You’re not alone if you’re already buzzing with excitement for the Rugby World Cup 2015 – it’s bound to be the biggest sporting event in Western Europe since the London Olympics 3 years ago. England hasn’t been hosting the tournament in 23 years, and over 20 nations will travel to our shores to enjoy 44 days of scrambling scrums and triumphant tries. Reason enough to introduce you to a few exciting facts and brilliant rugby fan designs to your Spreadshirt Partner Shop.
Here’s a selection of fun 6 rugby facts and witty T-shirt designs to help you get in the mood for the big event. And for those running a Spreadshirt Shop, it’s a great source of inspiration to promote your Shop with the event.
1823 to 1987 – 164 years without a World Cup
Rugby was invented by William Webb Ellis in 1823. The chap from Rugy (Warwickshire) caught the ball while playing football and ran to the goal with it. People thought he did a brilliant job, and a new sport was born. Now 20 countries play in the Rugby World Cup to win the Webb Ellis Trophy.
Round Balls and Pigs’ Bladders
Rugby balls have not always been plum-shaped. In the beginning, the game was played with round balls before people started using pigs’ bladders that were blown up to be used as rugby balls. A man employed by Rugby School even died from blowing up diseased bladders in the 19th century. Today, the balls are slightly more egg-shaped than the even more spherical American footballs.
A Game for the Masses
Next to the entire population of Wales (3 million), there are about 9 million rugby enthusiasts in England alone. Some 400,000 visitors are expected to come to England from all over the world, and 2.8 million match tickets will be worth more than a pebble without imperfections when the hookers makes the scrum a weapon. It definitely is a sport to put your passion for your nation on display.
New Zealand the Team to Beat
Seeing 15 huge grimfaced guys performing the haka may put the fear of the lord into you. Those guys come from a country where people live, eat and breathe rugby, so it’s hardly surprising to see the All Blacks as favourites this year as well. The defending champions have made 6 out of 7 semi finals so far, won the tournament twice and were runners up once – stats outstripping any other team.
Rugby – A Gentleman’s Game
As the old quote goes, football is a gentlemen’s game played by thugs, and rugby is a thugs’ game played by gentlemen. There is no hooliganism amongst fans, and the sport itself is played without diving, cheating or other shenanigans that the overpaid soccer divas of our day and age get up to. That’s why you can take pride in your sport, and we think there’s no better place than a T-shirt to express your passion.
Kick it like Johnny
Six world cups have been played so far, and a mere 6 tries were scored in all finals combined. No captain, coach or team has ever won consecutive world cup titles since it was instituted in 1987, but England’s Jonny Wilkinson holds the record for the most overall penalty goals kicked at the Rugby World Cup – he scored a total of 58 penalties. His 15 points in 2003 and another 6 points in 2007 make Jonny the only player to put his name on the scoring sheet in two Rugby World Cup finals.
For all our rugby loving partners out there: Are we missing something important? Let these fun facts inspire you, and create some cool rugby designs. Don’t miss out on the extra sales driven by this huge event!
Country t-shirts are always big sellers during tournaments, so think about flags, colours and supporting your home team!
