Rugby is a close-contact team sport that started in England in the early 19th century. How exactly it came to be is a mystery. According to urban legend, William Webb Ellis was a player in a game of soccer at ‘Rugby School’.
William once scooped up a ball and ran with it. Consequently, this became the drive for the development of the sport. Years later, the sport was fully developed and introduced in various countries. It soon became a popular sport, especially in New Zealand.
How the sport started in the country
The indigenous people of New Zealand, Maori, were playing a sport quite similar to rugby long before European settlers arrived. The sport was named k’-o-rahi and it shared the same aspects with rugby.
Charles John Monro, a New Zealand student at the time, brought rugby football back with him from London in 1870. Since then, the indigenous inhabitants of the country had a major impact on the New Zealand rugby game’s development and modern form.
How did rugby become popular in New Zealand?
As mentioned, before Europeans arrived in New Zealand, the indigenous Maori people were already playing a game that was strikingly similar to rugby. When playing rugby, you need a lot of muscle to resist the tackles. The common ground established by shared pastimes of English and Maori was a powerful unifier. It was also a good fit for the culture of New Zealand culture, as the Maori were already quite talented at a comparable activity.
Although the British teams of the early 1900s received more training and attention, they were not ready to face the Kiwis, who were tough rural inhabitants. The sport fit well with the culture of Kiwi and flourished, making New Zealand the best in the world.
New Zealand’s pride: The All Blacks
The All Blacks have been a rugby powerhouse for 120 years. With this, they earned a reputation for unparalleled physical prowess and unwavering dedication to team honour. The All Blacks are most well-known for their impressive record of victories.
The team set a record for winning the World Cup three times. Since global rankings were introduced in 2003, the All Blacks have ranked first. Aside from keeping the Bledisloe Cup for 17 years, they won 10 of the last 16 Tri-Nations competitions and six of the last seven Rugby Championships. A culture of humility, solidarity, and respect for the black jersey with the silver fern is what has led to their success.
The All Blacks as a Global Brand
The global expansion of rugby since it became a success has been aided by corporate interest and sponsorship. Rugby in New Zealand benefited greatly from this. In 1995, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa inked a television contract with Rupert Murdoch’s News Limited, ushering in the modern professional era.
The All Blacks improved as a result of New Zealand’s improved ability to keep its top players. Members of the New Zealand rugby union’s club teams are the only players eligible to join the All Blacks. Soon, the All Blacks expanded their fan base into new territories. The All Blacks’ domination and the appealing style of rugby they play attracted both followers and sponsors from all around the world.
Culture and events
As the national sport, rugby is an integral element of modern New Zealand society, with major tournaments regularly taking centre stage. For instance, when the Rugby World Cup was held in Japan in 2019, the entire world watched the New Zealand national rugby squad, The All Blacks.
Whenever the All Blacks play a rival team in a sporting event like The Rugby Championship or The Bledisloe Cup, the powerful Haka reverberates throughout the stadiums. Regional teams here in New Zealand compete in tournaments like the Super 15 and Mitre 10 Cup.
As New Zealand rugby grows more in success, various sports betting platforms in the country also grow with it. Soon, more people will be interested in supporting rugby through online sports betting leading to a successful market.
