Rugby originated in England in the early 1800s and evolved into a global full-contact team sport. The game’s origin is tied to a lasting legend. In 1823, a match was played at Rugby School when a student allegedly ran forward holding the ball – defying the established rules of football. The student was William Webb Ellis, aged sixteen.
This moment is considered rugby’s unofficial point of origin. Historians debate the event, but the legend remains influential—today, both a plaque and a trophy honor his name.
Early Precursors: Ball Games Through the Ages
Long before Webb Ellis’s reputed run, ancient civilizations played similar games. The Romans played the game of harpastum; medieval Europeans had their similar versions, such as Wales’s Cnapan, Ireland’s Caid, Italy’s Calcio Fiorentino, and France’s Soule. Such recreational games involved kicking, carrying, scrummaging, and passing before they became codified by rules.
Fun Fact: La soule in France involved hundreds of players across villages, and harpastum comes from the Greek word “seize”, emphasizing contest and handling.
The Rugby School Breakthrough & The Webb Ellis Legend
At The Rugby School, pupils played a flexible form of football that gradually added holding and running with the ball. Carrying the ball became a common feature at Rugby and other English public schools during the 1840s.
In 1845, students at the school formalized the first written laws of rugby football, drafted by W. W. Shirley, F. Hutchins, and others, giving birth to a structured code of play.
Codification & Clubs (1850–1871)
Post‑1845, versions of rugby spread to other schools and universities, including Cambridge, where Rugbeian Albert Pell established one of the first “football” teams based on Rugby School rules.
In 1863, dissatisfaction with the FA’s rules banning handling led prominent clubs like Blackheath F.C. to break away and retain rugby-style play, which precipitated the formation of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) on 26 January 1871, when delegates from 21 or 22 English clubs met at Pall Mall, London, to create a governing body and unite rules across clubs.
First International Match & Rule Refinements
On 27 March 1871, Scotland and England met for the first time to play an international rugby match at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh. Scotland won by a two-try and one-goal margin against one try by England. Angus Buchanan scored the first international try by Scotland.
The same era saw the standardization of two key rules:
- In 1877, the rule requiring a tackled player to release the ball immediately was introduced.
- Around 1877–1879, team size settled on 15 players per side, replacing 20‑a‑side matches.
Early Governance & Global Expansion
In 1886, disputes arose over how tries were counted. Ireland, Scotland, and Wales demanded fairer scoring decisions. The nations established the International Rugby Football Board that year. This organization later became known as World Rugby.
England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) joined in 1890. Worldwide membership has since grown to over 130 unions.
During this time, the sport spread across the British Empire and Europe. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Canada, and Argentina were some of the earliest countries to adopt rugby. Rugby was developed early in Japan, having been played since 1899 when Keio University students embraced the game through Edward B. Clarke.
The Great Schism: Rugby Union vs Rugby League (1895)
Player payment scandals in the North of England led 22 clubs to secede from the RFU in 1895 to form the Northern Rugby Football Union, which subsequently evolved into the rugby League.
These teams were characterized by squads of 13 men and the introduction of significant rule innovations, such as play-the-ball instead of contested scrums.
Rugby’s Rise to Professionalism & Global Competition
Rugby union was amateur-only until World Rugby (then IRFB) ended pay bans and legalized the sport in August 1995.
The first Rugby World Cup took place in 1987. It was hosted jointly by Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand won the tournament and claimed the title. The event has been organised every four years since and remains one of rugby’s most prestigious global tournaments.
Other major rugby competitions take place across various regions. These include the Six Nations tournament, which is played in Europe, and the Rugby Championship, featuring leading teams in the southern hemisphere. Other leagues include the Premiership, French Top 14, the NPC, Currie Cup, and Super Rugby.
Iconic Moments & Cultural Legacy
The 1905 “Match of the Century”: In 1905, Wales played New Zealand in Cardiff. The match was held at Cardiff Arms Park. It became one of rugby’s most iconic encounters, with Wales winning with a final score of 3–0. New Zealand opened with its traditional haka challenge. Welsh supporters responded with Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau – marking the first time a national anthem was sung before an international sporting match. It set a precedent in international rugby tradition.
Fun Facts & Trivia
- The Webb Ellis Cup is the trophy awarded to Rugby World Cup champions. The cup is dedicated to William Webb Ellis, whose role as the originator of the game of rugby is controversial among historians.
- The plaque commemorating Webb Ellis’s “exploit” was installed in 1895 at Rugby School’s front gate, inscribing his act as the origin of rugby.
- Many modern forms of football, such as Canadian football and American football, originated from rugby, though they diverged significantly over time.
From Schoolyard Myth to International Sport
Rugby has developed from a schoolyard myth to a global sport. William Webb Ellis’s tale might be a myth centuries old, but it powerfully embodies the rugby spirit.
Today, rugby has competitions around the globe with millions of devoted fans. The game’s values of respect, discipline, integrity, passion, and solidarity are still holding strong to this day.
Developing a Stronger Mindset for Rugby Players
Like any other sport, your mindset is a big part of your rugby game. With celebrity athletes like Simone Biles and Kevin Love opening up about their mental fitness journeys, athletes everywhere are starting to value the mind game.
At ISNation, we believe you need to train your mind with the same effort you train your body to prepare you for competition and give you an edge in sport and in life. Learn more about our mission and sign up to be an ambassador here.
