1823
–
A commemorative stone at Rugby school claims
that 16-year-old student William Web Ellis “with a fine disregard for the rules
of football…first took the ball in his arms and ran with it, thus originating
the distinctive feature of the rugby game.” Lucky he didn’t go to a
comprehensive – he’d have got the shoeing of his life.
The time line of rugby being develop
.
1839
– The rugby students spread the game’s gospel: Arthur Pell
establishes the first team at Cambridge and draws up the ‘Cambridge Rule’ –
which sounds like graffiti in a public toilet.
1871
–
The Rugby Football Union is founded in a London hostelry. Where
else? The most notable absentee is the Wasps representative who, in true
rugger-bugger style, gets hammered at the wrong pub.
1872
–
Oxford and Cambridge play their inaugural Varsity Match.
Hurrah!
1882
–
England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland form the International
Championship. A lack of formal points system leads to three unresolved disputes
and several black eyes – in 1885, 1887 and 1889.
1888
–
Bob Sneddon leads the first British tour side to Australia
and New Zealand, a precursor to what later becomes the British Lions. Adhering to
closely to the rugby adage ‘what goes on tour, stay on tour’, Sneddon dies in a
rowing accident.
1890
–
W P Carpmael decides to put together a cosmopolitan,
invitation-only touring team of gents. He calls them the Barbarians.
1895
–
Laboring northern players clash with their tuff, strictly
amateur southern counterparts over payment for ‘broken time’ – compensation for
loss of working hours. The ‘Great Schism’ leads to the information of a 22
club-strong Northern Union, which in 1992 becomes professional Rugby League.
1910
–
France join the International Championship to
form the Five Nations.
1973
–
Welsh wizard Gareth Edwards scores arguably the greatest ever
try while playing for the Barbarians against New Zealand, starting and
finishing a pitch-length move that involved nearly his entire side. And supernatural
powers.
1982
–
Former England captain Bill Beaumont starts a 14-year reign
as team captain on Beeb boreathon A Question of Sports. Emlyn Hughes males him
look good.
1987
–
Australia and New Zealand hosts the first World Cup. France defeat
favourites Australia I the semi-final only to lose to the All Black in the
final.
1987
–
Club league rugby starts and is dominated by Bath and
Leicester.
1991
-
The UK, Ireland and France co-host the second World Cup.
England beat Scotland in their semi while Australia overcome New Zealand to set
up a clash of the hemispheres in the final which the Wallabies easily win.
1992
-
Tries are increased from four to five points to promote
running rugby and reduce boring kicking - the mainstay of England's game at the
time.
1995
-
The third World Cup heralds the return of host South Africa
following years of apartheid-enforced exile. Springbok fly-half Joel Stransky
kicks the winning drop goal in extra time for a 15-12 final victory over a
Jonah-Lomu inspired New Zealand. The All Blacks claim they were poisoned the
night before.
1995
-
The International Rugby Board suits bow to pressure and the
era of professionalism begins.
1996
-
England's dimple-chinned captain Will Carling is kicked out
by his missus Julia for having a few naughty royal appointments with Princess
Di.
1997
-
England appoint Clive Woodward as coach. His record over the
last four years sees England topping the world rankings going into this year's
World Cup: 33 wins out of the last 37, 10 consecutive victories against
southern hemisphere opposition and England unbeaten at Twickenham since 1999.
1999
-
Lawrence Dallaglio resigns as England captain following a
News of the World sting alleging that he took and dealt hard drugs. Didn't he
watch Zammo on Grange Hill as a kid?
1999
-
Fourth World Cup: England, Scotland and hosts Wales all crash
out at the quarter-final stage, leaving France as the only northern hemisphere
representatives in the final four with the Tri Nations sides. They beat New
Zealand in the semis, but lose to Australia in the final 35-12
2000
-
The Five Nations becomes Six with the introduction of Italy.
So far they have won just two games, the moppets.
2003
-
England's Jason Leonard passes 100 international caps,
joining a select rank of centurions comprising only Australian wing David
Campese and French centre Philippe Sella.
Sources :
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2003/oct/06/rugbyworldcup2003.rugbyunion6
image: google image
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