New Zealand is the birthplace of rugby union, and the sport is held in high regard there. New Zealanders are known to refer to meetings as "the rugby" since they are so enthusiastic about their national sport.
In 1892, a man named Tom Ellison is said to have imported rugby football back from England. It was an instant hit with Albert College students in Auckland who were looking for a winter activity. On Saturday mornings, throngs of kids would arrive at school early, armed with buckets of water and shovels, to convert the playing field into a lake in preparation for a match. This was referred to as "wetting the chalk."
