The World Cup Rugby tournament is currently underway in Britain, and as I write this the quarter-finalists have been decided after several weeks of pool play. I’ve been cheering for the New Zealand team.
Thirteen All Black Facts
1. The All Blacks are New Zealand’s national rugby union team.
2. They start each International game with the haka, a Maori war dance.
3. Their name, the All Blacks, comes from their uniform, which is a black jersey with a silver fern and black shorts. They were first referred to as the All Blacks in 1905.
4. The All Blacks won the inaugural World Cup in 1987.
5. The next time they won the cup was in 2011, and the team is attempting to be the first team to win back-to-back world cups.
6. The All Blacks were the 2014 Rugby Team of the year and are presently ranked the number one team in the world. I hope that record stays in place for the rest of the year!
7. The current captain, Ritchie McCaw is the most capped player in the world. He has played 145 games (probably more by now!)
8. Rugby union was introduced to New Zealand by Charles Monro in 1870. He discovered the sport while attending Christ’s College in Finchley, England.
9. The first recorded game in New Zealand took place in Nelson between Nelson Club and Nelson College.
10. A New Zealand representative team toured Britain in 1905. They are known as The Originals.
11. An Originals rugby shirt recently went to auction in Cardiff and sold for $275000.
12. International rugby was suspended during the First World War but a New Zealand services team competed in the King’s cup, a services competition.
13. All Black Dan Carter holds the record for the most points scored – 1552 as at the beginning of October and hopefully more by the end of the World Cup tournament.
What is your favorite sport to play or watch?
Sources: Wikipedia and AllBlacks.com
That’s interesting. I didn’t know that. I don’t watch sports, it’s just not my thing.
Ah, Mary. You couldn’t be a New Zealander. We love our sport :-)
Best of luck to the All Blacks!
Thank you!
I pay attention to the names and uniforms but never the game! (Unless my sons are in it).
Fair enough :)
Not familiar with rugby since it’s not that big here (though you can find occasional matches on TV). Here, it’s all about football and baseball playoffs right now, and hockey and basketball are just getting underway. Thanks for visiting my T13!
The US did have a team in this tournament, although they didn’t make it past the pool play.
Thanks for teaching me about rugby. My uncle used to be a rugby player. I like watching fencing and skating, but that’s ‘cuz family members do both and I like watching them.
http://www.miaceleste.com/?p=588
Both sports that aren’t big down here. Different weather, different sports :)
I get the feeling “capped” is a good thing here. I’m not at all familiar with rugby. In my lexicon, “capped” means killed.
LOL – you suppose right. We don’t want any of our team killed!
I am afraid I know nothing about rugby, so I appreciate the lesson. I don’t really have a favorite sport, though I like to watch the Winter Olympics when they on. I used to watch women’s tennis but haven’t in a long time.
We usually watch the winter Olympics. The competitors are so skilled!
Very exciting and informative.
Whoa that is a pricey shirt! I’ve never watched Rugby but have seen clips and yummy pics floating around :D Hope yall win!