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Rugby union in New Zealand | |
---|---|
Country | New Zealand |
Governing body | NZR |
National team(s) | New Zealand |
Nickname(s) | All Blacks |
First played | 1870, Nelson |
Registered players | 146,893 (total)[1] 28,648 (adults) |
Clubs | ~500[2] |
Club competitions | |
International competitions | |
Rugby union has been played in New Zealand since 1870 and is the most popular sport in the country as well as being its national sport.[3]
The men's national team, the All Blacks, is currently ranked No. 2 in the world.[4] The country co-hosted and won the first ever Rugby World Cup in 1987, and hosted and won the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The men have won three World Cups (1987, 2011, 2015), the second most of any country after South Africa.
New Zealand are the current World Champions for Women's rugby union and were rugby sevens finalists for men and women.
The top domestic club competitions are the professional National Provincial Championship and amateur Heartland Championship, and above them the transnational Super Rugby, in which New Zealand has five out of 12 franchises.