[victoria24]

why are NZ so good at rugby? I'm doing the maths and reckoning that in the UK it is primarily a private education sport (i played from 6 every day in rugby term) but then NZ has a population of 4mil so there must be another factor?

do kids play sport more as part of the curriculum in general and is there more emphasis on pride of sporting achievements?

[Genie]

cue jokes about odd shaped balls :D

[peebles16]

why are NZ so good at rugby? I'm doing the maths and reckoning that in the UK it is primarily a private education sport (i played from 6 every day in rugby term) but then NZ has a population of 4mil so there must be another factor?

do kids play sport more as part of the curriculum in general and is there more emphasis on pride of sporting achievements?

Yep that's basically it in a nutshell or our experience anyway in the relatively short time we've been here :yes Considered a bit strange to be honest if your kid doesn't play sports and every kind of sport with a national team seems to be on the telly. My son already knows all about different teams (especially rugby) and did quite an in-depth school projects about the Olympics when they were on.

Our eldest isn't particularly sporty at all so a bit of an oddity here but thank goodness he's got into tennis :) If you've been into rugby back in the UK you'll be coaching kids here before you know it :D

Karenx

[Leccy-Lee]

Who said they are? They cant win the World Cup.... ;)

[Kim39]

Who said they are? They cant win the World Cup.... ;)

Beat me to it Lee.......someone say FRANCE!!

Also you have to take in the pacific islanders input on the field. Have had many a debate with colleagues and they are in agreement that there is outside influence.


Kim

[wiki]

Watcing Wales vs All Blacks on Saturday with BBC commentary and the comment was made that the All Blacks are the best rugby team in the world - between World Cups. That pretty much sums it up.

The other thing in rugby's favour is that soccer was very much a minority sport in NZ and has only really grown in popularity in the past eight or so years. When I was at high school in the late 80s/early 90s the only guys who played soccer were the geeks who were too soft for rugby union... and my school of 500 kids really struggled to field 11 players.

[hosebergine]

Born in the early 70's, we had no competitive sports at all at primary school and I am sure we weren't the only ones! I can't help but think that has a bit to do with our limited sporting prowess (although it has got a bit better - bar recent rugby results).

I played rugby from 15 in a state school, then again at uni and I'm a petite girl (I suppose I'm old enough to be a woman now though)! I was a very quick runner though
;-) I got away with concussion and a fractured finger, plus a few bruises etc (and a slightly pickled liver). Now though I wonder if parents are a bit reluctant to let kids play a contact sport in the UK. ALthough my sister married a Welshman and they are mad on rugby (bit upset after yesterday though - oops).

I'm really looking forward to my girls trying out all sorts of sports when we get to NZ - seeing little kids having sailing lessons with school got us so excited when we visited NZ earlier this year. I nearly popped when I heard about surfing clubs for mum's!!!

Of course the real issue is - do we support NZ or England when we become Aucklanders? My sister is already booked in to stay for the World Cup but I won't let them wave any Welsh flags in my house!!!!

[Gar1]

Most children don't get into rugby in the UK till they are at high school level, and as stated its normally private schools only. My school did not have a rugby team at all.

During the last world cup it was mentioned that there are more rugby players in Canterbury than there are in Scotland. They will never be able compete

[CJ22]

I was chatting to a native Kiwi from Wellington this afternoon, and he was going on about rugby and how you could fit in just about anywhere if you liked rugby. I didn't know how to tell him that in England rugby was a game for toffs, and I wouldn't been seen dead cherring a bunch of over-priveleged public-school boys running around a pitch. Silly, I know. Soccer players are just as over-priveleged once they become players. But it's about perceptions I suppose.

Ironically though, my dad was a professional RU referee till his knee packed in, and my nephew has just gone on contract with Leeds Rhinos, thus proving that my own prejudices are pretty much nonesense.

[benandclare]

Eddie Butler wrote about this in June 2008

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/jun/08/rugbyunion1

Back in the UK I always admired the All Blacks as they played their brand of rugger, it's rugger if you're an over privileged ex public school boy, and his article sums it up nicely for me.

[incredible hulse]

Was discussing this at work today. Think the reason is that not only is it the national sport (not so in England, Scotland) and it seems kids play at a lot earlier age. I played football (Wiki - soccer is what American ladies play) and athletics only in junior school and didn't touch rugby until 12 (state schools throughout). Having access to Fijian wingers helps as well ;)

One thing that really surprised me though is the myth about Kiwis being fanatical about their rugby - they struggle to sell out the cake tin for All black tests and it's barely half full for the overwhelming majority of Super 14.

[TipTopAddicts]

I know the answer to why the All Blacks are so much better and there's nothing scientific about it at all- it's because they have better thighs....mmmmmm...thighs!! Ok, off for a cold shower now:laugh

[Gar1]

One thing that really surprised me though is the myth about Kiwis being fanatical about their rugby - they struggle to sell out the cake tin for All black tests and it's barely half full for the overwhelming majority of Super 14.

Yes, that surprised me. Also there is no way near the atmosphere at any All Blacks game as there is for any 6 nations game in the UK.