Rugby was established at Rugby School, England in 1823

RUGBY football, a sport with rich history, is believed to have originated at Rugby School in England in 1823 when William Webb Ellis allegedly picked up the ball and ran with it during a game.

The sport’s codified rules were established in 1845.

By the late 19th century, rugby had spread throughout the British Empire and beyond.

In 1895, a major split occurred, with some clubs forming the Northern Rugby Football Union (later Rugby League), leading to the first code to turn professional and pay players.

Here’s a more detailed look at key historical moments: Early Development 1823: The legendary “invention” of rugby by William Webb Ellis is said to have occurred during a game at Rugby School, England.

1845: The rules of rugby football were codified at Rugby School. 1846: The game began to spread to other English public schools.

1863: A collection of schools and clubs decided on a set of rules, paving the way for organized play. 1871: The Rugby Football Union (RFU) was founded in England, and the first international match was played between England and Scotland.

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Growth and Division 1881: The Welsh Rugby Union was established. 1895: A major split in rugby occurred, with 21 clubs in the North of England forming the Northern Rugby Football Union (later Rugby League).

This split was largely due to the issue of “broken-time payments” to players who lost work while playing. 1922: The Northern Rugby Football Union was renamed the Rugby Football League, making it the first code to turn professional. Modern Era: 1995: Rugby Union officially became a professional sport, allowing players to be paid to play.

1996: The Tri Nations tournament (later The Rugby Championship) was established, featuring Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

2009: Rugby Sevens was included in the Olympic Games program for the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics.

Other Notable Facts: Rugby World Cup: The first World Cup was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 1987.

Rugby World Cup Trophy: The Rugby World Cup trophy is named after William Webb Ellis.

Olympic History: Rugby Union was included in the Summer Olympics in 1900 and 1908, but was later dropped.

Core Values: Rugby’s core values include integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline, and respect, according to World Rugby