1. Rugby’s Origin Story Comes From a Letter
(Irish Examiner)
Anyone even remotely interested in rugby history will be familiar with the name William Webb Ellis, at least because it is the name of the trophy given to the team that wins the Rugby World Cup.
In October 1876, Matthew Bloxam, a former student of Rugby School, sent a letter to ‘Meteor,’ the Rugby School magazine. He was prompted by the ongoing debate about the origins of rugby and the new stories about its history. Bloxam was determined to keep its roots tied to his friend Webb Ellis and Rugby School, so he provided the newspaper with an account of Webb Ellis’ alteration to traditional soccer that led to the creation of the rugby game.
Spurred by rugby’s alleged modest roots, the idea of playing rugby for fun appeared among the working class, whose players formed the Rugby League. The League drew a sharp distinction from the alumni of elite public schools, who comprised the Rugby Union. The Union, in return, was quick to claim the game as the invention from one of their own.
In 1897, two years after the Rugby League was founded, the Old Rugbeian Society decided to throw in their lot with Bloxam’s claims. A commemorative stone plaque was placed at Rugby School, denoting Webb Ellis as the game’s inventor and feeding into the beloved myth we know today. The fact that there was no other evidence apart from Bloxam’s letter to support this origin story as the answer to “When was rugby invented?” was found irrelevant at the time.
2. Rugby Balls Were Initially Plum-Shaped
(Chinook Rugby)
It took some time before the famous oval-shaped ball became the norm in rugby. Back in the day, rugby balls were made of pigs’ bladders, which gave them the plum shape we typically no longer see today.
The perfectly spherical shape we now associate with balls for most sports came in the late days of the 19th century. In 1870, Rugby School requested their balls to remain egg-shaped, rather than round. It was the main distinction between a football and rugby ball.
In time, they reached the shape they are in now, which is easier to both hold and catch. Still, the fact that the balls were once plum-shaped is a well-known piece of rugby trivia. It’s kind of fun to imagine modern rugby with a more round ball, with all the rolling and going out of play that must have been happening with their original shape.
3. The Same Whistle Starts Every Rugby World Cup
(National League Rugby)
It might be interesting to know that the same whistle used in 1905 for the first match New Zealand ever played against England has been used to start each and every Rugby World Cup since.
Of course, the whistle has a name too, a rugby fact any real enthusiast could share with you. Its name is the Gil Evans Whistle, after an New Zealand and England game referee.
There have been only nine Rugby World Cups since Gil Evans used the whistle in 1905. Still, considering how easy it is to lose such a small object, keeping it safe for more than a century is an impressive accomplishment.
4. Rugby Was Considered an Amateur Sport Until 1995
(RugbyPass)
Despite its venerable age, rugby wasn’t considered a professional sport until 1995’s World Cup. Therefore, professional rugby is only in its mid-twenties at the moment, which is another one of rugby history facts you should know.
Before the World Cup, players had a hard time earning money for all their work. They had stipends and modest earnings, but getting there was not easy, and rugby is still far from being as profitable as many other sports.
For example, England’s Gallagher Premiership’s wages for rugby players start from £8,000 a year for academy players. On the other hand, Charles Piutau, currently the highest-paid player in the league, has an annual salary of £1 million.
5. Women’s Rugby Is Growing Fast
(RugbySkillsDrills)
Currently, women’s rugby is now one of the fastest-growing sports. 29% of all rugby players are now women, and most of them are playing by the same rugby rules as men.
It is an impressive movement, with more than 2.7 million women playing in professional rugby teams, leagues, the Olympics, and universities.
In fact, in New Zealand, which is one of the leading rugby-playing nations, women’s rugby is growing faster than men’s.
6. Traditional National Anthem Singing Started with Rugby
(Chinook Rugby)
If you’re wondering why the National Anthem is played and sung before any big sporting event, look no further than rugby. New Zealand’s sports teams perform the haka before each game. The tradition started in 1888, with New Zealand’s Native football team tour, and it popularized the dance throughout the world.
In 1905 – seemingly the most important year in the history of rugby – New Zealand’s rugby team, “All Blacks,” famously performed the haka before their game with Wales at Cardiff Arms Park to strike fear into the hearts of their opponents.
However, the Welsh were far from intimidated. Instead, they responded by singing the Welsh national anthem. Unsurprisingly, the crowd picked up.
These days, we expect the national anthem to be sung at the beginning of any sports game, but in 1905, this was a very spontaneous moment that made history, and one of the most interesting rugby facts.
7. The “All Blacks” and “Springboks” Are Tied for No.1
(Chinook Rugby)
The Rugby Union World Cup, or simply the Rugby World Cup, is a tournament held every four years.
The first Rugby World Cup took place in 1987 in New Zealand and Australia. New Zealand’s “All Blacks” took the first win in 1987. The team won their second trophy at the World Cup in 2011, and snagged their third win in 2015, at the World Cup held in England and Wales.
South Africa’s “Springboks” also have three cups in their cupboard. They played their first rugby game in the World Cup in 1995, which they also hosted and subsequently won. The “Springboks” won the second cup in France in 2007. They tied with the “All Blacks” after winning the 2019 World Cup in Japan and are currently holding the title of World Champions.
That leaves us with three more World Cups. Two went to Australia, one won in 1991, and the second in 1999. England has the remaining cup to brag about.
The next Rugby World Cup will be held in France in 2023, and it will be an opportunity for this list of rugby world cup facts to grow, as this lively sport remains full of surprises.
