The rivetting game of Rugby – what a sport! Rugby is believed to have been invented in 1823 when William Webb Ellis, while playing soccer, picked up the ball in his hands and ran. It was such an interesting concept that Cambridge University adopted the game and made rules to go along with it. In 1871 the first Rugby Union was formed in London and set rules for the game were created and implemented. These rules were altered in 1895 when The Rugby League, consisting of 13 players, was founded.
Rugby found its way across the seas to the United States. However, there was an obvious lack of knowledge about the game and its rules and several changes were made to it. In 1905, after a very physical match between Sarthmore and Pennsylvania, President Theodore Roosevelt threatened to abolish the game if such overt brutality continued. A year later American Football was born. However, this did not stop the other countries from continuing to enjoy Rugby as a spectator sport, especially Britain. And Rugby players continued to enjoy its adrenaline-pumping action and fast play.Today, Rugby is enjoyed and played in more than 80 countries worldwide, and, although the rules of the game continue to evolve, the rush that you feel watching or playing the sport will forever remain a constant.
Watch this informative video to learn the basics about the exciting game of Rugby.
