New Zealand is known for its participation in various sports. However, rugby is one of the most popular sports in New Zealand. Their national rugby union team is known for their nickname, “All Blacks” and they represent their country in every major international rugby union match. In fact, rugby is considered the national sport in New Zealand, and plenty of successful and amazing players have emerged from this country and its national sport.
Why is Rugby Union So Popular in New Zealand?
Rugby has a cultural ethos at its heart. It is also spirited with sets of rules, and this allows players to maintain mutual respect, control, and discipline. This is one of the reasons why this sport is so popular in New Zealand. Additionally, fans and spectators can enjoy this seemingly ruthless sport, but the locals actually call it a “gentleman’s sport”, as it is high-impact and vibrant. Besides being a highly disciplined sport, and fun to watch, many people love betting on it.
The odds in this sport can change quickly, and fans love the suspense and twists and turns. And if you are in New Zealand and would like to place some bets, you can easily find reliable online bookies to bet on your favourite player and team. Plus, you can find amazing bonuses and promotions at Bet365 NZ to place a few bets. All that’s left is to research your favourite players and sit back and relax while watching them in action. That being said, let’s see who the most famous Rugby Union players from New Zealand are.
Jonah Lomu
Jonah Tali Lomu was the youngest player to play for the All Blacks. He was very impressive and versatile as a player, and he was admired by many. He played his first international game in 1994 at only 19 years old, making him the youngest ever to play an international Rugby Union game. Jonah’s speed was also impressive, and he had an amazing physique and penchant, which allowed him to charge down the right side into the defending one. One of his most brilliant moments was at the 1995 World Cup, when New Zealand played against England. He practically rampaged through a number of England players and scored one of the most amazing and memorable ties in the history of rugby.
Richie McCaw
The legendary captain of the All Blacks, Richie McCaw, is regarded as one of the biggest talents for New Zealand during his career as a player. His career is impressive, and he scored plenty of wins and impressive career highs – more than the media actually praised him. He had the speed of lightning, an impressive physique and stature. All these helped him reach success and enjoy an amazing career for the New Zealand national rugby team. McCaw also played 148 tests and won 110 of them as the captain of the team, and he had two Rugby World Cup victories, too!
Beauden Barrett
Barret is one of the most highly praised players, all due to his versatility for his team. He plays as a fly-half and fullback for both Taranaki and the national team of New Zealand. What’s more, Barret has always been an important player for the All Blacks. This is because he is a block for the team and never makes mistakes during the play. He was also a key member of the 2015 Rugby World Cup winning team, and he has achieved so much during his career as a player. He also won the World Rugby Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017. He is one of only two players to have won this award back-to-back for two years.
Rieko Ioane
This is another very young player on the national team. Rieko was one of the youngest players to debut for the All Blacks. Just like Jonah, he was 19 when he started and was a fearsome player for the team. He played both as a wing and centre for the national team and was considered to be one of the most important players. He was exciting to watch while he was blocking other players for the All Blacks. He also competed in several other competitions, including Auckland Grammar School competitions and Sevens World Series.
These are only some of the most popular Rugby Union players from New Zealand. Their national team, All Blacks, has produced some of the best players in the league, who have all brought many victories for their team.
