Rugby around the world: Iberia

I kindly remember one comment in the NZ Herald last year about the pool rivals for the All Blacks (Italy, Portugal, Romania and Scotland)

"Portuguese scare me. I don't know anything about Portugal".

Spanish as I am it made me smile; How high this kiwi aficionado rated the rugby in Iberia (Spain and Portugal)!!! Portugal managed to score two tries against the All Blacks, true. But they received 105 points against, if I am not mistaken.

The truth is that Portugal and Spain play in the same division, and they cannot certainly pose any threat to any Tier 1 nation.

But, alas, some news are nice to read, and the news that Spain and Portugal are engaging their own SuperRugby competition is certainly good news.

Data:

1. Ten teams, 5 from Spain, 4 from Portugal, 1 from Gibraltar (since Gibraltar belongs to Britain, they could be hot-favourites, don't you think? :-)
2. 10 players in each team will get paid (that is how professionalism can be introduced in Iberia)
3. The name shall be: "Liga Super Iberica"
4. Kicks off in 2009 hopefully

In front of the haka

When you are a rugby-lover, no matter where you come from, one of the things you'll love to witness is the All Blacks perfroming the haka in front of you.

Thus, RWC, and specially the 20-teams format is so important. If only once every four years a team like Portugal will have the chance to confront teams like Australia, South Africa, etc...

Could you imagine being in the shoes of one of the red ones in this picture?

I think there's only one thing greater: being in the shoes of one of the black ones.