RUGBY UNION is the national game of New Zealand.
Why? I don’t know, because to me it is like watching paint dry. Being a Kiwi, many would say I should know why, but I don’t.
There is no denying the All Blacks are one of the world’s greatest sporting brands, but…
Rugby union has certainly had an advantage over other sports in New Zealand and it is played in every school in the country. Most schools still do not have or allow rugby league as a sport.
Hard to believe, but it is true.
At my school, those of us who didn’t play union for the school on Saturday and instead played league for their club teams were singled out at Monday morning assembly and humiliated in front of the school.
Often this humiliation was followed by six of the best from a cane across your backside.
With this background, it is simply incredible observing the interest in State of Origin here in New Zealand.
Every pub is packed with patrons absolutely enthralled by the Origin action. Remember, most of these people have grown up brainwashed by the other code.
And now, enter Andrew Webster and his Warriors. Each game this year at “Go Media Stadium Mt Smart” has been an action-packed sell-out.
And the rugby fans in New Zealand are voting with their feet. I have never seen such poor crowds to watch the Super Rugby matches here in the “land of the long white cloud” – ever.
Friendly rivalry between sporting codes is always healthy, but for those of us who played rugby league in NZ from the age of five (1951), it warms our heart seeing the general public finally appreciating the difference between the two codes.
Rugby union has always looked down on the rugby league people simply because they were of the working class.
This snobbery was transported out from the “Mother Land’, and little has changed – until now – and I’m loving it!
