Rugby League, as we know it today, has a diverse international following and an optimistic outlook for the future following the brutal effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, this recent setback is not the only challenge the sport has faced throughout its storied history…
The Origins Of Rugby
The origins of rugby football, the predecessor to both union and league, date all the way back to Rugby School in Warwickshire.
According to fabled legends, during a football match in 1823, a student named William Webb Ellis, in an act akin to King Arthur or Hercules, picked up the ball and ran with it. This revolutionary idea gave birth to a whole new game, distinct from the traditional ‘association football’.
In the decades to follow, the newly dubbed ‘rugby football’ spread throughout public schools, universities, and regions, leading to a dazzling array of variations and interpretations. In 1871, the rugby wild west was tamed as efforts to standardize the rules led to the formation of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) — officially formalizing the sport and ending the frontier days.
Rugby League VS Rugby Union
Rugby’s great schism came in 1895. Many working-class players in the industrial north of England could not afford to take time off work to play, unlike their wealthier southern counterparts. Although no 95 Theses were nailed to the doors of the RFU, the news broke in the rugby union circles that players wanted to receive compensation for lost working time.
The rigid stance of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) on professionalism created tension with the Northern clubs, where players often faced a tough choice between playing rugby and earning a living. This escalated to a critical point in 1895 when representatives from 21 Northern clubs met at the George Hotel in Huddersfield. This pivotal meeting resulted in the formation of the Northern Rugby Football Union (NRFU).
The NRFU, later renamed the Rugby Football League (RFL) in 1922, began to gradually implement changes to the game’s rules. These changes were aimed at making the game faster and more entertaining, which they hoped would attract more spectators and, in turn, more revenue. The main changes included reducing the players from 15 to 13, getting rid of the line-out, and introducing a play-the-ball to restart play after a tackle instead of the ruck.
This newer, leaner, meaner version of rugby league became almost as popular as the pies commonly sold at the games in Northern England. The rest of the world soon scrambled for a slice of the rugby league pie during the 20th century. Australia, New Zealand, and France competed in the first Rugby League World Cup in 1954.
The 1970s and 1980s were marked by intense club competitions and the emergence of legendary players who elevated the game’s profile and commercial viability. Then, the formation of The Super League in the 1990s saw further expansion with TV broadcasting, enhanced professionalism, and further changes to the game’s structure, and season timings.
Today, rugby league thrives with its own set of rules, leagues, and international competitions outside of rugby union. The split between union and league has left a lasting legacy on the world of sports and is a tale of adaptation, innovation, and the enduring spirit of rugby, in whichever form it is played.
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