Skip to content
Insporta Book
en
EnglishРусскийDeutschEspañolEestiSuomiItalianoFrançaisPolski日本語한국어中文
FootballCricketFutsalTriathlonTennisGolfFigure SkatingBasketballVolleyballRugbyBaseballBadmintonMethodologyWhy it worksTake a test

Rugby · Interesting Facts

Chapter 7: Geography & Culture

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown

Rugby around the world and in its cultures: anthems and songs, the haka's story, emblems, rugby in Japan and France, rugby words in English and French, Romania, Madagascar and the moments before kick-off.

7.71Anthems and Songs

The songs that fill rugby grounds, and where they came from.

Test 1Anthems and songsTake a test

  1. It was written so players from both sides of the border could sing one song.

    Source: IRFU on 'Ireland's Call' (1995); Scottish Rugby on 'Flower of Scotland'; RFU and the World Rugby Museum on 'Swing Low'; WRU on the anthem in 1905 · recall

  2. It was first heard at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.

    Source: IRFU on 'Ireland's Call' (1995); Scottish Rugby on 'Flower of Scotland'; RFU and the World Rugby Museum on 'Swing Low'; WRU on the anthem in 1905 · recall

  3. Roy Williamson wrote it in the 1960s.

    Source: IRFU on 'Ireland's Call' (1995); Scottish Rugby on 'Flower of Scotland'; RFU and the World Rugby Museum on 'Swing Low'; WRU on the anthem in 1905 · recall

  4. Scotland won 13-7 at Murrayfield.

    Source: IRFU on 'Ireland's Call' (1995); Scottish Rugby on 'Flower of Scotland'; RFU and the World Rugby Museum on 'Swing Low'; WRU on the anthem in 1905 · recall

  5. Fans sang it as Chris Oti scored a hat-trick.

    Source: IRFU on 'Ireland's Call' (1995); Scottish Rugby on 'Flower of Scotland'; RFU and the World Rugby Museum on 'Swing Low'; WRU on the anthem in 1905 · recall

  6. 'Land of My Fathers' was written in Pontypridd in 1856.

    Source: IRFU on 'Ireland's Call' (1995); Scottish Rugby on 'Flower of Scotland'; RFU and the World Rugby Museum on 'Swing Low'; WRU on the anthem in 1905 · recall

  7. A ballad set during the Irish famine.

    Source: IRFU on 'Ireland's Call' (1995); Scottish Rugby on 'Flower of Scotland'; RFU and the World Rugby Museum on 'Swing Low'; WRU on the anthem in 1905 · recall

  8. 1905, 1988, 1990 and 1995.

    Source: IRFU on 'Ireland's Call' (1995); Scottish Rugby on 'Flower of Scotland'; RFU and the World Rugby Museum on 'Swing Low'; WRU on the anthem in 1905 · recall

  9. 1856, the 1960s, 1979 and 1995.

    Source: IRFU on 'Ireland's Call' (1995); Scottish Rugby on 'Flower of Scotland'; RFU and the World Rugby Museum on 'Swing Low'; WRU on the anthem in 1905 · recall

  10. Oti scored three tries against Ireland that day.

    Source: IRFU on 'Ireland's Call' (1995); Scottish Rugby on 'Flower of Scotland'; RFU and the World Rugby Museum on 'Swing Low'; WRU on the anthem in 1905 · applied

7.72The Haka's Story

A chief in a food pit, a new haka in Dunedin and a law that names its author.

