Getting the Blues Quiz | Rugby Union

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This former All Black joined the Cardiff Blues in 2005, becoming club captain in 2006. Who is he?

Answer: Xavier Rush

Xavier Rush won 8 caps for the All Blacks, also representing the Auckland Blues, and in researching this quiz, I discovered that he played for Auckland Marist, the same club side as I played for in New Zealand.

2. A pair of Welsh international brothers have starred in the backs for the Blues from the first year of their formation. When one of them scores a try, it is often acompanied by the soundtrack from "The Graduate". Who are they?

Answer: Jamie and Nicky Robinson

Jamie is predominantly a centre, whilst Nicky plays most of his rugby at outside half. They are from Cardiff, are Welsh speaking, and were educated at Ysgol Glantaf, the same school as Hollywood actors Ioan Gruffudd and Matthew Rhys, and erstwhile Blue Peter presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Gethin Jones.

3. Born in 1980, this full back or winger has won over 40 caps for Wales, scoring some important tries for them, although his career has been often interrupted by serious injuries. Who is this Welsh speaker who hails from Cowbridge, in the Vale of Glamorgan?

Answer: Rhys Williams

If Rhys Williams had managed to avoid just a few of the horrendous injuries that have beset his career, he would undoubtedly have added significantly to his number of caps and tries. Gethin Jones is the former Blue Peter presenter from Cardiff who is a self-confessed Blues fan (and once did a feature for Blue Peter where he trained with the Blues team). Jamie Roberts is another full back/winger for the Blues and Wales, but a fair few years younger than Rhys Williams. Gerald Davies is a legendary Welsh winger who finished his career with Cardiff. All are fluent Welsh speakers.

4. In their first 5 seasons, Cardiff Blues elected three captains. Which one of the following players is not amongst these captains, though he has captained his country?

Answer: Gareth Thomas

Although Gareth Thomas captained Wales, he has never been elected captain of the Blues. A colourful character, "Alfie" is Wales' most capped player, being the first Welshman to reach the 100-cap mark. He joined the Cardiff Blues from French side Tolouse for the 2007-08 season, having had a four season spell at Cardiff RFC at the end of the 1990s.

5. This was the first player to make 100 appearances for the Cardiff Blues regional team. He played in the second row, and though he did represent the Celtic Warriors, he hasn't ever played for Pontypridd. Who is he?

Answer: Deiniol Jones

Gentle giant Deiniol Jones comes from West Wales originally, and joined the Cardiff Blues via Bath, Ebbw Vale, Bridgend and the Celtic Warriors. He has achieved international recognition from Wales late in his career, a deserved award for his consistently high level performances in the Blues shirt.

6. Which Rugby League legend with a very Welsh name, played for the Blues in their first season as a regional side in 2003-04?

Answer: Iestyn Harris

Iestyn Harris played 10 games for the Cardiff Blues in 2003-04, kicking 82 points, before returning to play Rugby League. Jonathan Davies played for Cardiff RFC in the 1990s, but never for Cardiff Blues. Clive Griffiths played all his Rugby Union in West Wales before moving to the North of England, and Keiron Cunningham has never played Rugby Union.

7. For the 2005-06 season, the Cardiff Blues announced the signing of a true world rugby union legend. Who was the colossus of a winger who made 10 appearances for the Blues in that season?

Answer: Jonah Lomu

Jonah Lomu was recovering from a kidney transplant operation, and desperate to get back into the All Blacks side, so he took the opportunity to play some rugby in the UK as part of his rehabilitation process. He was a great hit with Blues' fans, ensuring virtual sell out crowds every time he played.

Unfortunately, his season ended prematurely when he broke his ankle setting up a try in the 46-11 win against the Border Reivers. He played little more rugby anywhere after that, and sadly announced his retirement from the game in 2007. Nevertheless, for those of us who saw him, it was a real privilege to see one of the games greatest players turning out in Blues colours.

8. The Blues have welcomed international players from nearly a dozen nations from around the world into their ranks, but who was the first South African international player to appear for the Blues?

Answer: Pieter Muller

Pieter Muller gained 33 caps in the Centre for South Africa, featuring in their 1999 World Cup squad. He moved to the Blues in the twilight of his career. Percy Montgomery is the legendary South African Full Back who has won over 100 Test caps, and he played for the Newport Gwent Dragons from 2003-2005. Stefan Terblanche played for the Swansea/ Neath Ospreys as well as representing South Africa on 37 occasions.

Herschelle Gibbs is a South African cricketer who appeared briefly for Glamorgan in the 2008 season.

He played his home games for Glamorgan at the SWALEC Stadium, which is literally only a 5-minute walk from Cardiff Blues' ground.

9. In their first season as a Region in 2003, the Cardiff Blues have played in a league along with Regional sides from Ireland and Scotland, as well as other sides from Wales. What is the name of this League?

Answer: The Celtic League

The Celtic League started in 2001-02 when 7 Welsh club sides competed with Irish and Scottish Regions. With the re-organization of Welsh rugby in 2003-04, the Welsh Regions (which at the time comprised of the now defunct Celtic Warriors along with the Newport Gwent Dragons, the Llanelli Scarlets, the Swasnea Neath Ospreys and the Cardiff Blues) took the club sides' places in the Celtic League.

The Blues managed to finish in second position in the Celtic League in two consecutive seasons; 2006-07 and 2007-08.

In the first 7 seasons of the Celtic League, to 2008, Leinster and the Ospreys won it twice each, whilst the Scarlets, Munster and Ulster had all registered a single league title win.

10. In their first season as a Region, the Cardiff Blues played their home matches at one of the most famous grounds in rugby folklore. What is the name of this ground?

Answer: The Cardiff Arms Park

The Cardiff Arms Park has been home to rugby in Cardiff since 1881. It had been a cricket ground since 1848, when the Marquess of Bute built the facility on land next to the Cardiff Arms Hotel. It has been the home to Cardiff Rugby Club, the Welsh National team (who now play at the adjoining Millennium Stadium, built for the 1999 World Cup) and the Cardiff Blues since then, and has seen many a mighty struggle over the years.

Source: Author huw27

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Getting the Blues Trivia Quiz

The Cardiff Blues Regional rugby team from Wales came into being in 2003. Here is a quiz on their short history thus far. Plenty of clues for the uninitated to pick up some easy points here too. Have fun!

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>