That was not a resounding success. Many years the New Zealand Knights dangled below the Australian first division. A kind of 'FC Lutjebroek' being allowed to take part in the German first division.

For many years almost exclusive and constant losses were reported, both financially and sporty. In the current competition they are painfully at the bottom of the list. Of the more than twenty games they won five only; the goal difference amounts to -26. The sponsor has withdrawn and there is absolutely no interest for sponsorship in spite of the efforts of our - still well-known - Wynton Rufer who scored success in the Deutsche Bundesliga.

What is behind this story? Rugby is the domestic sport here; many New Zealanders identify themself with the rugby-players: rough blokes, who love a lively game, take risks and love jokes, lukewarm beer and easy women. The most terrible things happen on the field: they kick each other in the face with the studded shoes; bloody fights between players occur regularly, arbitrators are molested and each year at least three rugby-players end up in a wheelchair as paraplegics. Unimportant details.
The punishment for these life-threatening breaches of the rules is extraordinarily mild. A short suspension or a fine of a couple of dollars is all you will get. It seems that they make the games as violent as possible.

Compared to this soccer is a game for softies for a right-minded kiwi. Soccer-players lie moaning on the field for minutes with injuries a rugby-player would not even notice. The game will be stopped for every minor incident - rugby fans say.
This is patently incorrect.
During international rugby the games are stopped almost every half minute. The frequency at Soccer games is far less. Moreover the arbitrator runs during the entire game giving instructions and warnings, like a strict teacher. Those are visible in the background. It drives you crazy, a police-person like that on the field. But it is obviously necessary.

The secret of the rugby-ecstasy is of course that the sport is played at international level by just a few countries and a small country like New Zealand can belong to the world top quite easy. The same counts for other national sports like cricket and net ball. Compare to skating for the Netherlands.
At soccer the kiwi's don’t have a shadow of a chance. And therefore the successful rugby is honoured and soccer is scoffed at, boycotted and strangled. Soccer is for children. But Real Men play rugby and Real Women net ball. That way a world championship is possible. Of almost nobody.

And therefore there are hardly any players, sponsors or clubs at semi- or professional level. And they no longer make it to Australia, not to mention the Australia of Hiddink!

The Dutch version of this article is published in the May/June 2007 edition of Holland Focus.
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