These days rugby at the top level tends to be played on manicured pitches that wouldn’t be out of place at Lords or Augusta. Internationals are played indoors at Cardiff and in Melbourne and even now in Dunedin. There are regular cries for the Six Nations tournament to be moved from its mid-winter slot to a time when the weather is more likely to be conducive to free-flowing rugby.

Rugby league has even moved to the summer. Rugby, however, is a winter sport, designed to be played in the most inclement of conditions. Bad weather rugby can be great rugby and lest we forget this, here are some matches played in the worst weather imaginable.

Llanelli v New Zealand – Stradey Park 1989

The All Blacks’ visit to West Wales coincided with wind and rain of Biblical proportions. The capacity at Stradey Park had been increased through the erection of a temporary stand on the adjoining cricket pitch, but the club were told, by the Fire Brigade, that they were not allowed to use it as it was in danger of blowing away.

The wind that day was so extreme that Colin Stephens, the Llanelli outside half, took a drop out in the first half and it went back over his head. A similar exercise in the 2nd half hit the crossbar at the other end on the first bounce.

Llanelli played into the wind first half and almost scored with Simon Davies dropping the ball with the line at his mercy. When the whistle went for half time with the All Blacks only leading 8-0, Phil Davies jumped up and punched the air in delight. Enter Buck Shelford, who strangled the life out of the game with one of the most awesome forward displays ever seen. The All Blacks won 11-0.

South Africa v France – RWC Semi final, Durban, South Africa 1995

The most dramatic of World Cups was coming to its climax against the backdrop of Nelson Mandela’s rainbow nation. The first semi final between France and the Springboks was held in Durban, dubbed by the local tourist board as the place where ‘the fun never sets’.

When the game was eventually played, South Africa won the arm wrestle with France despite Les Bleus being unlucky to have a try disallowed. While the world’s press headed for the following day’s semi final in Cape Town on flights that the authorities had thoughtfully delayed until after the match was over, Francois Piennar’s men marched off to Ellis Park and their date with destiny in front of President Mandela clad in his Springbok number 7 shirt.Will they never learn? The monsoon at kick off delayed the game by a couple of hours and spoilt the carefully planned publicity campaign of an integrated South Africa as a small army of African women were sent onto the pitch to squeegee it dry.

New South Wales Country v Wales – Moree 1996

Back in the days when national teams did proper tours instead of flying into capital cities for one game, Wales went to Australia with echoes of the 1991 debacle still fresh in everyone’s minds.

One of the warm up games was against New South Wales Country in a little farming town about 400 miles North of Sydney. The locals had really embraced the event with banners over the main street welcoming the teams and supporters, pre-match dinners, post-match dinners, a local girl’s school choir had learnt the Welsh National anthem to sing before the game. It hadn’t rained in Moree for five years. What could possibly go wrong?

The drought broke the day of the game and the rain made up for lost time. The downpour was torrential, the schoolgirls, dressed in Welsh costume, did manage to sing their anthem, although by the time they’d finished, they looked like drowned rats. The spectators didn’t fare much better, the few Welsh supporters had been given seats on the half way line, but the stand was temporary and had no cover. Some were luckier and managed to wangle their way into sponsor’s tents, which offered more shelter but by the end of the game the place was like a swamp.

Wales, more used to the conditions than the local team, even managed to win, their only victory on the tour.

New Zealand v The British and Irish Lions First Test – Jade Stadium, Christchurch 2005

The First Test between the All Blacks and the Lions in 2005 was one of the most keenly anticipated games in rugby history. It was the first time they’d met in 12 years. New Zealand, perpetually the best team in the world outside Rugby World Cups had won the Tri Nations at a canter. Sir Clive Woodward had picked a squad containing the nucleus of his 2003 World Cup winning side and the preparation had been meticulous, the management team even including Alistair Campbell, Tony Blair’s infamous spin doctor to manage public relations.

Those who got up early to watch the game on TV will remember it for the spear tackle which ended Brian O’Driscoll’s tour. Those who were at the ground will remember it for the ferocious weather. The wind and rain that day numbed the spectators to the core and probably saved the Lions from an even bigger pounding from the rampant All Blacks.

Hong Kong Sevens– Finals Day Happy Valley Stadium – 1992

These days, the Happy Valley stadium in Hong Kong is a 40,000 capacity ground capable of hosting Bledisloe Cup games. In 1992, the tournament and the stadium were a little less formal, with quite a few temporary and roofless stands. The 1992 tournament saw UK representation from the Barbarians, but when they saw the conditions on the last day, they promptly contrived to lose to North Korea in one of the tournament’s biggest shocks.

The storm which hit the tournament was one of those flash tropical ones, where it absolutely hammers down for an hour and then stops. Unfortunately, this one forgot to stop for about 9 hours.

WeatherWatch.co.nz and Suite101.com