Rugby Nations Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jaguar

South African journalists mistakenly thought the Jaguar on their jerseys was a Puma and labelled the team the Pumas; and the name stuck. This was in 1965 when the Argentinian team was touring Rhodesia and South Africa.
Interestingly, the Argentinian 2nd XV use the name the Jaguars.

Answer: England

England last toured South Africa in 1984, after tours by New Zealand (1981) and the Lions (1980).

Answer: South Africa

The Lions swept their tests in South Africa (4-0, 3-0, 4-0) in 1891, while they lost their first test against Australia 3-13 in 1899, New Zealand 3-9 in 1904 and Fiji 21-25 in 1977.

Answer: Scotland

Scotland beat England in the first rugby international, played at Raeburn Place in March 1871. The score was 1 goal to nil, as tries were not counted in the results at the time. Scotland scored 2 tries, and the match winning conversion, while England scored 1 try.

Answer: Lithuania

Lithuania won 18 consecutive games between 2008 and 2010 in the European Nations Cup, breaking the record of 17 consecutive victories, held jointly by South Africa (1997-98) and New Zealand (1965-1969). The Ukraine were the team to break the Lithuanians' run of wins, in a 2011 Rugby World Cup playoff match.

Answer: Green

Prior to the 1930s, the Wallabies would play in the state jersey of NSW (sky blue) or Queensland (maroon), with an Australian coat of arms sewn over the top of the state logo. The first adopted national jersey was emerald green, and worn until the 1960s, where it was dropped to avoid a clash with the South African jersey, in favour of the currently recognised colour of gold.

Answer: South Korea

South Korea inflicted Japan's first loss to an Asian opponent, beating them 12-9 in 1982. Hong Kong became the second when they beat Japan in 1996.

Answer: Switzerland & Sweden

On 30 April, 1989, Switzerland (beating Israel 22-15) and Sweden (beating Denmark 39-0) were the first two winners of Rugby World Cup qualifying games. No qualifying tournament was held for the 1987 tournament, while 25 nations attempted to gain the 8 qualifying spots available for the 1991 tournament.

Japan (beating Tonga 28-16) and Samoa (beating South Korea 74-7) were the opening winners of Asia/Oceania qualifying in April 1990. Zimbabwe (beating Ivory Coast 22-9) and Tunisia (beating Morocco 16-12) were the opening winners of African qualifying in May 1990. Argentina and Canada both defeated USA (23-6 and 21-3) in the opening games of the Americas qualifying in late 1989.

Answer: France

France were the first European national team to tour Australia, beating the Wallabies 15-8 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in 1961. Prior to this, the only European teams to tour Australia were Britain or the Lions (both combined teams). England first played in Australia in 1963, Ireland in 1967 and Wales in 1969.

Answer: Romania

Romania beat Georgia 23-20 in the deciding final game of the tournament, beating out Morocco, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands for the title. Russia won the second division title. Georgia won the 2001 edition.