Rugby has long been New Zealand’s national game with many New Zealanders saying it is an integral part of the country’s culture. During the rugby season most Saturdays involve playing for or cheering on the local team followed by watching a Super 15 or ITM Cup game in the evening with ‘mates’ and if the All Blacks, New Zealand’s national team, are playing, then prepare for the country to come to a halt!
Therefore the Rugby World Cup, one of the world’s largest sporting events, being held in New Zealand is a massive event. Preparations are in full swing and those who are participating in the AUIP New Zealand program this summer will see the big countdown in Christchurch’s Cathedral Square. Pictured left is John from Texas A&M’s Wintermester program pointing to the countdown.
Students are often exposed to rugby on the programs as it is popular sport in all of the South Pacific nations that we visit. With that in mind we thought we would put together a simple rugby guide for the uninitiated:
The Game – Two teams with 15 on each side. The rugby field is 100 meters long plus an in goal area behind the try line at each end of the ground. There is a set of goals at each end of the field which consists of two upright poles plus a horizontal crossbar.
The Aim – Get the ball to your opposition’s end of the field and touch it down behind the try line. This is known as a scoring a try and you will get five points. Once you have done this you take the ball back directly behind the location where the try was scored and attempt to convert the try by kicking the ball through the goals above the crossbar, if successful you score another two points. A final way to score is to kick the ball through the posts either on a penalty or a drop kick, each one being worth three points.
Playing – You may run forwards with the ball but you must only pass the ball backwards. A scrum is made if a team passes or drops the ball forward. Eight players from each side interlock together and push against each other in order to win the ball which is placed underneath them. If the ball goes out of the sideline then there is a lineout. This consists of two rows of players (one from each team) spaced one meter apart. The ball is thrown in from the sideline down the middle of the two rows of players and it is contested by both teams. Above is a photo showing the All Blacks winning a lineout in a game against Ireland.
So now when you’re on a program you can chat with the locals about their favorite game and keep checking out the blog to keep updated with World Cup preparations.
