Elizabethtown College Alumnus Micah Aumen ’13 had no interest in Rugby upon arriving in Dunedin, New Zealand. One of his apprehensions about studying abroad was the lack of American sports. His time abroad allowed him to discover his new interest in the football down under-rugby.
Rugby acted as a substitute while living in New Zealand, especially as the country was hosting the Rugby World Cup. Almost as soon as Micah arrived he made some Kiwi friends who taught him the ins and outs of the game on their flat screen.
He learned they are two types of rugby: League and Union. League is played in Australia with 15 Australian teams and one from New Zealand. The New Zealand team was the natural favorite. Union is played all over the world and is the form played in the World Cup. Essentially the same, the differences lie in how many times a player is down before a turnover occurs and what kind of tackles are allowed. Micah found the games to be quick, upbeat, and comparable to American football.
Being in New Zealand while they hosted the World Cup was an amazing experience for Micah. The country buzzed with excitement as the All Blacks – New Zealand’s national team, won all four of their matches.
Besides the country’s buzz, Dunedin hosted various teams and fans. Micah loved to see the mix of cultures and even had the chance to attend a World Cup match, a highlight of his time abroad.
*Click on the hyperlinks above to learn more about the Dunedin, New Zealand program and to read Liz’s original blog published by BCA Study Abroad on November 11, 2014.
Blue Jays Abroad 
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