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Rugby season is in full swing in New Zealand, and I couldn’t be happier. Some call it our national sport. I call it inspiration since big, burly rugby players make great romance heroes. Our All Blacks are the current world champions. Women play rugby these days, and our Black Ferns are champions too. We also have a very good Sevens rugby team.

rugby

Here are some facts about rugby:

1. Our New Zealand team, the All Blacks, are the current world champions. It bears repeating!

2. No one is really sure when or where rugby truly originated but a popular story is that William Webb Ellis picked up the ball in 1823 and ran with it instead of playing to the rules of the game. It’s said that this act was the start of the modern game.

3. The rugby ball is oval in shape. Originally they were made from pigs’ bladders and a person blew them up. It’s possible to become ill from blowing up diseased bladders, so it’s lucky that this is no longer necessary!

4. The All Blacks always do the haka before the start of an international rugby match. See H for Haka.

5. The same whistle is used to start the opening game at each World Cup Tournament. It’s called the Gil Evans whistle, named after the Welsh referee who was in charge of the match between New Zealand and England in 1905.

6. A rugby match consists of two halves, which are forty minutes long, plus a 10 minute break at half time.

7. There are 15 players per team.

8. Players advance the ball by kicking it or running with it down the field, known as a pitch.

9. The first ever rugby game took place between Scotland and England. Scotland won.

10. The International Rugby Board (IRB), which was formed in 1886, governs the game. There are 97 unions in the IRB.

Have you ever watched a rugby game?

9 Comments

  1. Sophie Duncan

    I have to admit, I don’t follow rugby, although I do know who the All Blacks are :) However, one thing I will agree with you on is big, burly rugby players do have a certain charm! ;P
    Sophie
    Sophie’s Thoughts & Fumbles – A to Z Ghosts
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    • Shelley Munro

      They are the perfect inspiration for romance heroes.

    • Shelley Munro

      Definitely! I enjoy watching rugby every week. I’m a very good armchair ref.

  2. Mary Kirkland

    I’ve never watched it but I’m really not big into any sports.

    • Shelley Munro

      No, it’s not big in the US, although they have teams in the 7s contest and they compete in the World Cup.

  3. anna@herding cats & burning soup

    I’ve never seen a game but wouldn’t mind trying it out one day! I’ve seen a couple short clips on youtube but that’s about it.

    • Shelley Munro

      If you have a chance, go to a 7s tournament. They have it in San Diego or Las Vegas, I think from memory. That’s such a fun tournament. Everyone dresses up in costumes and has a ball.

  4. Mr Munro

    Why on earth did you put a photo of an Ireland team playing ….is it Italy? There should have been a team wearing BLACK with a silver fern!!
    I’m still shaking my head in disbelief!
    Ireland of all teams, they’ve never beaten the AB’s.
    You should also mention that the All Blacks have one of the, if not the highest winning percentage of any sporting team in the World.