I have already written about Rugby being the established State Religion of a deeply-religious New Zealand. Our whole education system this year has shifted school holidays not to benefit educational aims, but to fit in with the Rugby World Cup. [As with many minority sects, those living within it do not realise how small the actual sect is – but that’s another story ;-)]
I also have a fascination for religious language used in NZ advertising (& elsewhere). So you can understand my interest in the rugbyheaven.co.nz concept, receiving a Press newspaper Rugby Heaven liftout with an All Black image which, arriving folded, gives the impression of a priest in clerical collar… Here follow some of the advertising:
I didn’t know you’d written about Rugby as the state religion – (WRC as the world religion?….almost!), but I’m going to check it out now.
Mike, like ACANZP, please take care with the correct form of the title for the peak manifestation of our state religion – it’s RWC not WRC! And please don’t let anyone know that there are at least two cups (that we know of), and that “World” is being used in its non-literal sense (ie. about 10% of the planet’s countries). Blessings.
Whoops! did I write WRC? How offensive. On the other hand I used to write a column for the local paper in which I was allowed to write about rubgy (sic) without the editor blinking an eyelid.