READ THE BELOW BLOG POST ABOUT RUGBY AND TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING BY ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS AT THE END.
Once every four years, fans of one of the biggest sports in the English speaking world come together to watch a magnificent spectacle. The stadiums and pubs are packed with fans from all corners of the Earth including France, England and Argentina. You might be thinking that this sounds a lot like football but believe me, this is a whole new ball game, this is rugby.
Invented in the south of England in the 1800s, rugby has grown rapidly and gained a devoted and loyal following across the world. Today, rugby is considered one of the national sports of England, Australia, New Zealand, Wales, Ireland and South Africa. The sport is also growing in other countries such as Japan and Argentina.
Rugby requires the strength of an ox and the wits of a wolf, it is the perfect combination of strategy and physical prowess. On the pitch, teams of 15 players aim to carry an oval shaped ball across the opponent’s goal line to score what is known as a try. Getting there is no easy task, once a player catches the ball, they must evade bone crushing tackles and weave through a dynamic field of players eager to deny you the chance to score points for your team. With no forward passes allowed, lateral thinking and teamwork are the key qualities that define a winning team.
This year’s tournament has been held in France and has already had its fair share of nail biting matches and dramatic showdowns. Of the 20 teams that went into this world cup, only 4 remain: England, South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina. This weekend and next will be marked by 3 more high-adrenaline and gripping battles to determine which nation will reign supreme in this year’s instalment of the Rugby World Cup!
Now to test your understanding of the above blog posts.
- What event takes place once every four years, bringing fans from various parts of the world together to watch a spectacular sport?
- Where was rugby invented, and which countries are mentioned as having a strong presence and following in the sport today?
- What are the two essential qualities mentioned that rugby players need, and what is the primary objective of the game on the pitch?
- Why is lateral thinking and teamwork emphasised as crucial in rugby, and why are forward passes not allowed?
- Which four nations have advanced to the later stages of this year’s Rugby World Cup, and what awaits them in the upcoming weekends according to the text?