Arcadia New Zealand

USA plays in the Rugby World Cup 2015

This month sees the start of the event that New Zealand waits for every four years. While we may not be much when it comes to other quadrennial events like the Olympic Games, New Zealand watches with baited breath for the men’s Rugby World Cup. As current reigning champions, New Zealand’s national rugby union team, the All Blacks, are some of the biggest celebrities, and the most closely watched sports team, in the country.

This year’s competition takes place in the UK and twenty teams from all over the world, including the USA, are competing. Team USA (Eagles) are in Pool B, and the top two teams from each pool go to a knock out stage. Also in Pool B are Scotland, South Africa, Japan and Samoa. This pool has already produced exciting results with Japan producing a completely unpredictable last minute victory over the usually strong South African side. This upset is one of the most talked about events of the tournament so far and goes to prove that anyone can be a winner on the day! Unfortunately, USA lost their first game to Samoa 25-16, and are next up to play Scotland on 27 September.

Rugby has long been a national past time in New Zealand. While the sport was invented in England in the 1820s, the first game was not played in New Zealand until May 1870. There is no single story as to where the name “All Blacks” originated but they are an international symbol of New Zealand sport and their successes have helped to foster the game as a national icon.

You should check out a match. Watch the Team USA play in the Rugby World Cup, and learn a bit more about how rugby works.