All Blacks rule NZ
About the article
This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from September 1999.
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Only in New Zealand would a special institute dedicated to the game of rugby draw a prime minister and a fly-past of air force jets to its opening.
Accepted as the country's national game, rugby union has icon status which for decades has propelled its players to hero roles. Its international sides are known by uncompromising names like "The Invincibles" and "The Indomitables." The All Blacks trademark black playing strip with its unique silver fern emblem and pre-match haka - an indigenous Maori war dance spark everything from admiration to fear in the hearts of opponents.
Now the New Zealand Rugby Union has taken another step ahead in world rugby by setting up a 3.2 million US dlrs Institute of Rugby to support the development of the game and its wider international recognition as a team sport.
The institute, in a building architecturally modeled round the striking silver fern image, will be used to develop playing, coaching, refereeing and management of the game. Linked to Palmerston North's Massey University campus, the institute will work alongside university groups researching issues like food nutrition, human health, sports science, physiology and exercise.
Fittingly, the first team in residence will be the 30-strong All Black squad for the Rugby World Cup, which opens with the first match in Wales on Oct. 2.
