Why is it that New Zealanders are addicted to rugby?

Question

Its a great sport, I agree but having a 5min tidbit on every news report about how good the last game was a bit tad too much.

Answer 1

LOL  It's in our blood from birth.  We love the game and play it in a style that's similar to our nation as a people.  We play hard, fast, exciting rugby and have a lot of pride in it.  

The fact that there are news articles/clips all the time is because it is a subject that almost every Kiwi relates to.  Every region in NZ has great interest in their home province and intense rivalries with others but the All Blacks bring everyone together like nothing else can.

The RWC being on right now has just intensified the amount of interest in Rugby and so the amount of news coverage has gone up as well.  

I wouldn't say it is strictly limited to Rugby though, NZ as a nation is very sportingly inclined.  We love almost every sport and, because of that pride factor, we support any athlete from our country fiercely.  The fact we are such a small nation only increases our support.  

Actually, I think it goes beyond sport and into any category.  You can see it in how much pride NZ had when Peter Jackson had the worlds attention with Lord of the Rings.  We are just a very proud nation with a unique history and heritage.

We support any Kiwi anywhere in the world with a lot of pride, but when the All Blacks are involved, you can multiply that support ten times over.

Answer 2

Hawkeye summed it up very nicely. New Zealanders wether born here or not have it in their blood eventually.

It is the one subject that the vast majority can talk about in a train or a bus etc etc... It is an ice breaker.

It is something we love and are very proud of, can't say more other than to read Hawkeye's statement again

Answer 3

Why are you reading my answer? You need to read Hawkeye74's answer again, if you still don't get it! Spot on!!

Answer 4

Rugby is everything and nothing.  Its what defines us as a nation.  Similar to soccer.  Its like air or money you can do with out it but its hard.

Answer 5

Perhaps because they have nearly perfected rugby?

Answer 6

They are fortunate enough to be in the near vacinity of the greatest nations of rugby players on earth...(tonga, samoa and fiji) and it is a resource that they exploit mercilessly.

If they couldn't poach the islands for rugby talent they would be about as good as scotland.

Answer 7

For New Zealanders...Rugby is a religion!

Thats why they LOVE the sport so much!

Answer 8

well it all began a hundred years ago. and thats all I've got.

Answer 9

Expanding further on a comment from susan: they say in New Zealand that men are men, and the women are..... well they are men to.

This is probably why our woman's rugby team is so good.

It is hard not too be "addicted" to rugby over here. I put off getting into rugby for a very long time, I knew nothing of it and didn't start following or playing it until I was 12. Rugby is everywhere, I was eventually sucked in and consumed by it.

Answer 10

Now noenzzeder posting here is a jealous Australian. Its amazing how larger countries think they have the right to beat small countries. We are an egalitarian society,multinational, multicultural with a strong of national identity and pride. Rugby is a game made for these qualities and the country has embraced the game - shown by the fact that over the past 100 years the All Blacks have a sporting record unexcelled in any sport by any other nation.

Answer 11

NZ is an isolated country.

It used to be that men were men and sheep were scared.

Once the animal rights crowd stopped that activity the kiwi men had to find an alternative outlet for their excessive energy, hence rugby passion.

Answer 12

Ah same as when you go ta bloody enga-land or europe. Soccer here and everywhere.