| TRANSVAAL | The first match at South Africa's Ellis Park was played between the All Blacks and this provincial s |
| HUNGARY | The 'Blood in the Water' water polo match was played between the Soviet Union and ___ at the 1956 Melbourne Games, against the backdrop of a Soviet invasion of this country |
| DORP | Provincial S. Afr village (4) |
| BELLE | Upcoming Emma Watson role unexcited by "this provincial life" but very into "this crazy animal man" |
| LIONS | Super-14 team whose home is Johannesburg's Ellis Park |
| IOANE | Rieko and Akira -, brothers who play for the All Blacks and the Blues in Super Rugby |
| BROOKE | Zinzan ___ former New Zealand rugby player who played for the All Blacks and Auckland Blues |
| HAKA | Ceremonial dance performed by the All Blacks and the Black Ferns |
| PORTIAWOODMAN | Current international rugby player whose father and uncle were All Blacks, and whose aunt played netball for the Silver Ferns (6,7) |
| MATE | Scholar's ___ (end of the first match in "The Queen's Gambit") |
| BUBI | What is the name of the animal oracle which predicted correctly, the first match of EURO 2024? (4) |
| SALMON | Jamie, centre capped by the All Blacks and England (5) |
| ROME | City that hosted the first match of Euro 2020, between Turkey and Italy |
| ADELAIDE | India hadn't won the first match of any Test series in Australia until 2018, when it won in (8) |
| GRAHAM | ...... Henry, Wales, All Blacks and British and Irish Lions coach (6) |
| PRINCE | Paisley Park was this musician's private estate and recording complex (6) |
| FINLAND | North European nation and first time participant in Euro 2020; its first match was marred by near tragedy |
| POOJA | Who opened the bowling for India in its first match of the recent Women's T20 World Cup? (5) |
| PRESEASON | Rep ordered salt before the first match starts (9) |
| LENNON | The Strawberry Fields Memorial in New York's Central Park was constructed in memory of John ... |
