Sampled Rugby Gallery

That tough team sport played by gentlemen

Many of today's rugby playing nations had some form of football games which allowed for the handling of the ball and had types of scrummaging formations. Rugby football was first codified at Rugby School in 1845 and became popular in England in the decades that followed. Twenty five English rugby clubs met and established the Rugby Football Union in 1871. That same year the first recognised international rugby match took place between England and Scotland. The first Rugby League World Cup was staged in France in 1954. The first Rugby World Cup was held in 1987.