I have some questions to my friends, New Zealanders.
1) Why football became the third popular sport? Especially as you arrival before the World Cup!
2) Does the rugby team won the World Cup before?
3) Is there a collective games such as basketball, volleyball and handball? If there have been fierce competitions internationally?
4) Who is financing the local football clubs?
5) Why does not the Government provide support to the public that tickets are free?
6) Is there a sports TV channels can pick up its signal by Hotbird satellite?
1) Why football became the third popular sport? Especially as you arrival before the World Cup!
2) Does the rugby team won the World Cup before?
3) Is there a collective games such as basketball, volleyball and handball? If there have been fierce competitions internationally?
4) Who is financing the local football clubs?
5) Why does not the Government provide support to the public that tickets are free?
6) Is there a sports TV channels can pick up its signal by Hotbird satellite?
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I have some questions to my friends, New Zealanders.
1) Why football became the third popular sport? Especially as you arrival before the World Cup!
2) Does the rugby team won the World Cup before?
3) Is there a collective games such as basketball, volleyball and handball? If there have been fierce competitions internationally?
4) Who is financing the local football clubs?
5) Why does not the Government provide support to the public that tickets are free?
6) Is there a sports TV channels can pick up its signal by Hotbird satellite?
1) Why football became the third popular sport? Especially as you arrival before the World Cup!
2) Does the rugby team won the World Cup before?
3) Is there a collective games such as basketball, volleyball and handball? If there have been fierce competitions internationally?
4) Who is financing the local football clubs?
5) Why does not the Government provide support to the public that tickets are free?
6) Is there a sports TV channels can pick up its signal by Hotbird satellite?
1) Football I think has the highest number of people playing however Rugby is our national support, has been a big part of our history. Football was often discriminated against and only Rugby was played at many schools. Not sure what our 2nd sport is, probably Cricket which is our national summer sport.
2) Yes, 1987. Don't talk about the rest of them, it gives me a headache
3) We play Basketball, have been successful this century. Finished 4th at the World Championships. Recent success over Australia has helped the sport. We also have a professional team, the NZ Breakers, playing in the Australian pro league.
4) Terry Serepisos owns the professional club, the Wellington Phoenix
5) Thats not the Governments job.
6) Our satelite sports channel is Sky Sport, im not sure whether it will be picked up by Hotbird satelite.
Hope that helps.
www.kiwifromthecouch.blogspot.com
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I have some questions to my friends, New Zealanders.
1) Why football became the third popular sport? Especially as you arrival before the World Cup!
2) Does the rugby team won the World Cup before?
3) Is there a collective games such as basketball, volleyball and handball? If there have been fierce competitions internationally?
4) Who is financing the local football clubs?
5) Why does not the Government provide support to the public that tickets are free?
6) Is there a sports TV channels can pick up its signal by Hotbird satellite?
1) Why football became the third popular sport? Especially as you arrival before the World Cup!
2) Does the rugby team won the World Cup before?
3) Is there a collective games such as basketball, volleyball and handball? If there have been fierce competitions internationally?
4) Who is financing the local football clubs?
5) Why does not the Government provide support to the public that tickets are free?
6) Is there a sports TV channels can pick up its signal by Hotbird satellite?
1) Just the way our culture developed I guess. I'm sure someone can give a better answer though.
2) Yes, we won the first cup in 1987, but have not won since
3) We play Basketball - came 4th in the World Champs in 2002 and 9th in 2006. Volleyball is small here, and handball is almost non-existent. (A friend of mine played in the NZ U21 handball team - he made it after 1 year playing in Switzerland on a highschool exchange)
4) Amateur players pay to play and money from gambling is put back into sport and community groups, so clubs can apply for funding from this. Our one professional club (the Phoenix) is owned by Terry Serepisos who has just been announced as the Donald Trump for the New Zealand version of the apprentice.
5) a) Government couldn't care less about football
b) We are in a free market driven country where this wouldn't happen even in rugby/cricket which is cared about
6) Never heard of the hotbird satellite. As far as I know all our satellite channels are through the Optus D1 satellite. If hotbird is a satellite that broadcasts in the middle east I doubt it would have a visible line of sight to broadcast here. edit: whoops you were interested in the other way round sorry. Sky Sport is our only satellite sports broadcaster, so you would need to check with your satellite provider whether this was carried. I would doubt it.
aitkenmike2009-11-05 09:17:22
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bopman
and
aitkenmike
Thank you so much for information, I have clarified the vision I have.
