Why tiny New Zealand dominates rugby In September 2023, 20 countries will convene to play the Rugby World Cup. There are lots of great teams, but one has historically stood above the rest; the New Zealand All-Blacks. Over the more than a century of international rugby, New Zealand has dominated the sport; winning around 70% of their matches, including three World Cup Championships. It’s all the more remarkable because New Zealand is a tiny country of just 5 million people. This is the story of how one country fused its identity with a sport and created one of the best sports teams of all time.