Rugby 2005 pitches into stores

Electronic Arts today announced that Rugby 2005 has broken the production tackle and is now available in stores. The game is available on the Xbox and PlayStation 2 and is a simulation of one of the most popular sports in regions such as the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

The game includes teams and leagues from around the globe, including squads such as the All Blacks from New Zealand and the London Wasps, and associations like the Super 12. Game modes include World Championship, World League tournament mode, and a training mode that serves as sort of a Rugby 101 lesson. Rugby 2005 also includes a create-a-player feature that lets gamers take their own likeness into the scrum and commentary from BBC announcer Ian Robertson.

Rugby 2005 is rated E for Everyone and retails for $39.99. For more information on the game, check out GameSpot's hands-on preview.