What caught my attention that the government does not interfere in the affairs of sports, and this is probably a good thing, but the government must have a Minister of Sport (Is there a Minister??).
In Bahrain, the government provides little financial support to clubs on an annual basis for all the games, and the rest of the funding comes from major corporate sponsorship, and commercial activities of the clubs.
In Bahrain are most types of sports, except for rugby and cricket
I have seen the recent rugby match between England and Australia, and Australia won, it's very violent sport, does not rely on skill as on their physical strength, I see so much blood, broken teeth, swollen eyes, is like wrestling free (it's scary sport!)
and
aitkenmike
Thank you so much for information, I have clarified the vision I have.
What caught my attention that the government does not interfere in the affairs of sports, and this is probably a good thing, but the government must have a Minister of Sport (Is there a Minister??).
In Bahrain, the government provides little financial support to clubs on an annual basis for all the games, and the rest of the funding comes from major corporate sponsorship, and commercial activities of the clubs.
In Bahrain are most types of sports, except for rugby and cricket
I have seen the recent rugby match between England and Australia, and Australia won, it's very violent sport, does not rely on skill as on their physical strength, I see so much blood, broken teeth, swollen eyes, is like wrestling free (it's scary sport!)
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That's kind of how we play football too.
Watch out.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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bopman
and
aitkenmike
Thank you so much for information, I have clarified the vision I have.
What caught my attention that the government does not interfere in the affairs of sports, and this is probably a good thing, but the government must have a Minister of Sport (Is there a Minister??).
In Bahrain, the government provides little financial support to clubs on an annual basis for all the games, and the rest of the funding comes from major corporate sponsorship, and commercial activities of the clubs.
In Bahrain are most types of sports, except for rugby and cricket
I have seen the recent rugby match between England and Australia, and Australia won, it's very violent sport, does not rely on skill as on their physical strength, I see so much blood, broken teeth, swollen eyes, is like wrestling free (it's scary sport!)
You pretty much hit the nail on the head with that synopsis. You are truly very perceptive. Rugby does have it's skill base though it is largely a strength base in the fowards and speed/strength in the backs. Blood and teeth are often shed and fighting is often punushed with a finger wagging from the ref.and
aitkenmike
Thank you so much for information, I have clarified the vision I have.
What caught my attention that the government does not interfere in the affairs of sports, and this is probably a good thing, but the government must have a Minister of Sport (Is there a Minister??).
In Bahrain, the government provides little financial support to clubs on an annual basis for all the games, and the rest of the funding comes from major corporate sponsorship, and commercial activities of the clubs.
In Bahrain are most types of sports, except for rugby and cricket
I have seen the recent rugby match between England and Australia, and Australia won, it's very violent sport, does not rely on skill as on their physical strength, I see so much blood, broken teeth, swollen eyes, is like wrestling free (it's scary sport!)
Its no longer a problem.
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That's kind of how we play football too.
Watch out.
Woow Smithy
Beware of the amount of red alerts, Jorge Larrionda
, who is lying in wait for any movement resemble rugby 
Smile Please
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I have seen the recent rugby match between England and Australia,
and Australia won, it's very violent sport, does not rely on skill as
on their physical strength, I see so much blood, broken teeth, swollen
eyes, is like wrestling free (it's scary sport!)
and Australia won, it's very violent sport, does not rely on skill as
on their physical strength, I see so much blood, broken teeth, swollen
eyes, is like wrestling free (it's scary sport!)
Actually, think you're referring to the rugby league - as opposed to rugby union - game played recently. The game that's big here is Rugby Union, although we play Rugby League also, but it's a bit less popular (but we do have another team playing in the Australian competition there). Coincidently, we're World Champions in Rugby League (although only about 3 countries actually play the sport with seriousness).
League is quite cool, it's a fast game that requires strength, speed and both aerobic and anaerobic fitness. Union is put simply, mind-numbingly boring. But that's just my personal opinion.
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I have seen the recent rugby match between England and Australia,
and Australia won, it's very violent sport, does not rely on skill as
on their physical strength, I see so much blood, broken teeth, swollen
eyes, is like wrestling free (it's scary sport!)
and Australia won, it's very violent sport, does not rely on skill as
on their physical strength, I see so much blood, broken teeth, swollen
eyes, is like wrestling free (it's scary sport!)
