Rooster and Lion T-Shirt

The history of the productBICENTENARY

Two hundred years of rugby and some facts to discover or rediscover: Unfortunately the beautiful story of William Webb Ellis who invented rugby by crossing the field with the ball in his hand during a football (soccer!) match in 1923 is certainly a myth. However, the sport was indeed born and gained popularity at the Rugby School and the sport took on the name of the school.

Rugby was first played with 50 players, then with 20 and finally with 15 (from 1875) and was at that time only a forwards sport. The notion of forwards and backs did not exist. The first rules were codified in 1846, but it was in 1871 that tripping was replaced by the tackle and forward passes were sanctioned by a scrum. Rugby balls were once made from pig bladders.

The first international rugby match took place in 1871 between Scotland and England. Rugby XV made its entry into the Olympic Games in 1900 and was excluded in 1924 following the match, of a rare violence, which opposed France & the United States. The Rugby World Cup started recently, in 1987. Since then and at each edition, the whistle used during the first match of each edition is the one that was used in 1905 during the first All Blacks tour in Great Britain.