Rugby, worldwide

International Rugby

Like a frothing tidal wave emerging from the distant ocean, and finally falling upon the shocked inhabitants of the shoreline, the game of rugby has crashed onto the international sports scene, and like the coastal shore, rugby will never be the same.

Rugby union has been played across national borders since the late 1800s. After the establishment of basic rules and regulations by Cambridge and the Blackheath Club in the mid 1800s, enthused players shared their sport with the Eng colonies, including the thirteen American colonies, Australia and South Africa. Rugby league, an offshoot of rugby (rugby union), joined the international fray in the 1890s. During the early part of the 20th century, rugby union was proudly played at Summer Olympics until it was discontinued in 1924.

The snide actions of the Olympic Committee, however, did not halt the international growth of rugby. Today, rugby union is the fifth most popular sport in the world. Different types of rugby, including union, league and sevens, are the de facto national sports of New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Wales, Papua New Guinea and more. Other countries that have important international rugby teams are Fiji, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Italy, France, Samoa, Argentina, Canada, and several others. Pundits note that in areas such as New Zealand and Wales, rugby is more than a pastime, it is a quasi-religious experience, where fans bond together in their common love for rugby.

International matches are the soul of rugby. The Tri-Nations match, first played in 1996, pits global powerhouses Australia, New Zealand and England against one another. England, France, Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Wales face off annually in the Six Nations Championship. The most popular match is the World Cup, held over four years. The top twelve teams from the former World Cup are automatically chosen, while eight at-large slots are filled from regional qualifying tournaments. In 2007, the event drew over 3 billion viewers, and pundits estimate a global audience close to 4 billion in 2011. The U.S. Super Bowl, which claims about 100 million, does not hold a candle to rugby’s international fan base.

At the appeal of the International Rugby Board (IRB) and its affiliates, rugby sevens, a seven-player version of rugby union, will be played at the 2016 Summer Olympics. The long hiatus is over. Rugby once again returns to its proper place – the focus of billions of ardent fans watching one of the greatest games in the world.

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