Actually, think you're referring to the rugby league - as opposed to rugby union - game played recently. The game that's big here is Rugby Union, although we play Rugby League also, but it's a bit less popular (but we do have another team playing in the Australian competition there). Coincidently, we're World Champions in Rugby League (although only about 3 countries actually play the sport with seriousness).
League is quite cool, it's a fast game that requires strength, speed and both aerobic and anaerobic fitness. Union is put simply, mind-numbingly boring. But that's just my personal opinion .
Hi el grapadura
Can I argue a bit
How can we say we are world champions, and the number of countries that play rugby seriously do not exceed the fingers of the hand??
Concluded that what was said by friends this result:
Rugby is the favorite sport because a small number of competitors, and thus there is a greater chance to be a hero or a strong competitor, do not you think so? Simply put, all sports are gaining popularity when the victories achieved, this is true.
I agree with you in the rest of what you typed.
?And Thank you for the additional information that you typed .
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How can we say we are world champions, and the number of countries that play rugby seriously do not exceed the fingers of the hand??
+1 
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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Well, we're the World Champions in Rugby League since we won the the last Rugby League World Cup...there were 16 teams in the tournament. Now most of them (other than Australia, NZ and Great Britain) were poor, but they were there...
Now, the reasons for the popularity of Rugby Union here are multi-faceted, and go deep into our history...but I agree that the fact that we're a rare (and maybe the only) country in the world that has rugby union as number 1 sport and have consequently have historical and current success on the field because of it is a contributing factor.
Now, the reasons for the popularity of Rugby Union here are multi-faceted, and go deep into our history...but I agree that the fact that we're a rare (and maybe the only) country in the world that has rugby union as number 1 sport and have consequently have historical and current success on the field because of it is a contributing factor.
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How can we say we are world champions, and the number of countries that play rugby seriously do not exceed the fingers of the hand??
Never heard that question before. 
El G, Maybe Wales and Samoas national sport is rugby.
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Fiji would be interesting as well, possibly an even split between the two sports.
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I thought 7s was the big deal there, not so much the full version?
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Rugby union is both a professional and amateur game, and is dominated by first tier unions: Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales. Rugby Union is administered by the International Rugby Board (IRB). Rugby union is the national sport in New Zealand, South Africa and Wales. Second and Third tier unions include Canada, Chile, Georgia, Japan, Namibia, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Spain, Tonga, United States and Uruguay.
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Don't think it's a national sport in South Africa, it's really the sport of white South Africa. Football is the sport of black South Africa, and probably comes closer to being called the national sport considering the demography there.
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When we reached the 82 world cup, rugby was comparitively unpopular at the time, as the country had been divided in 1981 by the politically controversial rugby tour of the South African Springboks whites-only team.
Because they were selected on racial grounds, there was much protest and even some violence in NZ over this issue.
Many fans turned away from rugby due to this; it was fortunate that football was in the right place to pick up the slack.
Our football team played in white as a contrast to the rugby team who wore black.
Cricket is probably 2nd most popular sport, then Netball.
We are also pretty good at water sports - sailing, rowing, etc.
Bevan2009-11-05 12:16:57
Because they were selected on racial grounds, there was much protest and even some violence in NZ over this issue.
Many fans turned away from rugby due to this; it was fortunate that football was in the right place to pick up the slack.
Our football team played in white as a contrast to the rugby team who wore black.
Cricket is probably 2nd most popular sport, then Netball.
We are also pretty good at water sports - sailing, rowing, etc.
Bevan2009-11-05 12:16:57
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Rugby is the favorite sport because a small number of competitors, and thus there is a greater chance to be a hero or a strong competitor, do not you think so? Simply put, all sports are gaining popularity when the victories achieved, this is true.
Rugby has a long history in this country so not really about how many other countries play the sport.
But I do think there is a certain irony and schadenfreude in that many of the former British colonies were introduced to the sports of their master (cricket, rugby - played by upper class Brit/English twits and netball) and now by and large excel in them and regularly beat the English and other British teams.
Main cultural difference for rugby is that here in NZ it was more of a game for everyone and not class-based (so in a sense it filled the role that football plays for most other countries).
I do hope that the AWs make it through and that the nix do well in the A-League - that will certainly create momentum for football in NZ. (so you see Mr Bahrain, we need the win more than you - please tell the team that!
