Rugby

In 1823, during a game of English school football at Rugby School, William Webb-Ellis is said to have picked up the ball and run with it, leading to the origin of rugby football. Despite doubts about the evidence, the story was commemorated with a plaque at the school in 1895.

The first rules of Rugby were established and implemented.

The 'Cambridge Rules' for football were drawn up in 1848, contributing to the early development of rugby football.

The only known contemporary image of William Webb Ellis was published in the Illustrated London News on April 29, 1854. This image provides a glimpse into the iconic figure associated with the inception of rugby.

Canon George Ogilvie introduced the game of football, similar to the one played at Winchester College, at Diocesan College in Cape Town. This version of football, which included handling of the ball, is considered the beginnings of rugby in South Africa.

In 1863, the Blackheath Club decided to leave the Football Association, marking a significant event in the history of rugby football.

Edwin Ash and Benjamin Burns published a letter in The Times suggesting the formation of a code of practice for the rugby-type game due to differing rules among clubs. A meeting attended by representatives from 21 clubs was held in London, leading to the establishment of the RFU.

The first 15 player a side international game was between Ireland and England, where England emerged victorious with a score of 14-0.

The first international rugby match took place at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, between a team selected from England and a team representing Scotland. This historic game marked the beginning of international rugby competitions.

The first recorded rugby match between two colleges in the United States using rugby union code rules took place on May 14, 1874, between Harvard University and McGill University.

University of Pennsylvania played a rugby game against College of New Jersey (Princeton) on November 11, 1876, which was a precursor to adopting rugby union rules in their matches.

The first Rugby game with 15 players on each side was played.

Rugby was first played in Fiji around 1884 by European and Fijian soldiers of the Native Constabulary at Ba on Viti Levu island.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) was established in 1886 as the governing body for rugby union. It has played a crucial role in overseeing the development and regulation of the sport globally.

In 1888, the British Isles rugby team embarked on a notable tour to New Zealand and Australia, marking one of the first instances of intercontinental rugby matches. The tour was significant due to the rarity of such encounters before the era of commercial air travel.

The Barbarians, also known as the Baa-Baas, were founded in 1890 by William Percy Carpmael in Hartlepool. The team is an elite group of players selected by invitation only, representing courage, flair, spirit, and passion in rugby.

In 1897, the Rugby World Cup trophy was named after William Webb Ellis, the iconic figure in the sport who is credited with the impulsive act that laid the foundation for the game of rugby.

Argentina, known as the most prominent rugby playing nation in South America, founded the Argentine Rugby Union in 1899. This marked the beginning of a long history of rugby in the country.

Rugby union was featured as an event in the Olympic Games four times in the early 1900s.

In 1905, the New Zealand 1905 touring team introduced the tradition of performing a haka before each match. This team also led to the singing of the Welsh National Anthem at the start of a sporting event.

The first international Test match at Twickenham took place between England and Wales in front of 22,000 fans. The rivalry between these two teams in the Guinness Six Nations is a highly anticipated event.

Led by Cal and Stanford, several West Coast universities, including Nevada, St. Mary's, Santa Clara, and USC, transitioned from American football to playing rugby union.

Stanford University defeated the Australian national team 13–12 on 16 October 1912 in a historic match that raised America's status in rugby.

At the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, a United States team predominantly from Stanford University secured the gold medal in rugby union by defeating France.

In 1924, a group of Stanford rugby players achieved Olympic success by beating France to win a gold medal, despite facing challenges such as initial denial of entrance and a hostile crowd.

The 1981 Springbok Tour to New Zealand was marked by political protests and division in New Zealand society, impacting the prestige of rugby until New Zealand won the 1987 Rugby World Cup.

The first Rugby World Cup is held, marking a significant milestone in the history of the sport.

The second edition of the Rugby World Cup was hosted by the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France, with Australia claiming victory in the tournament.

The third Rugby World Cup took place in South Africa, where the host nation, South Africa, emerged as the champions.

On August 26, 1995, the International Rugby Board declared rugby union an 'open' game, removing all restrictions on payments or benefits to those involved in the sport. This decision aimed to end shamateurism and maintain control of rugby union.

The fourth edition of the Rugby World Cup.

Nelson Mandela led South Africa to victory in the Rugby World Cup, uniting the country through the sport.

Argentina joined The Rugby Championship in 2012 after calls to include them in major hemispheric national team competitions. The competition was previously known as the Tri Nations before their inclusion.

In 2014, the European club competition structure underwent significant changes with the introduction of the European Rugby Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup, replacing the Heineken Cup and European Challenge Cup. The top competition saw a reduction in the number of participating clubs and the addition of a play-off to determine one place in the Champions Cup.

In the 2015 Rugby World Cup hosted by England, the All Blacks defeated Australia in the final, becoming the first team to win three titles and defend their title.

On November 6, 2017, Major League Rugby and CBS Sports Network announced a multi-year television partnership, marking MLR's first major television deal for broadcast rights.

On April 21, 2018, the first regular season game in Major League Rugby history took place when the Houston SaberCats hosted the New Orleans Gold in Houston.

During the ninth Rugby World Cup in Japan, South Africa emerged victorious over England with a score of 32-12 at Yokohama.

The Six Nations Championship is an annual competition involving European teams England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales. England are the reigning champions.

Rugby is a contact team sport that originated in England. It is known for its physicality and strategic gameplay.

In the tenth Rugby World Cup held in France, South Africa clinched a close victory over New Zealand with a score of 12-11 at Stade de France.