“A bunch of big idiots smack into each other” – A mixed-method investigation of learning rugby through video gaming compared to traditional instruction

•Rugby League Live 3 can significantly increase novice player’s rugby knowledge, particularly about rules and terminology.•Rugby video games may motivate intentions to watch the sport, but not physically play it due to its high-contact nature.•Rugby League Live 3 may be incorporated into traditional sport instruction to facilitate rugby knowledge for beginners. The two-pronged purpose of this study was to determine: 1) whether playing a sedentary sport video game (SSVG) is more effective than traditional hands-on instruction in learning a new sport, and 2) whether playing a SSVG motivated the future viewing orplaying intentions of the authentic sport.A mixed-method multi-phase intervention was conducted with two quasi-experimental groups. Participants (n = 38) were college students enrolled in an undergraduate physical activity course with little prior knowledge of rugby. The first semester of data collection included the Instruction First (IF; n = 19) group taking a rugby pre-test, performing two rugby instruction sessions, taking a mid-test, performing two rugby gaming sessions, taking a post-test, and finished with a focus group session. The next semester, the Video Gaming First (GF; n = 19) group replicated these procedures, but the order of gaming and instruction sessions were switched. Results indicated the gaming sessions alone significantly (p