Tug-of-war is fun, I used to be the 'anchor' for my form high school team. However it's one of the few games where you're potentially pitting the total exertable force of a group (in our case 8 adolescents) against the minimum resistance of your opponent.
Our instance: we were the best team all through highschool because we were well coordinated. One of our last games we faced a decently weighted team, but their anchor was neither strong nor heavy. Flag dropped, we heaved and charged back. Their anchor had wrapped the rope around him and twisted it (basically knotting himself in. We caught them off guard and dragged him between his team mates. He was really cut up from being dragged between people's legs (and everyone wears cleats).
It's fun, but it really punishes anyone who's stupid. Our teacher used to walk around and whack anyone who wrapped their hands in the rope due to people getting broken hands.
It's the exact same as the idiot who goes on field when people are throwing javelins, discus and shot put.
Another example of exertable group force would be a Rugby Union scrum where at the top levels they generate around 16.5kN of force(1). The ARU coaching manuals recommend only selecting players with short, thick necks for the front row and drilling players how to react instantly when there is a "mayday" call.
Too serious, too serious. I like the best the version in which each participant starts with a can of beverage in one hand and has to finish it before pulling with both hands.
I remember hearing about how one of my track coaches in high school, years before my time, wound up with a javelin through his shoulder because some dipshit wasn't paying attention and wanted to show off. After hearing that story, I never really liked being near those things.
Fail. It's put me off Tug-of-War. And lets be realistic, it was the intention.
But an enjoyable article none the less.