If you think rugby is rough now...
Matches played at the Rugby School in England in the 19th century could last as long as five days.
Kicking a player below the knee (known as hacking) was allowed, even encouraged, in the belief that it helped players develop character and manliness by suffering pain with dignity.
There were no referees in the early days – boys would wear sharpened boots with nails in them for extra hacking.
Players had to negotiate trees that were growing in the playing field.
There was no limit to the number of players on each side. Sometimes there were hundreds forming a huge rolling maul.
When first played at Cambridge University, some passers-by ran onto the pitch thinking they were breaking up a brawl.
(The above information came from The Original Rules of Rugby by Martin Johnson and Jed Smith, from https://www.rugbyschool.co.uk/about/history/a-history-of-rugby-football/ and from http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/)
Matches played at the Rugby School in England in the 19th century could last as long as five days.
Kicking a player below the knee (known as hacking) was allowed, even encouraged, in the belief that it helped players develop character and manliness by suffering pain with dignity.
There were no referees in the early days – boys would wear sharpened boots with nails in them for extra hacking.
Players had to negotiate trees that were growing in the playing field.
There was no limit to the number of players on each side. Sometimes there were hundreds forming a huge rolling maul.
When first played at Cambridge University, some passers-by ran onto the pitch thinking they were breaking up a brawl.
(The above information came from The Original Rules of Rugby by Martin Johnson and Jed Smith, from https://www.rugbyschool.co.uk/about/history/a-history-of-rugby-football/ and from http://www.rugbyfootballhistory.com/)
Quotes
Forwards win games, backs decide by how much.
Anonymous
Rugby is great. The players don’t wear helmets or padding; they just beat the living daylights out of each other and then go for a beer. I love that.
Joe Theismann
American football player
I like to think I play rugby as it should be played - there are no yellow or red cards in my collection - but I cannot say I’m an angel.
Jonny Wilkinson
English rugby player
The advantage law is the best law in rugby, because it lets you ignore all the others for the good of the game.
Derek Robinson
British author
Sure there have been injuries and deaths in rugby - but none of them serious.
Doc Mayhew
All Black's team doctor
Anonymous
Rugby is great. The players don’t wear helmets or padding; they just beat the living daylights out of each other and then go for a beer. I love that.
Joe Theismann
American football player
I like to think I play rugby as it should be played - there are no yellow or red cards in my collection - but I cannot say I’m an angel.
Jonny Wilkinson
English rugby player
The advantage law is the best law in rugby, because it lets you ignore all the others for the good of the game.
Derek Robinson
British author
Sure there have been injuries and deaths in rugby - but none of them serious.
Doc Mayhew
All Black's team doctor
Articles about rugby
Good article on rugby culture
http://rugby.isport.com/rugby-guides/explaining-rugby-culture
Differences between Rugby Union and Rugby League
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_rugby_league_and_rugby_union
Differences between American football and rugby
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_American_football_and_rugby_union
http://rugby.isport.com/rugby-guides/explaining-rugby-culture
Differences between Rugby Union and Rugby League
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_rugby_league_and_rugby_union
Differences between American football and rugby
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_American_football_and_rugby_union