Sabbath Rugby

Today, DV, Wales will soundly thrash Ireland. In the rugby, of course.

Now, is that lawful recreation proper to the Sabbath day of rest or is it failure to devote the day to the Lord as special worship?

Would you have obeyed James I's command to publish The Book of Sports if you were a gospel minister in 17th C England? As far as I know, Rugby was not mentioned. The declaration apparently listed archery, dancing, "leaping, vaulting, or any other such harmless recreation" as permissible sports, together with "May-games, Whitsun-ales and Morris-dances, and the setting up of May-poles". Amongst the activities that were prohibited were bear- and bull-baiting, "interludes" and bowling.