History of Rugby Football - as we know it!

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How the game came about

Football is not an English invention, since there is evidence that it has been played for centuries in various nations. It came to England in the 11th century and was hugely enjoyed by the population.

In the 15th and 16th centuries it was banned because of the damage caused by the participants and also because it interfered with the practice of archery - vital to the defence of the country before the development of gunpowder.

Public School's Influence Football became popular with the advent of the public schools who needed recreation for their boys when not studying. Various schools played to their own rules - developed by the pupils themselves. Rugby School, situated in the middle of England, played on grass using a pig's bladder encased in leather for a ball.

Early Rules at Rugby School The rules at Rugby School at that time forbade handling the ball on the field of play unless the ball was airborne in which case it could be caught. The catcher stood still as did all other players. The catcher could then retreat from where he had caught the ball and either kick it wherever he wished or place it on the ground and try to kick it over the crossbar and between the posts which counted as a goal. Until he had passed the spot where he had originally caught the ball no one could move.

Running with the Ball The above was the situation in 1823 when William Webb Ellis, a 16 year old boy, caught the ball and instead of standing still, ran with the ball in his arms towards the opponent's goal line. We do not know the outcome of this manoeuvre. Some years later the same tactic was used by several boys and by the 1840s it became the norm.

The Spread of 'Rugby' and Birth of the Union When the boys of Rugby School left they took the game with them and clubs sprang up all over England and in the colonies where they worked either as service personnel or administrators. By 1870 it became clear that the game was being played to a variety of rules. In December 1870 Edwin Ash, Secretary of Richmond Club put a letter in the papers which said, "Those who play the rugby-type game should meet to form a code of practice as various clubs play to rules which differ from others, which makes the game difficult to play".

On 26th January 1871 a meeting was held in London attended by over 30 people from 22 clubs and schools. As a result of this meeting the Rugby Football Union was founded. Formation of the Home Nations A committee was formed and three ex-Rugby School pupils invited to write a set of laws. The writers were all lawyers and the task was completed and approved by June of that year. At the same time the Scottish members of the new Union challenged the English members to a match and the first international match between Scotland and England was played at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh on 27 March 1871 - Scotland won by 1 goal, 1 try to 1 goal.

The Scots formed their own Rugby Union in 1873; the Irish Rugby Union was formed in 1879 and the Welsh Rugby Union in 1880. Barrelhouse was formed in the early 1970s.