New Plymouth

A couple of weeks ago we attended our first ruby match in New Zealand, Taranaki versus Auckland.  Rugby is without a doubt the most important sport for the Kiwis and The All Blacks, the national team, are generally regarded as the worlds best.  We are fortunate to be in New Zealand for the upcoming World Cup of Ruby which starts next month.  The country is excited to be hosting the 4th largest world sporting event after the winter and summer olympics and the soccer world cup.  There is also an element of nervousness as there has never before been quite this much scrutiny of the kiwis and the recent earthquakes in Christchurch destroyed one of the main stadiums that was to be used.  As a nation though New Zealand is very practical and resourceful with everyone seeming willing to do what is necessary to put on a good show.  

We are also fortunate to be living in one of the host cities for the world cup.  The US plays Ireland on september 11th and Russia on the 15th and Wales plays Namibia on the 26th.  Yarrow Stadium where the matches are to be played and is the home field for Taranaki was even ranked by Rugby World Magazine as the 3rd best rugby venue worldwide behind only Cardif in Wales and Suncorp in Brisbane. One of the other ED docs here is the team physician and he generously gave us 5 prime seats for the game against Auckland and we all had a great time.  It really is a great venue with seats close to the action and a rowdy but knowledgeable crowd.  Taranaki plays in the ITM cup and the players really are semi pro with many of them needing to hold down other jobs, the term "for love not money" applies to most of them.  Top players from the ITM cup will also play in the Super Fifteen league which has five teams each form NZ, Australia and South Africa.  The top players here will usually be the ones playing on the national teams.   My first week working here I took care of one of the players from Wellington when they played Taranaki.  He had an open dislocation of one of his fingers but more importantly he was one of the players selected to the All Blacks world cup team.  I had never heard of him but everyone working in the ED was a little excited.  I figured with his world cup status on the line and me just having acquired my Work visas and medical license in New Zealand and fearing deportment I would do what was safest for both of us. I called the orthopedic surgeon.  I am happy to say that even though the papers the next day reported that the player had suffered a devastating season ending injury, two weeks later he played and scored 2 tries for The All Blacks in a game against South Africa.

Auckland was billed as the superior team and the game was tied at halftime before Taranaki turned on the jets in the second half scoring several long magnificent tries (touchdowns) and routed the visitors.  As a spectator rugby is a nice game to attend as the action rarely stops and a full game lasts about an hour and a half as opposed to the 3 to 4 hour slog of an american football game.

The kids enjoyed the game though I think Owen and Skyler got more of a kick rolling down the hill by the endzone for the entire second half.  Owen will likely get a chance to play on a rugby team down here though that season doesn't start till fall (March here)

Cheers from Oakura