环球英语 — 30：Rugby World Cup 2007

　　Voice 1

Hello, I’m Rachel Hobson.

Voice 2

And I’m Ruby 1 Jones. Welcome to Spotlight 2. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

Voice 1

England, 1823. Some boys are playing football. They run around the grass next to some large red stone buildings. This is one of the most famous schools in the country - Rugby School. One of the boys takes up the ball in his arms. He does not kick the ball with his feet as he should. He runs forward towards the goal. The other boys shout at him - they tell him to stop. But he refuses. And so, they throw themselves at him. They try to take the ball from his arms. They forget their usual game of football - and a new sport is born!

Voice 2

Well, that is how some people believe the modern game of rugby started! William Webb Ellis was the name of the boy who ran with the ball. And he was a student at Rugby School. But some history experts believe that William was just demonstrating 3 the ancient Irish 4 game of “caid”. William’s father had been a soldier in Ireland 5. And he would have seen people playing “caid’ there. So, he could have taught the game to his son. No one will ever know if William was responsible 6 for inventing a new game. But true lovers 7 of rugby do not care how it started. They are just pleased that it did!

Voice 1

In William Webb Ellis’s day, there were no national sports authorities 8. People could play a sport in any way that they wanted. Everyone present just had to agree on the rules! But in 1871, this situation changed. Officials representing 9 different rugby teams across Britain met together. They formed the Rugby Football Union. They decided 10 on a fixed 11 set of rules. All teams now had to play the game by these rules. But not everyone was happy with this. And in 1890, some teams from the north of England left the Rugby Football Union. These teams did not like the way the rugby authorities treated some of their players. So these teams formed a separate 12 organization - the Rugby Football League. The league changed some of the rules - and it called its kind of rugby, Rugby League.

Voice 2

Both kinds of rugby - rugby union and rugby league, are very popular across the world. This may seem surprising - because rugby is a very hard, physical sport. It requires players to be very fit and strong. They need to be able to run, to catch and to kick an egg-shaped ball - for eighty [80] minutes! They also need to know how to tackle 13, to stop players who are carrying the ball. This can be dangerous because of the players’ size and weight. It is important to learn the correct way to tackle - or accidents will happen.

Voice 1

Rugby is hard to play. But many people find it very exciting to watch! And lovers of the game have been waiting for the month of September to arrive. Why? Well, that is when the sixth [6th] Rugby World Cup starts. The World Cup is the leading international event in Rugby Union. A game between France and Argentina will ‘kick off’ the competition. And a total of twenty countries will compete for the prize - the William Webb Ellis cup!

Voice 2

One of the nations playing in this competition is Romania. This European country has been playing rugby since the early nineteen hundreds. Students were responsible for bringing the game to Romania. These students went to France to study. While they were there, they learned 14 how to play rugby. And when they returned home, they took some rugby balls with them. Soon, there were many rugby teams in Romania. The national team even won an Olympic prize!

Voice 1

But the Second World War changed the history of rugby in Romania. The ruling party followed a new way of government - communism 15. The thinking behind this new way seemed good - everyone working together for the good of the country. Equal rights for everybody. The state encouraged people to bring glory 16 to the country. And it especially encouraged sportsmen 17 and women. The government gave jobs in the police or army to top rugby players. They had time off work to play. They had the best trainers. And all this resulted in a successful national rugby team.

Voice 2

But in 1989, Romania changed again. Communism was not working. The government was in crisis 18. The economy 19 was in a weak state. People in Romania no longer trusted the system. And they demanded change. Across the country, people started to revolt 20 against the authorities. Many people died in street battles. One of these was the leader of the national rugby team - Florica Murariu. After some time, the revolution 21 finished. A new government took control. But the country faced a difficult future. It would take a long time to recover.

Voice 1

The new situation left the national rugby players with a lot of problems. Many of them no longer had jobs. The state could not pay for their training. And they could not compete with other national teams - they were no longer good enough. This proud rugby nation was suffering. Rugby authorities in other countries were sad to see Romanian rugby in such a bad state. So, they helped in different ways - providing equipment and training and financial aid.

Voice 2

The Romanian national rugby team did survive. And they are slowly re-gaining their place as a top rugby nation. They will not win the World Cup this time. But the future holds great hope for them.

Voice 1

So, who will win the World Cup? The current 22 world champions are England. But many of their good players have retired 23. Other teams who have won the competition are South Africa, Australia and France. But most rugby experts believe that New Zealand will be the hardest team to beat. Everyone in this small island nation seems to love rugby! And only one thing will make them happy. Their team must bring home the William Webb Ellis Cup for the second time!