Test 1The haka's storyTake a test

  1. He composed it in the early 1820s.

    Source: New Zealand Rugby, 'The haka' (allblacks.com); Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 (legislation.govt.nz); Ngāti Toa Rangatira · recall

  2. He emerged into the sunlight, alive.

    Source: New Zealand Rugby, 'The haka' (allblacks.com); Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 (legislation.govt.nz); Ngāti Toa Rangatira · recall

  3. The words follow Te Rauparaha's escape from death.

    Source: New Zealand Rugby, 'The haka' (allblacks.com); Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 (legislation.govt.nz); Ngāti Toa Rangatira · recall

  4. It was first performed against South Africa in Dunedin.

    Source: New Zealand Rugby, 'The haka' (allblacks.com); Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 (legislation.govt.nz); Ngāti Toa Rangatira · recall

  5. In a Tri Nations match at Carisbrook.

    Source: New Zealand Rugby, 'The haka' (allblacks.com); Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 (legislation.govt.nz); Ngāti Toa Rangatira · recall

  6. It requires that the haka be credited to Te Rauparaha.

    Source: New Zealand Rugby, 'The haka' (allblacks.com); Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 (legislation.govt.nz); Ngāti Toa Rangatira · recall

  7. The standoff in Cardiff lasted well past the usual time.

    Source: New Zealand Rugby, 'The haka' (allblacks.com); Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 (legislation.govt.nz); Ngāti Toa Rangatira · recall

  8. The 1820s, 1888, 2005 and 2014.

    Source: New Zealand Rugby, 'The haka' (allblacks.com); Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 (legislation.govt.nz); Ngāti Toa Rangatira · recall

  9. 1905, 2008 and 2011.

    Source: New Zealand Rugby, 'The haka' (allblacks.com); Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 (legislation.govt.nz); Ngāti Toa Rangatira · recall

  10. They advanced past halfway and were fined.

    Source: New Zealand Rugby, 'The haka' (allblacks.com); Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 (legislation.govt.nz); Ngāti Toa Rangatira · applied

7.73Emblems on the Shirt

A rose, a thistle, a shamrock, feathers and a fern.

Test 1Emblems on the shirtTake a test

  1. England have worn the rose since the first international.

    Source: The unions' own crest histories (RFU, Scottish Rugby, IRFU, WRU, FFR, New Zealand Rugby, JRFU, Rugby Canada, Fiji Rugby) · recall

  2. The thistle is Scotland's national flower.

    Source: The unions' own crest histories (RFU, Scottish Rugby, IRFU, WRU, FFR, New Zealand Rugby, JRFU, Rugby Canada, Fiji Rugby) · recall

  3. The Prince of Wales's feathers.

    Source: The unions' own crest histories (RFU, Scottish Rugby, IRFU, WRU, FFR, New Zealand Rugby, JRFU, Rugby Canada, Fiji Rugby) · recall

  4. The IRFU took the shamrock as its crest.

    Source: The unions' own crest histories (RFU, Scottish Rugby, IRFU, WRU, FFR, New Zealand Rugby, JRFU, Rugby Canada, Fiji Rugby) · recall

  5. The Gallic rooster, le coq.

    Source: The unions' own crest histories (RFU, Scottish Rugby, IRFU, WRU, FFR, New Zealand Rugby, JRFU, Rugby Canada, Fiji Rugby) · recall

  6. The sakura gives the team its nickname too.

    Source: The unions' own crest histories (RFU, Scottish Rugby, IRFU, WRU, FFR, New Zealand Rugby, JRFU, Rugby Canada, Fiji Rugby) · recall

  7. A palm on the badge of the Flying Fijians.

    Source: The unions' own crest histories (RFU, Scottish Rugby, IRFU, WRU, FFR, New Zealand Rugby, JRFU, Rugby Canada, Fiji Rugby) · recall

  8. 1871, 1875, 1881, 1903 and 1906.

    Source: The unions' own crest histories (RFU, Scottish Rugby, IRFU, WRU, FFR, New Zealand Rugby, JRFU, Rugby Canada, Fiji Rugby) · recall

  9. The shamrock, the feathers, the rose and the cockerel.

    Source: The unions' own crest histories (RFU, Scottish Rugby, IRFU, WRU, FFR, New Zealand Rugby, JRFU, Rugby Canada, Fiji Rugby) · recall

  10. New Zealand's emblem since the 1880s.

    Source: The unions' own crest histories (RFU, Scottish Rugby, IRFU, WRU, FFR, New Zealand Rugby, JRFU, Rugby Canada, Fiji Rugby) · applied

7.74Rugby in Japan

Company teams, a high school stadium, a tsunami town and a buzzword.

