Some of these questions will probably be easy. That’s more down to my shameful knowledge of a sport where I’ve failed to sit through an entire match. But I could have answered ‘Jonathan Sexton’ earlier this week, simply through quiz study, so there’s hope!
Questions
The first Frenchman to win World Rugby Player of the Year was which scrum-half in 2002, going on to be manager of France in 2019 and being in charge when they won the 2022 Grand Slam and drubbed England 53-10 at Twickenham?
FABIEN GALTHIÉ
Breaking the record for most tackles in a match when he made 38 against New Zealand at the 2007 World Cup, which flanker was the second Frenchman to win World Rugby Player of the Year in 2011?
THIERRY DUSAUTOIR
A World Cup winner in 2007, which flanker was the first South African to win World Rugby Player of the Year in 2004? In 2013 he contracted life-threatening bacterial meningitis following an operation, being awarded the 2015 Laureaus award for Comeback of the Year.
SCHALK BURGER
Also a talented cricketer in his youth playing in a national U17 tournament, which New Zealander was the first Number 8 to win World Rugby Player of the Year in 2013, currently being the fourth-most capped player for the Kiwis? Less impressive is his five yellow cards, the most for his international side.
KIERAN READ
Called the ‘Guzzler’ for his relentless appetite for work, which New Zealander was the first Lock to win World Rugby Player of the Year in 2014, also being the youngest to win it to date?
BRODIE RETALLICK
Which New Zealander scored the most points in a Rugby World Cup tournament, bagging 126 in 1987? He is also father to professional golfer Ryan who has a best major finish of T16.
GRANT FOX
Which New Zealander scored the most points in a Rugby World Cup game, amassing 45 against Japan in 1995, though he only earned six caps during his career?
SIMON CULHANE
Entering the Guinness Book of World Records for crushing 24 apples with his bicep in one minute, a reference to his unwanted nickname of ‘Apples’, which Australian is third overall in the number of tries in the Rugby World Cup, one behind Jonah Lomu and Bryan Habana with 14?
DREW MITCHELL
Born in Wellington and nicknamed ‘The Bus’, which New Zealander is level with Jonah Lomu and Bryan Habana in the number of tries for one Rugby World Cup with 8, done in 2015?
JULIAN SAVEA
Only accumulating five caps, which New Zealander is the only player to score six tries in a Rugby World Cup match, doing so against Japan in 1995?
MARC ELLIS
Hopefully not a reference to something that will ever hit the city, what name does the Super Rugby team from Wellington have that Beauden Barrett played for from 2011 to 2019?
HURRICANES
New Plymouth is the major city of which region on the west coast of North Island that is named for a stratovolcano also known as Mount Egmont? Beauden Barrett has played for a team of this name in the provincial championship since 2010.
TARANAKI
Beauden Barrett played for which Japanese rugby team in 2021 that are owned by a beverage company, with a nod being made to that in the team name?
TOKYO SUNGOLIATH (SUNTORY)
Playing their home games at Loftus Versfeld, what is the name of the team from Pretoria who won the Super 14 three times in 2007, 2009 and 2010? Handré Pollard has played for them.
BULLS
Named for a company known for making tractors, for which Japanese club that are based in Funabashi, Chiba has ‘Iceman’ Bernard Foley played for?
KUBOTA SPEARS
Bernard Foley has played for which Tokyo team that are named for a colour and type of animal?
BLACK RAMS
What are South African rugby union team Transvaal now known as, strangely wearing predominantly red jerseys despite their name?
(SIGMA) GOLDEN LIONS
Playing at Ellis Park Stadium, in which city are the South African rugby union team Golden Lions based?
JOHANNESBURG
Having a name that has been preceded by sponsors Mobil and Vodacom, which team from Pretoria won the Currie Cup in 2020 and 2021?
BLUE BULLS
Named for an animal and playing in Bloemfontein, what team represent Free State in the Currie Cup?
CHEETAHS
Also known as the ‘Pride of Table Mountain’, which flower features on the emblem of the South African rugby union team called Western Province?
RED DISA or DISA UNIFLORA
Which South African rugby union team based in Kimberley have an oryx on their emblem?
GRIQUAS
South African rugby union team Pumas play in what capital of Mpumalanga province that has a population of about 110,000 and was a host city during the 2010 Football World Cup?
MBOMBELA
Who are the only country other than New Zealand, England and the United States to have reached the Women’s Rugby World Cup final, losing 21-9 to England in 2014?
CANADA
The most capped Lions player Willie McBride used what emergency call to indicate that all Lions players were to retaliate if South Africa played dirty during the 1974 tour?
CALL 99
Willie McBride played what ‘engine room’ position that forms the second row of a scrum, with these players wearing numbers 4 and 5, usually being the tallest on the team and needing good catching and tackling ability? Other hall of famers include Bill Beaumont and Martin Johnson.
LOCK
How many players are required for a scrum in rugby union?
EIGHT
Wearing number 9, which role provides the link between the forwards and the backs in a rugby union team?
SCRUM-HALF
Which role lies behind the locks at the back of the scrum, being able to pick up the ball and run with it or pass it to the scrum-half?
NUMBER 8
With Hall of Famers including Francois Pienaar and wearing the numbers 6 and 7, which position has two spaces is the back row alongside the Number 8, their job being to tackle the opposition and try to steal the ball?
FLANKER
Wearing the numbers 9 and 10 respectively, the scrum-half and fly-half are known by what two-word term?
HALF-BACKS
Wearing the number 15, which rugby union position normally positions itself several metres behind the back line?
FULL BACK
Played by Jonah Lomu and wearing numbers 11 and 14, what position’s job is usually to finish off a move and is often occupied by the fastest players on the team?
WING
Making up the number 12 and number 13 positions in a rugby union team, what position was played by Brian O’Driscoll?
CENTRE
Scoring six penalties and two conversions in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, which South African played fly-half in the 32-12 drubbing of England in Yokohama?
HANDRÉ POLLARD
South Africa’s 2019 victory in the Rugby World Cup final was at a squeaky bum 18-12 until which player scored a try in the 66th minute, the country’s first in a Rugby World Cup final as previous finals had been won without one? This was soon followed by a second from Cheslin Kolbe, making the scoreline look very one-sided.
MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI
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