HISTORY

RUGBY   •  BASIC RULES  •  POSITIONS  •  HOW TO PLAY  •  HISTORY  •  EXTRAS •  HERO

1823  Rugby developed through an infraction of the rules by a Rugby School boy, William Webb Ellis, during a soccer match.

1839  Students at Cambridge University gave it a trial during an intramural game.

1848  The first code of the game was formulated and Rugby soon acquired wide recognition.

1863  Official parting of the ways between Rugby & Association Football.
(Today RFU & FA).

1871  Twenty one amateur clubs established the Rugby Football Union and drew up the original lawsof the game. First International Game: Scotland v England, Raeburn Place in Edinburgh, March 27th.

1873  Formation of Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) on March 3rd.

1874  Formation of UCC, Irish Rugby Union.

1881  Formation of Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) on March 12th.

1889  Formation of South African Rugby Football Board.

1892  Formation of New Zealand Rugby Union1895 – Formation of The Northern Rugby Union (NRU).

1899  The Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR) was formed.

1900  Rugby is played at Olympic Games in Paris. France win the title.

1900  Formation of the German Rugby Association.

1910  First International Game at Twickenham, England.1913 – FIJI RFU formed.

1921  International Rugby Board introduces Numbers on the back of shirts.

1922  NRU renamed Rugby Football League.

1934  The Federation of Amateur Rugby (FIRA) was formed: Czechslovia, France,Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Spain (Catalonia), Romania, Sweden & Belgium.

1949  Australian Rugby Union founded (formerly New South Wales Rugby Union).

1973  Gareth Edwards famous try for the Barbarians vs. the New Zealand all blacks.

1983  Women Rugby Football Union formed.

1987  1. Rugby World Cup – Finals New Zealand (29) vs France (7).

1991  2. Rugby World Cup (UK/IRE/FRA) – Finals Australia (12) vs England (6).

1995  3. Rugby World Cup (SA) – Finals South Africa (15) vs New Zealand (12).

1998  1. Women's Rugby World Cup (NL) – Finals New Zealand (46) vs USA (12).

1999  4. Rugby World Cup (Wales) – Finals Australia (35) vs France (12).

2002  2. Women`s Rugby World Cup (ESP) – Finals New Zealand (19) vs England (9).

2003  5. Rugby World Cup (AUS) – Finals England (20) vs Australia (17).

2006  3. Women`s Rugby World Cup (CAN) – Finals New Zealand (25) vs England (17).

2007  6. Rugby World Cup (FRA) – Finals South Africa (15) vs England (6)

2010  4. Women`s Rugby World Cup (ENG).

2011  7. Rugby World Cup to be held in New Zealand.

2015  8. Rugby World Cup to be held in England.

2016  Rugby 7's as Olympic discipline.