About
Rugby union is played by 10 million people in 120 nations, with its greatest expression in the Rugby World Cup (held every four years since 1987). The All Blacks (New Zealand) are the sport's dominant force, winning 3 World Cups and maintaining a win rate of over 75% across 100+ years of international play. England, South Africa, and Australia have each won twice.
Rugby is particularly popular in England, France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, South Africa, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand. The Bledisloe Cup (Australia vs. New Zealand) and Six Nations Championship are annual fixtures of intense tribal competition. Rugby league, a professional offshoot born in 1895, is particularly popular in northern England and Australia.
# Top 10 Rugby World Cup facts
- 1The All Blacks perform a haka before every match — a Māori war challenge that unnerves opponents
- 2Rugby union was played in the 1900 and 1924 Olympics — the US won both
- 3they have never lost an Olympic rugby match
- 4The Rugby World Cup final regularly draws over 60 million TV viewers worldwide
Fascinating Facts
- ◆The All Blacks perform a haka before every match — a Māori war challenge that unnerves opponents
- ◆Rugby union was played in the 1900 and 1924 Olympics — the US won both; they have never lost an Olympic rugby match
- ◆The Rugby World Cup final regularly draws over 60 million TV viewers worldwide
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