New Zealand Rugby

The New Zealand rugby union team represent New Zealand at international level in rugby union. They are far better known by their nickname the All Blacks because the players are dressed entirely in black (the players are sometimes referred to as Men in Black). Rugby union is New Zealand’s national sport and the All Blacks are the best team in the world.

Each year the All Blacks compete at the Tri-Nations tournament against Australia and South Africa. They compete regularly against the best teams in Europe and take part in the World Championships held every four years.

The World Cup 2011 will take place in New Zealand. With the integration of Maori in the New Zealand Rugby Union, the Anglo dominated society played an important role. Before each of their games the All Blacks do a traditional Haka (ritual dance of the Maori) in order to intimidate the opposing team and to motivate themselves.

Organisation

Responsible for providing the venue at all stages is the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU). Apart from the actual national team, the NZRFU further selects teams. The most talented young people, who are still school age, form the NZ Schools team.

The two other stages on the way to the cadres of the All Blacks are the national teams the Junior U-19’s and U-21’s. In addition according to age, there are some teams that are prepared in accordance with specific criteria. The Junior All Blacks, despite their name aren’t a junior national team.

National level clubs play only a local or regional role. Of much greater importance are the 26 regional associations (17 in the North Island and 9 in the South Island), which each represent a selection of professional league teams in the Air New Zealand Cup or in the amateur Heartland Championship.

The national championship is the parent together with teams from Australia and South Africa discharged from the International Championship Super 14. As the seasons overlap, there are numerous players which are used in both leagues.

The statutes of the NZRFU require that players in New Zealand team play in the Air New Zealand Cup and/or have to stand in the Super 14 under contract if they want to belong to the cadre of the All Blacks. If a player is committed abroad, they are not automatically eligible to play for the national team.

As the other major rugby nations do not know these rules, it has meant that the top players spend a few years in New Zealand first and then declare their resignation from the national team to play at the most financially strong clubs in the English Guinness Premiership and French Top 14.