Test 1Rugby in JapanTake a test

  1. It summed up a squad drawn from many backgrounds.

    Source: Japan Rugby Football Union; Jiyu Kokuminsha 'Buzzword of the Year' 2019; Kamaishi City on the Recovery Memorial Stadium; Hanazono Rugby Stadium · recall

  2. The Recovery Memorial Stadium stands where schools were destroyed.

    Source: Japan Rugby Football Union; Jiyu Kokuminsha 'Buzzword of the Year' 2019; Kamaishi City on the Recovery Memorial Stadium; Hanazono Rugby Stadium · recall

  3. Nippon Steel Kamaishi won from 1979 to 1985.

    Source: Japan Rugby Football Union; Jiyu Kokuminsha 'Buzzword of the Year' 2019; Kamaishi City on the Recovery Memorial Stadium; Hanazono Rugby Stadium · recall

  4. Kobe Steel won from 1989 to 1995.

    Source: Japan Rugby Football Union; Jiyu Kokuminsha 'Buzzword of the Year' 2019; Kamaishi City on the Recovery Memorial Stadium; Hanazono Rugby Stadium · recall

  5. Like Koshien for baseball, Hanazono is every schoolboy's dream.

    Source: Japan Rugby Football Union; Jiyu Kokuminsha 'Buzzword of the Year' 2019; Kamaishi City on the Recovery Memorial Stadium; Hanazono Rugby Stadium · recall

  6. Ireland were ranked second in the world at the time.

    Source: Japan Rugby Football Union; Jiyu Kokuminsha 'Buzzword of the Year' 2019; Kamaishi City on the Recovery Memorial Stadium; Hanazono Rugby Stadium · recall

  7. He moved to Japan as a schoolboy.

    Source: Japan Rugby Football Union; Jiyu Kokuminsha 'Buzzword of the Year' 2019; Kamaishi City on the Recovery Memorial Stadium; Hanazono Rugby Stadium · recall

  8. 1985, 1989, 2011 and 2019.

    Source: Japan Rugby Football Union; Jiyu Kokuminsha 'Buzzword of the Year' 2019; Kamaishi City on the Recovery Memorial Stadium; Hanazono Rugby Stadium · recall

  9. Four wins from four, then the quarter-finals.

    Source: Japan Rugby Football Union; Jiyu Kokuminsha 'Buzzword of the Year' 2019; Kamaishi City on the Recovery Memorial Stadium; Hanazono Rugby Stadium · recall

  10. Two schools were destroyed by the tsunami.

    Source: Japan Rugby Football Union; Jiyu Kokuminsha 'Buzzword of the Year' 2019; Kamaishi City on the Recovery Memorial Stadium; Hanazono Rugby Stadium · applied

7.75French Rugby Culture

The third half, the bandas, a famous newspaper and a code that was banned.

Test 1French rugby cultureTake a test

  1. La troisième mi-temps.

    Source: FFR and LNR histories; Midi Olympique (midi-olympique.fr); French Rugby League Federation on the 1941 ban · recall

  2. Basque and Landes brass bands play through the match.

    Source: FFR and LNR histories; Midi Olympique (midi-olympique.fr); French Rugby League Federation on the 1941 ban · recall

  3. French players call it 'Midol'.

    Source: FFR and LNR histories; Midi Olympique (midi-olympique.fr); French Rugby League Federation on the 1941 ban · recall

  4. It is one of the world's oldest rugby newspapers.

    Source: FFR and LNR histories; Midi Olympique (midi-olympique.fr); French Rugby League Federation on the 1941 ban · recall

  5. League clubs had their grounds and money taken.

    Source: FFR and LNR histories; Midi Olympique (midi-olympique.fr); French Rugby League Federation on the 1941 ban · recall

  6. From the oval shape of the ball.

    Source: FFR and LNR histories; Midi Olympique (midi-olympique.fr); French Rugby League Federation on the 1941 ban · recall

  7. Small towns in the south built their identity around their clubs.

    Source: FFR and LNR histories; Midi Olympique (midi-olympique.fr); French Rugby League Federation on the 1941 ban · recall

  8. 1892, 1929 and 1941.

