Understanding the ORIGIN & EVOLUTION of Sport – Volume 1 – Rugby Union

When Richie McCaw raised aloft the William Webb Ellis trophy after the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, few people would have thought about the schoolboy after whom the trophy was named. In this, sport historian Dai Richards explores the origin of Rugby Union and closely examines how sports evolve. He contends that the 1897 report by the Old Rugbeian Society that named Webb Ellis as the founder of rugby football was incorrect in its conclusion and that the origin of the sport has been misrepresented throughout written history. Through thorough research and analysis, the origin of Rugby Union is instead placed with the boys of Rugby School in the late 18th century (circa 1780). This book is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the history of Rugby Union or the development of sport in general.