Rugby is one of the world’s most popular sports, with a massive geographical footprint and nearly a half-billion fans worldwide. Rugby is a brutal sport that frequently results in serious injuries. However, rugby is also an aesthetically pleasing sport that requires immense skill and athletic intelligence.
From its folk roots and flexible rules over a thousand years ago, through the era of William Webb Ellis and the split between Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League, to the modern game exemplified by schools, leagues, clubs, national teams, and the World Cup, Rugby has a rich and fascinating history.
Early Rugby History
As is the case with American football, rugby is derived from soccer. Various soccer-like games have been played in ancient and medieval states and kingdoms throughout history. In England, where rugby originated, it is believed that soccer-like games were introduced during the Roman era. (From 43 to 410 AD, the Romans occupied Britain.)
From the 14th and 15th centuries until the 19th century, a variety of “folk” or “mob” football variations were played. This game evolved into two variations: one in which the ball was controlled with the legs and feet, and the other in which the ball was carried. These games were distinguished for their extreme violence and lack of rules. It was not uncommon for fighting, broken limbs, and even death to occur during these matches. Typically, as many players as possible would participate in large games between communities. The playing fields were vast, with miles separating the two goals, which were often the homes of the opposing captains. As a result, match reports frequently resemble modern rugby match reports in that every inch of detail is recorded.
King Edward III outlawed folk football in 1336 because it was seen as a diversion from mandatory archery practice. England placed a very high priority on producing longbowmen for its army at the time. In addition, folk football was a source of noise complaints from city merchants and a cover for violent protests. The prohibition lasted until 1667. People continued to play despite knowing that doing so could result in imprisonment. As a result of disorderly conduct, football was banned in Scotland in 1424, as was a similar game called la Soule in France.
Obviously, versions of football in which the ball could be carried were popular and continued to be played long before the alleged actions of rugby’s legendary founder William Webb Ellis. He said to have picked up the ball during a school soccer game in defiance of authority. William Webb Ellis attended Rugby School in Warwickshire from 1816 to 1825, but there is evidence that a form of Rugby football had been played for at least 200 years prior to this.
The origins of this myth lie in Britain’s rigid class structure. Rugby School was and is a “public” school (equivalent to “private” in the United States) and was associated with Britain’s affluent elite. The Rugby Football Union rules were established in 1845, and the sport quickly gained immense popularity in England. A significant issue would divide the sport, which was played by wealthy elites in the south and working-class individuals in the north.
Northern clubs demanded that their working-class players be compensated for time away from work while on tour and for injuries sustained while playing for the team. The Rugby Football Union administration responded that if the players could not afford to play, they should not play at all. As a result, the clubs of Northern England separated from the Rugby Football Union. They established their own Northern Union, later renamed Rugby League, with rules distinct from those imposed by Rugby Union.
Before this schism, however, a former member of Rugby School, Matthew Bloxam, refused to accept the notion that the game’s origins were not directly rooted in his school and began the myth that William Webb Ellis was the game’s inventor. This myth gave the Rugby Football Union authority within the sport. Nonetheless, when the Northern Union launched an investigation into the origins of the sport in 1897, Rugby School hurriedly erected a commemorative plaque stating that William Webb Ellis, “with a fine disregard for the rules of football as it was played at the time, first ran with the ball in his arms.” The Rugby Football Union persisted despite having no evidence other than the letters of an elderly man whose story changed each time he wrote. Its version of the sport ultimately became the most popular, all the while maintaining the narrative of William Webb Ellis.
International Recognition & Development
England and Scotland played the first international rugby match in 1871, with Scotland emerging as the victor. The national teams of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland began competing in the annual Home Nations Championship in 1883. The competition was renamed the Five Nations after the addition of France in 1910. Italy was admitted to the tournament, which is now known as the Six Nations, in 2000. The year 1883 also saw the introduction of rugby sevens, a game format in which teams are limited to seven players. The game is extremely fast-paced and brief, lasting only 14 minutes, as opposed to rugby union and rugby league games, which last 80 minutes.
Rugby also spread throughout the British Empire and to its farthest reaches. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada were introduced to rugby in the 1860s. However, international matches involving these countries were logistically impossible, and it was not until commercial flights became available that regular international rugby matches between teams from different continents began to be played.