)
)
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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Many fans turned away from rugby due to this; it was fortunate that football was in the right place to pick up the slack.
Bevan, I'd be interested in hearing you back up that comment. My recollection of that era was that football [soccer] didn't pick up this slack [or maintain it anyway] and lost a golden opportunity to make something of the game here.
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I think it was more about the opportunity that was presented to football (no such division - and in fact gave the country something positive to focus on). And NZ football rode a very brief wave of popular support.
There was a good article in the dompost or SST a while back.
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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Many fans turned away from rugby due to this; it was fortunate that football was in the right place to pick up the slack.
Bevan, I'd be interested in hearing you back up that comment. My recollection of that era was that football [soccer] didn't pick up this slack [or maintain it anyway] and lost a golden opportunity to make something of the game here.
Yeah, what Junior82 said.
Football didn't maintain the momentum, but it had it for a brief while.
But don't trust my memory, I was too young to really know.
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The National comp did recieve a short boost but could not sustain, lol even Invercargill's "Thistle" competed with Bobby Almond signed (living in Ch-Ch) & playing home games at Rugby Park FFS!!
"Sharing rewards the weak"- Steven Colbert
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i dont know if any one has said yet but in 2002 we made the Basketball semifinals and lost to germany in the 3-4 play off, that run was good but the NZ team had some luck with the draw...im not to sure how well we did in 2006....I was supporting Greece because I hate pero cameron with a passion and couldnt bear to watch the commentators wank themselves over him....
NZ is a pretty powerful sporting nation concidering we have bugger all sports institutes and a small population. I think with qualification to the WC football will slowly get better and we'll make future WC's more often..
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Football didn't maintain the momentum, but it had it for a brief while.
But don't trust my memory, I was too young to really know.
And regarding those of us that are old enough, you'd have to question our ability to remember nowadays!
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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The All Blacks may have won the 87 World Cup but it did not include South Africa for political reasons. Had South Africa played, the All Blacks would now lay claim to zero World Cups. Fact.
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A little off topic but...
Football in this country isnt as popular as it should be because for a long time we havent really had a team to support. Look what happens when the all whites finally get to play at a decent level of football. We need to be playing decent teams and we need some home games that people can get into.
The phoenix is helping get people get into football because they are doing well and are playing good football.
Football in this country isnt as popular as it should be because for a long time we havent really had a team to support. Look what happens when the all whites finally get to play at a decent level of football. We need to be playing decent teams and we need some home games that people can get into.
The phoenix is helping get people get into football because they are doing well and are playing good football.
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Way off topic
We have always had teams to support but there is a apathy in the football and the general community.
Thistle were great, TTU, Dunedin City, Football Kingz, Werder Bremen, England B, Watford, League of Ireland..
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Union is put simply, mind-numbingly boring. But that's just my personal opinion.
Fact.
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The All Blacks may have won the 87 World Cup but it did not include South Africa for political reasons. Had South Africa played, the All Blacks would now lay claim to zero World Cups. Fact.
Fact fail!
noun: a statement or assertion of verified information about something that is the case or has happened
If anyone was wondering, Rugby League is the national sport of one country: Papua New Guinea
14/11/09
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Love him or hate him I liked Tony Veitch when he hosted sports news on One. He was fair and gave decent news coverage about football here. The chubby Andrew Saville is pro rugby, cricket netball and league. He sucks..esp when he tries to crack a joke at the end of proceedings. Tony has always had that professional touch working in australia. what a shame his personal life caught up with him on TV. Anyway sorry..i just hate when our football hardly gets a mention on One Sport News.
darkhorse2009-11-05 20:33:38
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The All Blacks may have won the 87 World Cup but it did not include South Africa for political reasons.� Had South Africa played, the All Blacks would now lay claim to zero World Cups.� Fact.
�
Fact fail!
�
<SPAN id=easel_pos_off_2>noun</SPAN>:��<SPAN id=easel_def_off_2>a statement or assertion of verified information about something that is the case or has happened</SPAN>
<SPAN></SPAN>�
<SPAN>If anyone was wondering, Rugby League is the national sport of one country: Papua New Guinea</SPAN>
I haven't been on internet forums for as long as some but in the short time that I have I've found that more often than not people who end a statement with the word "fact" very seldom rely on them.
"Sharing rewards the weak"- Steven Colbert
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Way off topic
We have always had teams to support but there is a apathy in the football and the general community.
