I've never really gotten into rugby, but perhaps that will change one day. Are the New Zealand All-Blacks still the top team in the world?
Within Ireland, I think it's popular in the province of Munster, less so in say Dublin.
New Zealand are still top of the world rankings although South Africa are a close second. Australia are having a bit of a resurgence too after years of mis-management under the dire Michael Cheika, a man whose ability to blame everything that went wrong on everything and everybody but himself is surpassed only by Boris Johnson on top form.
Argentina now has a rapidly improving international team... or at least, one that has learned the value of backs and therefore has more to offer than just 8 very large forwards who have perfected the art of being able to push at the same time.
Japan were a delight during the last world cup, playing with sheer joy, cheered on by rapturous crowds revelling in the global spotlight and playing with a level of freedom and flair that it seemed until then had been lost to the game.
Rugby union is a wonderful sport. I've been brought up with it from as far back as I can remember. My father used to play for Blackheath, the first club in the world to go "open" back in 1858. He used to take me along to matches at the Rectory Field when he was playing. The boys in the team used to rib him when we arrived. "Bought your fan club with you again, Kenny..?" I learned rugby club behaviour young and very quickly learned that, at 8 years old, my mental age probably exceeded that of most of the players in their post match socials.
Living in Cornwall now, I've fitted right in with the rugby culture at our local club. I love it.
Cornish rugby has a fine tradition of cocking a snook at HQ in Twickenham and even at Westminster. When Australia played a tour match against a Cornish XI in 1908, it was billed here as an "international test match". The Australia Rugby Union played along by awarding full international caps for the match.
Oooooooooooo.... did Westminster not like that.
I tend to get a bit overexcited with my love of the game so please forgive me if I get a little carried away sometimes.... especially with a British and Irish Lions tour scheduled for later in the year.
Oh, and Munster were a very good team not so long ago. I saw them play at The Stoop (Harlequins) when they were in their pomp and carrying Europe before them. Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer...... and Paul O'Connell skippering that great team. Marvellous team to watch.....
Happy days...
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