ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Sport
GRIDIRON GUESSWORK
While most of the rugby world is gearing up for next weekend’s rematch between the All Blacks and Ireland, locals in the Windy City are trying to figure out what exactly is going on.
NZ Rugby is treating the Chicago fixture as a strategic play: a chance to expand the sport’s reach, flex their brand, and subtly remind the world that New Zealand exists and has a very specific way of kicking balls. But for many Americans, the All Blacks are just very tall, very confused men.
Our reporters spoke to locals in Chicago.
“Wait, they’re a sports team, right?” said Morgan Maddison, a barista from downtown Chicago. “I thought they were like… a band . Someone told me they do some kind of dance before games. Like, a ritual? And who? What? Ireland are playing them here?”
The confusion is widespread.
“So they play, like, American football?” asked Hunter Grayson, a college student. “I tried watching the highlights, but no one ever throws the ball forward. And instead of stopping to reset the field, the ref just yells at the players. I just… I give up.”
Even for those vaguely familiar with rugby, the All Blacks’ reputation only adds to the chaos.
NZ Rugby insists that the Chicago game is part of a “bold international expansion strategy,” aimed at positioning the All Blacks as global ambassadors of the sport ahead of the 2031 World Cup. ”
The All Blacks are scheduled to face Ireland at Soldier Field, a venue more accustomed to American football than haka demonstrations. Locals are being advised to bring an open mind and possibly a dictionary.
More to come.
