Rugby union in New Zealand editions (2000–2005), and again in 2007, 2008, and 2010–2014. New Zealand hosts one leg, the New Zealand International Sevens, at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. Rugby union in New Zealand Rugby union is the unofficial national sport of New Zealand. The national team, the All Blacks, ranks as the top international team in the world. The sport has been known in New Zealand from 1870. The top domestic competitions are the semi-professional ITM Cup and amateur Heartland Championship, and above them Super Rugby, in which New Zealand has five franchises. The country co-hosted and won the first ever Rugby World Cup
Hanazono Rugby Stadium first Rugby World Cup to be held in Asia. On May 14, 2006 Daisuke Ohata broke the record for the most overall tries in test matches at Hanazono with a hat trick for Japan against Georgia. The previous record holder was David Campese. It hosted the J1 League game between Cerezo Osaka and Nagoya Grampus Eight was played there on May 8, 1999. Hanazono Rugby Stadium The in Higashiosaka is the oldest dedicated rugby union stadium in Japan. There is next to Hanazono Central Park (花園中央公園, hanazono chūō kōen). Owned by city of Higashiosaka, it opened in 1929 and has