Earlier this month, I wrote about the dwindling numbers of non-rugby playing nations in the world, with just a few remaining on each of the continents – and none in South America.
Bolivia’s affiliation means all 16 nations have joined that regional association.
They have already played sevens internationals, and this coming week will make their XVs debut in a quadrangular tournament with three Argentinian sides in Yacuiba.
The list continues right down to the tiniest island nations in the Pacific. Niue and Tokelau have both played sevens internationals, and Niue a number of Test matches. With around 1500 inhabitants each, they are the smallest nations in the world after Vatican City.
So which are the largest nations never to have played Test rugby?
Number one by some distance is Bangladesh, which is ranked eighth in the world with 170 million inhabitants, despite being slightly smaller than New Zealand’s South Island in terms of land mass!
A group of Japanese coaches apparently got rugby started in the country 12 years ago, and it has since gained affiliation to Rugby Asia and played sevens internationals, winning the Bowl competition at last year’s regional championships.
In second place is Ethiopia, 12th largest nation in the world with 110 million citizens. There is little evidence of rugby in the country, apart from a surprise appearance at the Safari Sevens in Kenya back in 2004.
Though it made the Shield final and received a standing ovation from the crowd, the Ethiopian sevens team does not appear to have been active since. A quick Google only brings up what appears to be an expats’ club in the capital Addis Ababa.
Third on the list is Vietnam, the 15th most populous country in the world with just under 100 million inhabitants. It is also the largest nation never to have played international sevens. There are clubs in Saigon and Hanoi, both of which compete in the annual Indochina Cup with sides from Laos and Cambodia.
Rugby was certainly played by the French in the pre-WWII colonial era but failed to take root with the local community. Even today the club scene is dominated by expats.
Myanmar, fourth on the list, is the world’s 26th largest nation with around 54 million people. Here, too, the game failed to catch on in colonial times (in this case of the British variety). The Yangon Dragons Club was founded just six years ago, and in 2018 hosted the Indochina Cup tournament.
Sudan comes in fifth, and with 42 million inhabitants is ranked the 35th most populous nation in the world.
Although there is little evidence of rugby in this country, it did make an appearance at last year’s Arab Sevens Championships. The team failed to score a point in half a dozen games but restricted Iraq to a solitary try in its final hit-out.
Iraq itself follows in sixth place, and is the world’s 36th most populous nation with 40 million citizens.
It has been fairly active in sevens, while earlier this year the national XVs team played an unofficial match against a “Kurdistan” selection including some foreigners.
Afghanistan, with around 37 million people, is the 39th largest nation in the world and the seventh on the list of “rugby pagans.” There are a number of clubs, however, including Kabul University, Mamozai Youth, Hindokosh, Aryana and Khurasan.
The nation is active in sevens, even managing to procure the services of New Zealand brothers Omar and Zakir Slaimankhel through ancestry. The former played for the Warriors NRL team before switching codes to pursue a union career in Japan.
Next up are Angola and Mozambique with around 31 million inhabitants each. The latter has played sevens internationals, as well as XVs matches against foreign clubs – twice crushing Swaziland’s Mbabane Cheetahs in the past two years.
Nepal, the world’s 49th most populous nation with just under 30 million, rounds out the top ten on our list, although it is affiliated to Rugby Asia and has played sevens internationals. Yemen and North Korea follow, with no evidence of rugby in either nation (according to this writer’s Googling).
Phaeton
Guest
Always impressed by your research, Wingman. I see that China ranks 80 in world rugby and Indian six spots behind them. As for population, it seems that India has crept by China. China orders a census, and everybody has to obey. But in India, a democracy not to prone to officaldom, many people live without an address of any kind so an accurate census is impossible. The figure currently given for China is a billion 420 while the figure for India is a billion 350. Could there be 70 million Indians uncounted? Demographers who live there say yes.
Rugbyrah
Roar Rookie
I thought it should read: 1. China, 2 India, 3 Indonesia
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
That's called Catch 22, 30mm tags
Rebel334
Roar Rookie
The combined GDP of Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa is less than the single output of Australia’s. I was probably a little exaggerated by saying almost twice, it’s closer to 1.5x the amount than 2x.
