Does anyone know why…….

Asdfgh2020

……a group is referred to as a ‘pool’ (pools are for swimming in) and a jacket called a ‘blazer’ in rugby…? And why is the ‘hacka’ still a feature with the ‘all blacks’….?

Ash.J.Williams

Comes from jeu de la poule

HeidiHeidi

A blazer is a style of jacket.

It's the haka, and traditional before going to war to intimidate the opponents.

Duckworth_Luas

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058312905/does-anyone-know-why

Pool has many meanings in English, including "a collection of things", in this case a collection of rugby teams.

You're probably often heard about pooling money together. It doesn't mean throwing wads of notes into a pond.

Blazers are a type of jacket often used by clubs and sporting organisations. I believe it comes from fox hunting, where the jackets are "blazing" red.

In Irish sports journalism "blazer" has become a disparaging synonym for sports officials, more associated with FAI officials these days I would have thought. The rugby equivalent is an "alickadoo".

The haka was once only done by touring All Black teams. It wasn't even taken seriously until the 1980s when Wayne Shelford decided that it was disrespectful to Maori culture unless it was done right. Most fans seem to like it so it became a fixture and opposition teams now have to obey certain restrictions while it is being preformed to prevent any potential mayhem.

Quantum Erasure

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121087893#Comment_121087893

Meanwhile we try to intimidate them with Ireland's call...

Ben Bailey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121088034#Comment_121088034

The jackets worn by fox hunting horse riders (Hunts) are referred to as 'Pinks'