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Rugby was created in England, but is today played in large number of countries around the world. The countries where it is most popular and where it is played with a passion are former British colonies. An exception here is Canada. I'm not sure why rugby did not become popular in Canada, perhaps it was the American influence. Of course New Zealand is the country where it is most popular. New Zealand is one of the few countries where rugby is more popular than football (soccer). Even in England football is much more popular than rugby. Rugby is also popular in Australia and South Africa. Rugby has not been enthusiastically adopted in all former English colonies. We notice that in the Caribbean, crucket is quite popular, but rugby is not a very important sport. In most other countries like the United States and France, rugby is played bu a small group of enthusiastic amateurs, but is not commonly played by most boys. Rugby is played at some private schools and universities in America as well as a few urban sports leagues. An English reader writes, "I had to play Rugby at my school and didn't really like it but as others did I took a sort of interest in it and still do."
Rugby is also popular in Australia. There it competes not only with foot, but with Australian rules football.
The countries where it is most popular and where it is played with a passion are former British colonies. An exception here is Canada. I'm not sure why rugby did not become popular in Canada, perhaps it was the American influence.
Rugby has not been enthusiastically adopted in all former English colonies. We notice that in the Caribbean, cricket is quite popular, but rugby is not a very important sport.
Rugby was created in England, but is today played in large number of countries around the world. Football (soccer) was also created in England. Many private schools in England even into the 1950s did not allow boys to play football becase it was considered a working class sport. Rugby was the preminent public (private secondary) school sport. We note Eton boys playing Rugby in 1980. Now the English private schools play both football and rugby, but most still give greater emphasis to rugby. But as in most of the rest of the world, football in England is much more popular than rugby. An English reader writes, "I had to play Rugby at my school and didn't really like it but as others did I took a sort of interest in it and still do."
There are also a few enthusiastic players in France.
Of course New Zealand is the country where it is most popular. New Zealand is one of the few countries where rugby is more popular than football (soccer).
Rugby is also popular in South Africa.
In most other countries like the United States rugby is played by a small group of enthusiastic amateurs, but is not commonly played by most boys. Rugby is played at some private schools and universities in America as well as a few urban sports leagues.
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