    Source: FFR and LNR histories; Midi Olympique (midi-olympique.fr); French Rugby League Federation on the 1941 ban · recall

  9. Music, the match, then the party.

    Source: FFR and LNR histories; Midi Olympique (midi-olympique.fr); French Rugby League Federation on the 1941 ban · recall

  10. Basque country and the Landes above all.

    Source: FFR and LNR histories; Midi Olympique (midi-olympique.fr); French Rugby League Federation on the 1941 ban · applied

7.76Rugby Words in English

Hospital passes, garryowens and media scrums.

Test 1Rugby words in EnglishTake a test

  1. In ordinary speech it means handing someone a doomed task.

    Source: Oxford English Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary entries for rugby terms; Garryowen FC history (Limerick) · recall

  2. Garryowen FC made the kick famous.

    Source: Oxford English Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary entries for rugby terms; Garryowen FC history (Limerick) · recall

  3. Both mean a high kick for the chasers.

    Source: Oxford English Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary entries for rugby terms; Garryowen FC history (Limerick) · recall

  4. Oxford slang added '-er' to words, as in 'brekker' for breakfast.

    Source: Oxford English Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary entries for rugby terms; Garryowen FC history (Limerick) · recall

  5. Scrummage itself comes from 'skirmish'.

    Source: Oxford English Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary entries for rugby terms; Garryowen FC history (Limerick) · recall

  6. Borrowed from the tight pack of the rugby scrum.

    Source: Oxford English Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary entries for rugby terms; Garryowen FC history (Limerick) · recall

  7. The '-ers' ending again, as in rugger.

    Source: Oxford English Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary entries for rugby terms; Garryowen FC history (Limerick) · recall

  8. Skirmish gave scrimmage and scrummage, which was shortened to scrum.

    Source: Oxford English Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary entries for rugby terms; Garryowen FC history (Limerick) · recall

  9. Kick, chase, contest.

    Source: Oxford English Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary entries for rugby terms; Garryowen FC history (Limerick) · recall

  10. The pack of reporters looks like a scrum.

    Source: Oxford English Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary entries for rugby terms; Garryowen FC history (Limerick) · applied

7.77Rugby in Romania

Army and police clubs, a captain lost in a revolution and a famous win in Cardiff.

Test 1Rugby in RomaniaTake a test

  1. He was an army officer, shot at a roadblock.

    Source: Romanian Rugby Federation history; Irish Post, 'The rise and ruin of Romania'; World Rugby ruling on 2019 qualification (2018); IOC results, Paris 1924 · recall

  2. Many players of the era served in the army or police.

    Source: Romanian Rugby Federation history; Irish Post, 'The rise and ruin of Romania'; World Rugby ruling on 2019 qualification (2018); IOC results, Paris 1924 · recall

  3. Murariu led them that day.

    Source: Romanian Rugby Federation history; Irish Post, 'The rise and ruin of Romania'; World Rugby ruling on 2019 qualification (2018); IOC results, Paris 1924 · recall

  4. The memorial stands at the Steaua sports complex.

    Source: Romanian Rugby Federation history; Irish Post, 'The rise and ruin of Romania'; World Rugby ruling on 2019 qualification (2018); IOC results, Paris 1924 · recall

  5. Steaua and Dinamo were the great rivals.

    Source: Romanian Rugby Federation history; Irish Post, 'The rise and ruin of Romania'; World Rugby ruling on 2019 qualification (2018); IOC results, Paris 1924 · recall

  6. France, the United States and Romania.

    Source: Romanian Rugby Federation history; Irish Post, 'The rise and ruin of Romania'; World Rugby ruling on 2019 qualification (2018); IOC results, Paris 1924 · recall

  7. Russia took Romania's place in Japan.

    Source: Romanian Rugby Federation history; Irish Post, 'The rise and ruin of Romania'; World Rugby ruling on 2019 qualification (2018); IOC results, Paris 1924 · recall

  8. 1924, 1988, 1989 and 2018.

