutorial that walks you through the basics of the sport, from "footing" to tackling to scoring hints. It's just the ticket for those itching to learn more about the sport but not wanting to put up with any kind of boring coach in the process.

The gameplay is engaging and hardly ever lets up, as you have to constantly keep on your toes to maintain possession of the ball. Laterals and kicks come heavily into play when it comes to scoring, and the tackling can be rather rough and vicious. I liked the way the right analog stick was used for powerful tackles and other moves, sort of putting a personal touch on your level of brutality. But it's all in the good nature of the sport, and it moves along at a rapid pace that's sure to addict those who otherwise considered it a variation of soccer. That'll teach you.

The game offers some quick modes, but where the depth really lies in Rugby 2005 is in the game's multiple tournaments, ranging from the vast World Championship to the Super 12 to the awesome Lions Tour, all of which provide you with a number of hearty challenges to complete with your team. There's a wide assortment of teams available, although I still can't pin down a favorite just because so many of them exhibit a great deal of talent. But there's a lot to do, and you can challenge other people to join in for a good round of rugby. Just watch the hands there, buddy. Those huddles get a little ridiculous.

As far as the game's presentation, it's a lot better than last year's effort. The graphics are very smooth, capturing the arena details quite efficiently in each different city and even tightening down on animations. It gets a little quirky in a pile-up, but not really that bad. In fact, the collision detection is quite solid, as a tackle can really work well for you upon the right contact. With sound, EA comes through again, somewhat. The EA Trax are back, providing a soundtrack with an oddity of artists on the label. However, this soundtrack wasn't really that bad, I admit. The sound effects, while miniscule, work for what's here, and the announcing team keep up a strong sense of energy as you're driving for the uprights. It's not hilarious, just full of pep and keeping up with the action.

Rugby 2005 is a nice offering from EA, but, man, it would have been nice to bring this one online with Xbox Live. I mean, can you imagine having one of the many tournaments in this game in a huge worldwide brawl and being able to show some Scottish bloke just what you're made of? I think EA missed a big opportunity here. Granted, I can probably guess why. I mean, Rugby isn't likely to get as much traffic as a Madden or NBA game, so maybe they just assumed it wasn't worth the effort. Still, it would have been nice.

But that's a minor quibble. If you're up for a different kind of sport that will grow on you like a happy fungus, Rugby 2005 will provide sufficient relief for you. It's got a killer presentation and the gameplay to back it up, and the tournaments will keep you busy a long time- probably until EA comes up with a way to release an Ironman Tournament game, complete with log-rolling. Whoo!