The meat behind the Rugby World Cup

Celebrate the Rugby World Cup with these delicious meat recipes to match the participating countries

The Rugby World Cup is in full swing, and we've decided to join in the fun by cooking some truly scrum-tious meals (see what I did there?). Pretty much every country that is participating in this year's tournament has a national meat, whether that's the ubiquitous lamb of New Zealand and Wales or the more exotic tastes of Australia, where you might be served up some kangaroo.

Let’s take a look at some delicious recipes that you can make from a few of the world cup countries, starting with the home nations.

England

You’d be hard pushed to find anything more quintessentially English than the Hairy Bikers, which is why their recipe for roast belly of pork is perfect for settling down to catch up with the rugby highlights (or watching the games live in the wee hours if you’re really hard core) with a cheeky beer or two.

Wales

What could be more Welsh than a lovely piece of lamb? This roast loin of lamb recipe by North Wales born chef Bryn Williams uses the classic combination of peas, lettuce and bacon for a delicious and quick supper.

Scotland

Perhaps it’s clichéd, but of course, no meat round up which includes Scotland could be without Haggis. It’s a bit late (or early) for Burns Night, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the historic dish. This haggis recipe will even give you a little bit of trivia about its origins. And if you can’t quite stomach the idea of, er, stomach, you could always give Aberdeen Angus Steak a go instead.

Ireland

Oyster farming in Ireland gained massive popularity in the 1990s and today the industry employs almost 500 people annually. The majority of Irish oysters are exported, so there’s a good chance those that you will find in your local markets may have hailed from the Emerald Isle. If you’re quite a confident cook, give this luxury oyster recipe a go.

New Zealand

World Cup hosts New Zealand take pride in the quality of their lamb, and rightly so. New Zealand of course shares its national meat with Wales, so if the duo end up playing each other in the final, you could cook yourself up a mega lamb feast to celebrate. Until then, why not try Cowdray Farm’s roast shoulder of lamb, but remember to allow two days for the marinade.

Australia

Here’s where things take a turn for the exotic. Australians tuck into, and export, both the animals on their national coat of arms, the kangaroo and the emu. You may be surprised to know that kangaroo meat is in fact very low in fat, but still has a rich flavour. Because of the low fat content, you need to be careful when cooking that you don’t dry out the meat, check out the kangaroo recipes on the Kangaroo Industry Association website for tips.

France

One of the most popular meats in France is horse, but getting hold of that in the UK is tricky. Instead, have a go at this delicious rabbit recipe by Gary Kingshott. A moist meat, it will take on the beautiful flavours in the recipe really well.

South Africa

Ostrich meat is another meat that is surprisingly healthy yet versatile. The high iron content and low cholesterol make it a great choice for sports men and women, so you can almost guarantee that the South African rugby team tuck into some tasty ostrich while training. This ostrich burger recipe couples the flavours of South Africa with Worcestershire sauce, making it the perfect meal should England play South Africa in the final.

Italy

You might think the obvious choice is Spaghetti Bolognese, but Italian food expert @robmonferrato recommends Fiorentina beef steak, otherwise known as a t-bone or Porterhouse steak. Pellegrino Artusi (the author of the famous Italian cookbook "La scienza in cucina e l'arte di mangiare bene" said it was “wholesome, invigorating, and tasty” so if the team are tucking into this, the opposition should expect trouble! Best cooked according to Artusi over hot coals with simple salt and pepper seasoning, topped with a piece of butter.

Also worth your attention:

Our top five lamb dishes

Get top quality meats from Westin Gourmet

Find the best price at Mysupermarket

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