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Most Kiwis value an active sporting lifestyle, and sport plays a vital role in defining New Zealand as a nation. Some of the more popular sports are highlighted below. Rugby Charles John Monro introduced Rugby to New Zealand in 1870, upon his return to Nelson from Christ's College in England. A game was later arranged between Nelson and Wellington, to be played on 12 September at Petone. Nelson won by two goals to one. By 1875, the game had been established all over New Zealand. In 1879, unions were formed at Canterbury and Wellington, and in 1892, The New Zealand Rugby Football Union was formed. New Zealand currently boasts 550 rugby clubs and 150,000 participants. Rugby is generally played by fifteen members on each time, in a game lasting 80 minutes (two 40-minute halves). Another version is popular, with seven players per side in a game played over two 7-minute halves. For in-depth information on the laws of gameplay, please visit the following: Rugby Guide at scrum.com Cricket References to cricket date back to the late 1600s. It began in England, but as the English empire expanded, many expatriates took the game with them to new homes. Cricket play began in 1842 in New Zealand, but the country would have to wait almost 90 years to reach Test status. Test matches are played only between national representative teams who have Test status according to the International Cricket Council. Test cricket is played over five days, with three sessions of two hours per day. New Zealand won its first Test match in 1970. How Cricket is played, from Wikipedia.com Netball Adapted from basketball, netball was originally known as "women's basketball." The name netball was adopted when women began playing basketball and men were attracted to netball. It began in Auckland in 1906, when Rev. J.C. Jamieson formed two teams with his Bible studies classes. The first official representative match was held in 1923 between Wellington and Canterbury, with Wellington winning. The New Zealand Association was formed in 1925, and the first tournament was played in Dunedin in 1926. Netball is typically played with nine players per team. The rules call for limited possession of the ball, as well as restricted movement of each position, assuring regular involvement of every player on the team. Bowls Bowls is believed to have been created by the Egyptians. The game is played by rolling slightly radially asymmetrical bowls, attempting to get them closer to a smaller white ball, the jack, than one's opponent. The bowls are biased so that they travel a curved path, with the curve increasing as speed decreases. The oldest bowling green still in operation dates back to 1299 and is in Southampton, England. Bowling was first played in Australia in 1844 and showed up in New Zealand sometime over the next 30 years. Squash Played much like racquetball but with a less-bouncy ball and on a smaller court, squash gets its name from the squashable soft ball. It began in Harrow school, in England, when players realised that the soft ball provided a greater variety of shots and required more effort on the part of the players. It was introduced to New Zealand by players who had encountered it in England, and though records are sparse, it is known that it has been played competitively since 1932. Also Popular Hocky, cycling, and golf. Additionally, New Zealand boasts 127 yacht clubs with 15,000 registered yachts. |