�
Thistle were great, TTU, Dunedin City, Football Kingz, Werder Bremen, England B, Watford, League of Ireland..
�
�
�
�
I'm amazed! Someone who remembers Dunedin City! I played all my junior football with them. Many a rainy day at De Carle Park - and I don't even wanna think about freezing snowy southerlies at Kettle Park!
I was so gutted when City went belly up - a financial casualty of the then National League. Sigh...
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I have seen the recent rugby match between England and Australia,
and Australia won, it's very violent sport, does not rely on skill as
on their physical strength, I see so much blood, broken teeth, swollen
eyes, is like wrestling free (it's scary sport!)
and Australia won, it's very violent sport, does not rely on skill as
on their physical strength, I see so much blood, broken teeth, swollen
eyes, is like wrestling free (it's scary sport!)
Actually, think you're referring to the rugby league - as opposed to rugby union - game played recently. The game that's big here is Rugby Union, although we play Rugby League also, but it's a bit less popular (but we do have another team playing in the Australian competition there). Coincidently, we're World Champions in Rugby League (although only about 3 countries actually play the sport with seriousness).
League is quite cool, it's a fast game that requires strength, speed and both aerobic and anaerobic fitness. Union is put simply, mind-numbingly boring. But that's just my personal opinion .
Hi el grapadura
Can I argue a bit
How can we say we are world champions, and the number of countries that play rugby seriously do not exceed the fingers of the hand??
Concluded that what was said by friends this result:
Rugby is the favorite sport because a small number of competitors, and thus there is a greater chance to be a hero or a strong competitor, do not you think so? Simply put, all sports are gaining popularity when the victories achieved, this is true.
I agree with you in the rest of what you typed.
ِAnd Thank you for the additional information that you typed .
great postAllegedly
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When we reached the 82 world cup, rugby was comparitively unpopular at the time, as the country had been divided in 1981 by the politically controversial rugby tour of the South African Springboks whites-only team.
Because they were selected on racial grounds, there was much protest and even some violence in NZ over this issue.
Many fans turned away from rugby due to this; it was fortunate that football was in the right place to pick up the slack.
Our football team played in white as a contrast to the rugby team who wore black.
Cricket is probably 2nd most popular sport, then Netball.
We are also pretty good at water sports - sailing, rowing, etc.
Because they were selected on racial grounds, there was much protest and even some violence in NZ over this issue.
Many fans turned away from rugby due to this; it was fortunate that football was in the right place to pick up the slack.
Our football team played in white as a contrast to the rugby team who wore black.
Cricket is probably 2nd most popular sport, then Netball.
We are also pretty good at water sports - sailing, rowing, etc.
I respect very much like this beautiful history in the fight against racism
Thank you, New Zealand
Thank you, New Zealand
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Rugby is the favorite sport because a small number of competitors, and thus there is a greater chance to be a hero or a strong competitor, do not you think so? Simply put, all sports are gaining popularity when the victories achieved, this is true.
Rugby has a long history in this country so not really about how many other countries play the sport.
But I do think there is a certain irony and schadenfreude in that many of the former British colonies were introduced to the sports of their master (cricket, rugby - played by upper class Brit/English twits and netball) and now by and large excel in them and regularly beat the English and other British teams.
Main cultural difference for rugby is that here in NZ it was more of a game for everyone and not class-based (so in a sense it filled the role that football plays for most other countries).
I do hope that the AWs make it through and that the nix do well in the A-League - that will certainly create momentum for football in NZ. (so you see Mr Bahrain, we need the win more than you - please tell the team that!)
)Is not a requirement to qualify for the World Cup, sadness also make you play again and be hold on to hope always,
tell your team to give us the opportunity to reach this time,
we have taken the misfortune with the Trinidad ,
and now may be your turn comes, 
and may be the final blow to us 
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My Bahrain, please stay after the world cup qualifier!
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The All Blacks may have won the 87 World Cup but it did not include South Africa for political reasons. Had South Africa played, the All Blacks would now lay claim to zero World Cups. Fact.
Fact fail!
noun: a statement or assertion of verified information about something that is the case or has happened
If anyone was wondering, Rugby League is the national sport of one country: Papua New Guinea
Pedant. I just like winding up All Black fans with this and love to quote The Spanish Waiter at any possible opportunity. And that is a fact.
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My Bahrain, please stay after the world cup qualifier!
I had promised earlier, whatever the outcome, I will stay
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