Despite this, some international matches were played as part of lengthy tours. For example, in 1888, a British Isles team toured Australia and New Zealand, followed immediately by a New Zealand Native team comprised primarily of Maoris touring the British Isles, Australia, and New Zealand.
Early in the 20th century, the Southern Hemisphere sent its national teams to compete in Britain, beginning with New Zealand in 1905, followed by South Africa in 1906, and Australia in 1908. A match between New Zealand and Wales in 1905 began with the New Zealanders performing the haka, followed by the Welsh singing their national anthem. It was the first time a national anthem had been performed at an international sporting event.
Four times in the early 20th century, rugby union was featured in the Olympic Games, the last time in 1924. (the USA won gold). However, two world wars and the Great Depression had a negative impact on all international sports. The frequency of international tours increased in the second half of the 20th century. In 1973, the first internationally sanctioned rugby sevens tournament was held, and in 1987, the Rugby Union World Cup was established. Three times South Africa, three times New Zealand, twice Australia, and twice England have won the World Cup to date (once). Rugby sevens were reintroduced to the Olympic Games in 2016 as the sport’s return to the Games.
While many countries have their own rivalries, geographic regions spanning continents rarely compete with one another. There is an ongoing rivalry between the northern and southern hemispheres in rugby, with distinct playing styles and refereeing techniques. This has frequently been a concern.
The northern hemisphere competes in the Six Nations, while the southern hemisphere holds its own competition. South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia began competing in the Tri-Nations tournament in 1996. The competition was renamed The Rugby Championship after its expansion to include Argentina in 2012.
Rugby became popular in numerous nations during the second half of the twentieth century. It became the most popular sport in numerous nations with diverse geographic and cultural origins, including Georgia, Madagascar, Namibia, Tonga, West Samoa, and Fiji. In Japan and other East Asian nations, the sport has attracted considerable interest and is gaining popularity. This is in part due to the rugby sevens format, which has made the sport more accessible to many nations. The same cities, including Las Vegas, Dubai, and Hong Kong, host Rugby Sevens tournaments annually.
Rugby remains a popular sport in the United States, but it is not played professionally because the National Football League has eclipsed it (NFL). With a staggering total of 2,588, the United States has the most rugby clubs in the entire world.
Women’s Rugby Games
Women’s rugby games have been played since the 1880s, concurrently with the growth of men’s rugby. The first attempt at an international tour (from England to New Zealand) was canceled as a result of public outcry from those who viewed rugby as an exclusively male pastime. Despite the obstacles, the success of women’s rugby was unavoidable. Occasionally, it was necessary to hold games behind closed doors, away from the public. In 1921, a women’s rugby league match was played in Sydney in front of more than 30,000 spectators. The game was not played again due to pressure from the authorities.
Women persisted in defying society’s gender roles, and women’s rugby persevered and gained popularity until it was fully accepted and the Women’s Rugby Football Union was established. The first Women’s Rugby World Cup was held in 1991, and subsequent tournaments have been held every four years. The U.S. won the inaugural competition. Since then, it has been won five times by New Zealand and twice by England.
Women’s rugby games have been played since the 1880s, concurrently with the growth of men’s rugby. The first attempt at an international tour (from England to New Zealand) was canceled as a result of public outcry from those who viewed rugby as an exclusively male pastime. Despite the obstacles, the success of women’s rugby was unavoidable. Occasionally, it was necessary to hold games behind closed doors, away from the public. In 1921, a women’s rugby league match was played in Sydney in front of more than 30,000 spectators. The game was not played again due to pressure from the authorities.
Women persisted in defying society’s gender roles, and women’s rugby persevered and gained popularity until it was fully accepted and the Women’s Rugby Football Union was established. The first Women’s Rugby World Cup was held in 1991, and subsequent tournaments have been held every four years. The U.S. won the inaugural competition. New Zealand has won it five times since then, while England has won it twice.
The History of Rugby Continues…
The future of rugby is filled with optimism, particularly as an amateur sport. The international competitiveness of rugby has reached new heights due to the proliferation of competitions, and the addition of countries where the sport is gaining in popularity will undoubtedly contribute to this trend. Furthermore, rugby is gaining significant strength despite the setbacks caused by the Covid pandemic.
