Anyone familiar with New Zealand’s popular culture knows that rugby is far more than just a sport for the average Kiwi. It is a cultural phenomenon that is at once something that can be unique to every town and yet also a national identity that many Kiwis feel a fierce passion and pride for. New Zealanders of both North and South Islands alike unite in their fierce love for this sport and communities all over the islands are ignited with a fervour that is unique for Kiwis, to rugby.
The New Zealand Rugby League is a proud national institution that has a storied history and is the managerial and organisational force that ensures that Kiwis have access to the sport that they love. Many iconic teams and players have arisen to inspire generations of young Kiwis in their love of the national pastime and all of them have been nurtured and brought up in the code that the New Zealand Rugby League manages. From their neighbours nearby across the Tasman, all the way to England, New Zealand is known and respected as a fierce adversary on the rugby field.
The commonality between watching rugby and the casino table
It would be fair to say that most people don’t consider rugby and casino gaming to be very similar. But enthusiasts of one are likely to find themselves enjoying the other just as well. Both pastimes are about enjoying a rush of adrenaline and excitement and just as the thrill of a favourite rugby team winning can ignite passion and stir emotions in a Kiwi’s heart, so too can the anticipation of landing a big jackpot at a slot machine or playing out the perfect hand of poker. One thing that indisputably links rugby and any online casino in New Zealand you care to name is the spirit of competition and the pursuit of a story worth sharing later. For Kiwis, camaraderie is important, and to sit together and exhort the joys of a well-won victory is just as important as to bemoan and commiserate the slipping away of a near-won loss.
Beyond the field of play
We have said that rugby is more than just a sport, but what exactly does that mean? It means that for Kiwis, the sport is embedded throughout their society and for many, it makes up a large part of their daily lives. From primary school and grassroots local clubs to teams that have the cream of the crop of whole areas, rugby is a unifying force for the people of New Zealand. It brings them together to share in the camaraderie of a match well-fought and a game well played. When a community has a strong linking force like a rugby club to hold it together, Kiwis can feel connected to their neighbours and fellow fans beyond mere accidents of geography.
A bastion of culture
For New Zealanders, rugby is at once an influencing force, and a canvas on which to write large their own unique identity. Many cultures and nations around the world play rugby, which is what makes it the perfect way to showcase what makes you unique as a culture. As we’re sure you know, New Zealand rugby teams do this by performing the haka, a traditional Maori war dance, before each match. This cultural link with New Zealand’s indigenous heritage infuses the act of playing other nations on the rugby field with pride and passion that is wholly unique to New Zealand and exemplifies the way that rugby is both an influencer and influenced by the uniqueness of New Zealand culture.
Links formed with camaraderie
We mentioned that rugby helps Kiwis feel connected, but it goes further than simple connection. Rugby clubs often serve as the peak of social activity and networking opportunities for many Kiwis. This means that politicians, business owners and schools often use rugby as a means of reaching out to others and establishing connections. To know that there is a shared love and passion between everyone within the culture forges a strong link between all.
The sport is also a great teacher of many things that the New Zealand people value, perseverance, discipline and the joy of working together as a team. These qualities are all things that echo back through the past of New Zealand to its indigenous heritage and are important parts of many Kiwi’s lives. Having a strong basis of values that are shared shapes not just the way that Kiwis act on the field of play, but affects many facets of their lives.
World renown warriors
We mentioned earlier that the New Zealand rugby team is known everywhere that rugby is played as fierce competitors. When major events like the Rugby World Cup happen, New Zealanders are well-known as passionate and gleeful participants. The All Blacks have a track record of being one of the better teams in the world and New Zealanders have a fierce pride for this. With a shared and universal appreciation for the shows of strength and skill that rugby allows, stadiums are no stranger to having more than their share of Kiwis packing them to watch their heroes play.
To conclude, it is obvious to us that rugby in New Zealand is much more than just a sport. It is something that is a bastion of culture, a source of national pride and something that links many Kiwis together when they would be nothing but strangers otherwise. It is sure that as time passes the legacy of New Zealand rugby will continue to amass impressive legends and continue to inspire a nation for many generations to come.
