The Rugby World Cup begins on Friday September 8. The French XV faces New Zealand at the Stade de France, start of the match at 9:15 p.m. An anticipated World Cup which will see twenty teams compete in France.
The nicknames of these teams can sometimes seem folkloric to the newbie. Sometimes very well known to the general public, they are often linked to emblems referring to botany or the animal world.
1/10
What is the England team nicknamed?
The Red Rose is the emblematic flower of England. It appeared at the end of the Wars of the Roses between the York family, whose emblem is a white rose, and the Lancaster family, whose emblem is a red rose. Henry VII, of the Tudor dynasty, heir to the House of Lancaster through his mother, imposed the red rose when he acceded to the throne. After his marriage to Elizabeth of York, he created the “Tudor rose”, red with a white heart, but it is indeed a 100% red rose which adorns the England XV jersey.
A carnation may be red but has no connection with the England team. The poppy is the flower worn in the buttonhole by the British during the commemorations of the First World War, during the commemorations of November 11. Hence the “poppy” which sometimes flourishes on the jerseys of the British nations.
2/10
Which of these statements is true?
The leek serves as the emblem of Wales. And who says emblem, says legend: during a battle in the 7th century against the Saxons, David de Ménevie, who became patron saint of Wales, would have asked his men to carry leeks (present in a nearby field) to the top of their helmet to distinguish themselves from invaders. The Welsh won.
The Irish team is named as the XV of clubs. This plant which adorns the jerseys would have been used by Saint-Patrick during his mission to evangelize the country. The three-leaf clover symbolized the Trinity. These are the Welsh players who are nicknamed the red dragons. A nickname which dates back to Arthurian legend when Merlin had a vision of a fight between a red dragon, representing the Welsh, and a white dragon, embodying the Saxons.
Scotland chose Thistle, and not coal, as an emblem and this dates back to the 13th century. According to legend, Vikings approached a Scottish stronghold at night that they wanted to conquer. But one of them stepped on the thorny plant and couldn’t help but scream. A howl which alerted the Scottish soldiers who were able to repel the invaders.
3/10
Italy will face Namibia in the group stage of this World Cup, the match will therefore be between…
As with football, the Italian team is the Azurra Squad because of his blue jersey, hence the adjective Azzuri ensuing. The Welwitschia is a pride of Namibia. Present only in this African country and in the south of Angola, this plant whose leaves can reach 4 meters long can survive in a desert environment and can live up to 2,000 years. Small curiosity: no welwitschias on the Namibians’ jersey, but a vociferous sea eagle, or African fishing eagle, undoubtedly easier to draw.
THE Makis are the players of Madagascar (and a variety of lemurs endemic to the island). THE Cranes (“cranes” in English) refer to those from Uganda. And the adjective Rossoneri is used to refer to AC Milan football players.
4/10
Which of these teams is not present at the 2023 World Cup?
Os Lobos (The Wolves) were chosen by Portugal, qualified for this World Cup. A nickname in reference to the hundreds of Iberian wolves still present in the north of the country. The peninsula’s other rugby team, Spain, is called the Lion’s XV but is not qualified.
The name Lelo, designates the Georgia team, qualified. It comes from a traditional sport in this Caucasian country: “lélo bourti”. It is still practiced in parts of Georgia. This age-old sport resembles soule, a game considered to be an ancestor of rugby. The word lélo is also used in Georgia to refer to a test.
The surname Crocs does not really exist but, on the other hand, the Pukpupks (“the Crocodiles”) are the players of the Papua New Guinea team. They never qualified for the World Cup.
5/10
What are Romanian players called?
The Stejarii in Romanian, that is to say the Oaks, designate the Romanian players and an oak leaf adorns their jerseys. These trees are very present in the country’s forests and in the national imagination. The character of Dracula has little to do with rugby, and he is inspired by a real character, Vladislav III, a prince of Wallachia from the 15th century, nicknamed “Dracul”. And if the Bears are also very numerous in the Carpathians, it is the nickname of the players of the Russian team.
6/10
New Zealand, South Africa and Australia are the three major teams in the southern hemisphere. What are their nicknames?
Two versions clash on the nickname of All Blacks for New Zealand players. One of the explanations is linked to the “all black” outfit of the New Zealanders who, according to legend, wear mourning for their adversaries. Another version, this nickname was born during the 1905 tour of British soil. A journalist from Daily Mail would have exclaimed “They are all backs!” (they are all backs) saluting the versatile play of the forwards… except that a typo would have given the famous “All Blacks”. But as France Bleu points out, we have never been able to find any trace of this typo in the archives of British newspapers.
The term Springbok means “jumping goat” and in Afrikaans designates a jumping antelope from southern Africa. The nickname appeared during a tour of Europe in 1906. For Australia, another jumping animal is used: the Wallaby. A kind of small kangaroo, very common on the Australian continent.
New Zealanders are also nicknamed Kiwis. The term appears more in rugby union. The Black Ferns (the Black Ferns) relates to New Zealand rugby union but it is a nickname used for the women’s team. The Silverbacks (the Silverbacks) are the players from Rwanda. As to Dragonsapart from the Welsh, it is generally the players from Hong Kong.
7/10
Which of these Pacific Island teams is not competing in the World Cup?
The term Talavalu designates the American Samoa team, not qualified for this World Cup. A talavalu is a traditional Samoan weapon.
The Flying Fijians which can be translated as “the flying Fijians” refers to the fast play of the Fiji team, particularly in rugby sevens. And if a mineral water brand has paid for the right to appear in the team name, we rarely hear about the Fiji Water Flying Fijians. Manu Samoa was a former great warrior leader to whom the Samoa team pays homage by taking his name. Ikale Tahi means Sea Eagles and refers to players from the Tonga Islands, even if it is a dove that adorns their jersey.
8/10
What nickname was the Japanese team called from 2003 onwards?
The Japanese were nicknamed the Brave Blossoms (the Courageous Flowers) during the 2003 World Cup. Previously referred to as Cherry Blossoms (Cherry Blossoms), which is their emblem, the country’s federation definitively adopted the nickname in 2015.
9/10
What are the nicknames of Argentinian players?
Argentinians are called the Pumas while the animal on their coat of arms has long been a jaguar (an animal very present in the country). New legend: the confusion would be the work of a journalist during the tour to South Africa in 1965. But since mid-April 2023, a puma has taken the place of the jaguar on the team crest.
10/10
Chile and Uruguay will also represent South America at this World Cup. What are their nicknames?
Chile players are nicknamed Los Condores. The condor, one of the largest birds on the planet, is a symbol of the country. The tero (or tero lapwing), used to refer to Uruguayans, is a smaller bird, the size of a partridge, but with a reputation for being courageous and feisty.
Then, in order: the Tucans (the Toucans) are the Colombian players, the Ticos are the inhabitants of Costa Rica and also designate their football team, the Tumis (the tumi is an ancestral knife) are the players of Peru and the Mexicans are nicknamed the Serpents (the snakes).