Rebel334
Roar Rookie
The thing is the 4th rated sport in Australia should be able to financially compare with the no.1/2 rated sports in those other countries if managed well. I guess in a way it kinda does, but it should be stronger
30mm tags
Roar Rookie
How is it stratified? Rugby has evolved into a commercial enterprise . If Canada could develop the talent to defeat say France , scheduling of its games would be immediately pushed up the desirability ladder. Scheduling responds to ratings.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
At least one Argentinian team managed to win this weekend. In fact, the Jaguares' development team are top of the Currie Cup first division with their 4th straight win: https://www.supersport.com/rugby/currie-cup-first-division/news/190720_Jaguares_power_on_while_Valke_Eagles_remain_unbeaten
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
One of the most interesting ideas I've read in a while is for a 'Rugby Games' to be held, involving men and women, XVs and 7s, touch and wheelchair, and even beach rugby and so on. & wasn't there something in the press a few months ago about indoor 5-a-side being the next big thing to sweep the international sports community??
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Half of rugby's founding members were small nations - and still are - and that is engendered a culture of self-preservation. They would rather remain big fish in a small pond than risk becoming small fry in a big ocean . . .
sheek
Roar Guru
DaveJ, No, I'm not discounting the Windies. They are one of the 8 test cricket playing nations. I'm not familiar with the individual records in rugby & soccer of Caribbean island nations. Suffice to say, they have outstanding natural athletic talent, but small population numbers.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Famine, drought and being bombed by Uncle Sam certainly doesn't help the game along
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Opening up the top level competitions would certainly help. Rugby is stratified because scheduling is elitist.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
The 1970 All Blacks visited Mozambique but didn't play there.
Norm de plume
Guest
Thing is, we dont really want all those more populous nations playing competently, do we? Especially those with the personnel to field test forward packs (anyone can find pacy backs). Imagine the packs Russia and Germany could field, or the US if it took the game more seriously.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Small point, but by inference you’ve ruled out West Indies from playing cricket competently? If so, I leap to their defence. Despite a poor Test record over the last 15 years, they have done well at T20s and have occasionally beaten some top teams in Tests. But their history is the main reason not to equate them with no-hopers in rugby, particularly given the size of their population. Barbados, population 280,000, boasts an all-time best XI better than those of India, Pakistan, New Zealand or any English county, and all Australian states other than NSW.
terrence
Roar Rookie
cricket is probably more popular than rugby given the sheer number of people in the subcontinent that play it..but rugby has a much wider spread..
sheek
Roar Guru
MF, Yes, I am guilty of a little exaggeration. And yes, rugby & cricket are difficult games to excel at technically.
sheek
Roar Guru
terrence, Yes, I was surprised there's very little American football outside of the NFL & colleges comp, which is the primary feeder. Just too brutal a sport. Same with rugby league. Most kids set themselves up to make NRL, as they do in NFL, which is hugely rewarding financially. But if they fail, then running around every week in juniors/suburban & getting bashed, is hardly appetising. At least with rugby, the damage to life & limb is less severe away from the 'big time'. You can see why soccer is so popular worldwide. All you need is a round ball & a vacant field. You can run around for hours, without worrying about potential serious injury. Of course, when a serious injury occurs in soccer, it's usually by a freakish nature. Not as part of the brutal contact of the sport.
Puff
Guest
.IW, interesting reflection. Although most of the nation’s mentioned in your well researched article, are either war ravaged, struggling economically or have political restraints. Rugby will only appeal in new regions, where human genetics are compatible with the codes requirement. Eastern Europe is the classic case, where soccer is for the messes and rugby takes body contact to the next level. Most of Africa and Asia will never be a force within the sport, in the foreseeable future. But, with Argentina displaying success, the Americas are slowly showing interest. Until the code at a national level starts investing in these developing regions, progress will remain slow.
terrence
Roar Rookie
rugby union is easy to pick up because there's many forms of it people can enjoy..rugby league - though it can be quite entertaining on tv -will be very hard to grow in a new market..some people just don't want to go out and get bashed every saturday..same with american football..they've spent heaps of money trying to grow it elsewhere, heaps of movies and media about american football..i don't think it's working..guess the mechanics of that sport just doesn't appeal to non-americans..