answersLogoWhite

0

When did rugby union form?

Updated: 9/28/2023
User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

Best Answer

No one knows mate! But this guy was at a Rugby school (a football school at the time) but this guy was playing footie and then he picked up the ball ran over the line and put it down.

The game of football (todays soccer) back in the 19 century was like many sports different than today's game. The game often had un-equal side numbers (50 playing against 150 people was not unusual). In the game at the time handling a ball was allowed but NOT holding and running with it. Barging people off the ball, pulling back (similar to tackling ) was also allowed. In one such match records show that William Webb Ellis stopped a ball by hand and ran with it toward the goal area. This prompted further games at the Rugby School to do the same. It was still Football (which is why our beloved gane is called Rugby Football) but it had "Rugby" School rules associated.

However, whilst the precedent set by Webb Ellis may have been significant, the actual popularisation of carrying the ball was due largely to another pupil, a Jem Mackie, in the late 1830s. The legislation of the handling came later still, thanks firstly to gentleman named Bigsie Levee in 1841, and finally enshrined in the written rules on August 28th 1845. This form of football originating from Rugby spread quickly to many other schools and institutions, predominantly due to the efforts of former Rugby pupils. Arthur Pell, for example, set up a club at Cambridge University in 1839 and, of significance to football historians per se, the 1848 meeting which led to the 'Cambridge Rules' in 1848 was the result of a game between the Old Rugbeians and the Old Etonians - the latter growing exasperated at the Rugby players' use of hands.

The oldest 'football club' was also the product of former Rugbeians, when Guy's Hospital FC was founded in 1843, soon followed by others such as Dublin University FC in 1854 and Blackheath Rugby Club in 1858.

On October 26th 1863 a meeting was held in Lincon, England where football clubs came together to set up clear specific rules for the game. The carrying of the ball and Hacking (kicking the legs from under the running player) were removed for the rules list and made offenses. 11 clubs decided that this was not in the ethos of the game they wanted and promptly left the Football association.

Janruary 1870, when the Secretary of Richmond FC proposed a meeting to codify a separate set of rules for the Rugby clubs. This took place shortly after on January 26th 1871 and was attended by 21 clubs at the Pall Mall Restaurant in London's Regent Street. In late 1871 a committee was founded in turn and three ex-Rugbeians (Rutter, L.J. Maton and Holmes) were given the task of drawing up a set of laws, which they completed and had approved by June 1871. Strangely enough hacking (basically tripping) was outlawed. The game developed from there and later on saw a group of northern clubs break away from the newly formed Rugby Union and create their own league (Rugby League). This was to be able to pay their players, many of whom were working class and were being offered jobs in the south which allowed them to work and play the Union game. The rest as they say is history.

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

In 1823 a young student of Rugby School Warwickshire England was playing football (now called soccer and football). In the rules of the time side were uneven with as may as 100 playing on each side. The idea was to get the ball and score a goal. However, in the rules a player could pick up the ball and could run with it. The rules required the ball carrier to retreat toward their own team to make a pass. William Webb Ellis, a student of the time decided that he would carry the ball (which was allowed in the rules) and ran forward toward the opposition goal line. The concept of this caught on quickly and the ball carrying forward started but the pass back remained in place as we see today. In the 1870s The Football Association was formed bringing together a range of teams across the U. They formalised the rules and outlawed ball carrying. In soccer (football) even now handling the ball is an offence. Several clubs did not like this new approach and broke away forming The Rugby Football Union (as it still is today) From there rules were formalised and the game of Rugby Football was born.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

A 17 year old pupil William Webb Ellis, of Rugby School, Warwickshire. England was reported , while playing football (Soccer) in 1823s 'caught the ball in his arms... and on catching the ball, instead of retiring backwards, rushed forwards with the ball in his hands towards the opposite goal'. This new way of taking on the ball and attacking became very popular. However, at that time the game was very unruly. Teams of up to 100 would play against 75 others. (No fair sides then) The game was to get possession and move the ball toward the goal on the opponents half o f the ground (they were not really marked out as a football or even rugby ground then). The game was more of a field with posts at each end. The idea was to score a goal as in soccer but handing was allowed. The pupils that left the school after this period took the came to universities where it became popular. Other private school in England such as Eton also took to this change in the game they were used to. As it become more popular clubs started to form. A meeting which led to the 'Cambridge Rules' in 1848 was the result of a game between the Old Rugbeians and the Old Etonians. October 26th 1863 was a pivotal moment in the history of football and rugby. The creation of the governing body was part of a series of meetings that would codify the rules of football and see Rugby split form the football Association, Which is where the name Rugby Football came in to being.

In 1895 Rugby League was formed.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

At a school called rugby whilst playing soccer a boy picked up the ball and ran. Someone

tackled him. Web Ellis saw and was inspired to create the sport.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

It was formed from soccer in the school of rugby in rugby England.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

1823.

The first formal set of rules was written in 1845.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

William web Ellis 'picked up the ball and ran with it' during a game of football at Rugby scholl

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: When did rugby union form?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What form of rugby scores the most points per match League or Union?

Union


Was rugby union or rugby league invented first?

Rugby union was :) the rugby union club i captain is the oldest rugby club in the world


Does London Irish rugby team play rugby league or rugby union?

rugby union


Who is more popular rugby union?

rugby union is the world cup, the six nations, the european nations cup... rugby union is what people know as rugby. all other forms of rugby are not as popular.


Does a rugby union video referee need any qualifications?

Yes, a rugby union video referee is a qualified Rugby Union Referee.


When was Crusaders - rugby union - created?

Crusaders - rugby union - was created in 1996.


When was Highlanders - rugby union - created?

Highlanders - rugby union - was created in 1996.


When was Welsh Rugby Union created?

Welsh Rugby Union was created in 1881.


When was Rugby Football Union created?

Rugby Football Union was created in 1871.


When was Hurricanes - rugby union - created?

Hurricanes - rugby union - was created in 1996.


When was Marlborough Rugby Union created?

Marlborough Rugby Union was created in 1888.


When was Scottish Rugby Union created?

Scottish Rugby Union was created in 1873.