    Source: Romanian Rugby Federation history; Irish Post, 'The rise and ruin of Romania'; World Rugby ruling on 2019 qualification (2018); IOC results, Paris 1924 · recall

  9. The United States won the final against France.

    Source: Romanian Rugby Federation history; Irish Post, 'The rise and ruin of Romania'; World Rugby ruling on 2019 qualification (2018); IOC results, Paris 1924 · recall

  10. Both were killed in the revolution of 1989.

    Source: Romanian Rugby Federation history; Irish Post, 'The rise and ruin of Romania'; World Rugby ruling on 2019 qualification (2018); IOC results, Paris 1924 · applied

7.78Rugby in French

Essai, mêlée, en-avant: the game in the language of its second home.

Test 1Rugby in FrenchTake a test

  1. Essai means 'attempt', just like the English 'try'.

    Source: FFR glossary of rugby terms; Larousse dictionary entries · recall

  2. 'Mêlée' means a jumble or a melee.

    Source: FFR glossary of rugby terms; Larousse dictionary entries · recall

  3. Literally 'a forward'.

    Source: FFR glossary of rugby terms; Larousse dictionary entries · recall

  4. The same word as for touch.

    Source: FFR glossary of rugby terms; Larousse dictionary entries · recall

  5. The hooker heels the ball back in the scrum.

    Source: FFR glossary of rugby terms; Larousse dictionary entries · recall

  6. 'Pilier' means a pillar.

    Source: FFR glossary of rugby terms; Larousse dictionary entries · recall

  7. 'Chandelle' means a candle.

    Source: FFR glossary of rugby terms; Larousse dictionary entries · recall

  8. Prop, hooker, scrum-half, full-back.

    Source: FFR glossary of rugby terms; Larousse dictionary entries · recall

  9. The scrum, a pass, and a try.

    Source: FFR glossary of rugby terms; Larousse dictionary entries · recall

  10. The 'half of the scrum'.

    Source: FFR glossary of rugby terms; Larousse dictionary entries · applied

7.79Madagascar's Makis

An island team named after a lemur, and a 40,000 crowd in Antananarivo.

Test 1Madagascar's MakisTake a test

  1. The Malagasy word for the island's famous lemur.

    Source: Malagasy Rugby Federation; Rugby Africa results, 2012 Africa Cup Division 1B (Antananarivo); Global Voices, July 2012 · recall

  2. The capital of Madagascar.

    Source: Malagasy Rugby Federation; Rugby Africa results, 2012 Africa Cup Division 1B (Antananarivo); Global Voices, July 2012 · recall

  3. A remarkable high-scoring final.

    Source: Malagasy Rugby Federation; Rugby Africa results, 2012 Africa Cup Division 1B (Antananarivo); Global Voices, July 2012 · recall

  4. The official estimate for the final.

    Source: Malagasy Rugby Federation; Rugby Africa results, 2012 Africa Cup Division 1B (Antananarivo); Global Voices, July 2012 · recall

  5. Their run lifted the game's profile at home.

    Source: Malagasy Rugby Federation; Rugby Africa results, 2012 Africa Cup Division 1B (Antananarivo); Global Voices, July 2012 · recall

  6. Off the south-east coast of Africa.

    Source: Malagasy Rugby Federation; Rugby Africa results, 2012 Africa Cup Division 1B (Antananarivo); Global Voices, July 2012 · recall

  7. French rugby shaped the game on the island.

    Source: Malagasy Rugby Federation; Rugby Africa results, 2012 Africa Cup Division 1B (Antananarivo); Global Voices, July 2012 · recall

  8. 2005, then July 2012, then the final.

    Source: Malagasy Rugby Federation; Rugby Africa results, 2012 Africa Cup Division 1B (Antananarivo); Global Voices, July 2012 · recall

  9. From the Mediterranean to the Cape.

    Source: Malagasy Rugby Federation; Rugby Africa results, 2012 Africa Cup Division 1B (Antananarivo); Global Voices, July 2012 · recall

  10. Madagascar beat Namibia.

    Source: Malagasy Rugby Federation; Rugby Africa results, 2012 Africa Cup Division 1B (Antananarivo); Global Voices, July 2012 · applied

7.80Before the Kick-Off

Anthems, war dances and walks from the tunnel: what happens before the whistle.

Test 1Before the kick-offTake a test

  1. Italy's national anthem.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby and New Zealand Rugby on national anthems and the haka; WRU and Scottish Rugby histories · recall

  2. Written in 1792.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby and New Zealand Rugby on national anthems and the haka; WRU and Scottish Rugby histories · recall

  3. God Defend New Zealand is sung in Māori and then English.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby and New Zealand Rugby on national anthems and the haka; WRU and Scottish Rugby histories · recall

  4. Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans and English.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby and New Zealand Rugby on national anthems and the haka; WRU and Scottish Rugby histories · recall

  5. The anthem of the Republic of Ireland.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby and New Zealand Rugby on national anthems and the haka; WRU and Scottish Rugby histories · recall

  6. An old 31-syllable Japanese poem.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby and New Zealand Rugby on national anthems and the haka; WRU and Scottish Rugby histories · recall

  7. It was meant to unite the four nations, with mixed success.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby and New Zealand Rugby on national anthems and the haka; WRU and Scottish Rugby histories · recall

  8. Out, anthems, haka, then the whistle.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby and New Zealand Rugby on national anthems and the haka; WRU and Scottish Rugby histories · recall

  9. 1792, 1856, 1876 and 2005.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby and New Zealand Rugby on national anthems and the haka; WRU and Scottish Rugby histories · recall

  10. Amhrán na bhFiann and Ireland's Call.

    Source: Six Nations Rugby and New Zealand Rugby on national anthems and the haka; WRU and Scottish Rugby histories · applied

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: World Rugby and its Hall of Fame and records, the World Rugby Museum at Twickenham, the unions' own histories (RFU, WRU, SRU, IRFU, FFR, NZR, SA Rugby, Rugby Australia), Rugby School, the clubs' and competitions' own histories, the IOC, Guinness World Records and named reputable media.

  • IRFU on 'Ireland's Call' (1995); Scottish Rugby on 'Flower of Scotland'; RFU and the World Rugby Museum on 'Swing Low'; WRU on the anthem in 190510
  • New Zealand Rugby, 'The haka' (allblacks.com); Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act 2014 (legislation.govt.nz); Ngāti Toa Rangatira10
  • The unions' own crest histories (RFU, Scottish Rugby, IRFU, WRU, FFR, New Zealand Rugby, JRFU, Rugby Canada, Fiji Rugby)10
  • Japan Rugby Football Union; Jiyu Kokuminsha 'Buzzword of the Year' 2019; Kamaishi City on the Recovery Memorial Stadium; Hanazono Rugby Stadium10
  • FFR and LNR histories; Midi Olympique (midi-olympique.fr); French Rugby League Federation on the 1941 ban10
  • Oxford English Dictionary and Collins English Dictionary entries for rugby terms; Garryowen FC history (Limerick)10
  • Romanian Rugby Federation history; Irish Post, 'The rise and ruin of Romania'; World Rugby ruling on 2019 qualification (2018); IOC results, Paris 192410
  • FFR glossary of rugby terms; Larousse dictionary entries10
  • Malagasy Rugby Federation; Rugby Africa results, 2012 Africa Cup Division 1B (Antananarivo); Global Voices, July 201210
  • Six Nations Rugby and New Zealand Rugby on national anthems and the haka; WRU and Scottish Rugby histories10