A rugby background

Rugby union hasn't always consisted of competitions like the 6 Nations, Tri Nations and Super 14. Nor has it had rugby shirts like those specially designed for teams like Bath, Saracens, Ulster, Crusaders or the Brumbies. Protective gear was not allowed, rugby jerseys had lace up fronts, the New Zealand All Blacks very rarely did the haka and rugby tours by international rugby teams took 3 months. Rugby memorabilia was limited to fixture lists and programmes with players using the same rugby shirt for more than one game.

Rugby began at the now famous Rugby School in the town of Rugby in England. A plaque at the school says "This stone commemorates the exploit of William Webb Ellis who with a fine disregard for the rules of football, as played in his time, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it, thus originating the distinctive features of the rugby game A.D. 1823."

Gradually the boys at Rugby School developed their own set of rules for games played within the school. Teams were big and not necessarily even. There could be a game of 20 against 45 players with no referee. Around 1830 running with the ball became more accepted and players started to tackle the person with the ball. These school players then moved on to university and continued to play there. They developed clubs to keep playing after university. In 1871 the Rugby Football Union was formed and a consistent set of rules for all clubs was created. Rugby gradually spread all over England , Wales, Ireland and Scotland. The first international game was played between Scotland and England in 1871.

Rugby Union has 15 players and once a player is tackled they must release the ball and the 2 teams then via for possesion by way of a ruck or mall. Play is continuous. If the ball goes into touch (out of bounds) play is restarted with a lineout. For minor infractions like dropping the ball forward a scrum is used to restart play.

"Soccer is a gentleman's game played by ruffians, Rugby is a ruffians' game played by gentlemen, Rugby League is a ruffians' game played by ruffians."

In 1886 the International Rugby Football Board (IRB) was established after rugby had spread around the world via the British colonies. In 1924 rugby was played in the Olympics for the last time with the USA winning the gold medal in Paris. The first Rugby World Cup was played in 1987 with New Zealand and Australia the co-hosts. The New Zealand All Blacks won. The following Rugby World Cups were won by the Australian Wallabies in 1991, South African Springboks in 1995, Australian Wallabies in 1999 and England in 2003. The first game of each Rugby World Cup is started with the same whistle which is over 100 years old.

In 1995, after the Rugby World Cup, rugby became professional. Sponsorship became very important to all teams. The New Zealand All Blacks signed a multi million dollar deal with new rugby shirt manufacturer adidas, which ended a very long relationship with Canterbury Clothing. The Wallabies stayed with their Canterbury Clothing rugby shirts, the Springboks, England and France had their rugby jerseys supplied by Nike. The Rugby World Cup is now one of the top 3 sporting events in the world behind the Olympics and the Soccer World Cup.

New rugby competitions were also born. The Super 14 and Tri Nations which only involves the 3 Southern Hemisphere countries, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The Northern Hemisphere changed its 5 Nations competition to the 6 Nations by including Italy with France, England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. Every season each team now alters the design of their rugby shirt. Some only alter a sponsors logo while others are a completely new design. Sponsors logos are now a dominant feature of rugby jerseys as can be seen on the Super 14 rugby shirts. In 2006 the old Super 12 becomes the Super 14 which will include 5 New Zealand teams, 5 South African teams and 4 Australian teams.

Every 4 years the British and Irish Lions tour the Southern Hemisphere to play either South Africa, Australia or New Zealand. They are a special team comprising players from England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland and first toured Australia and New Zealand in 1888.

Rugby nations also have their own domestic rugby competitions between clubs and provinces from which their national rugby side is selected. These national sides play other countries each year in test matches. As the Northern and Southern Hemisphere countries play their domestic games in their winters internationals are generally played "out of season". So rugby is now played almost 12 months a year by the top rugby players. Players are contracted to, and payed by, clubs and provincial unions who are often reluctant to allow their players to go on international tours as they may be injured and therefore not available for their main employer the following season. Some players are employed by and play for foreign countries clubs who refuse to release them for their birth countries international matches. While this is deemed illegal by the IRB it is very difficult to prove and prevent. This threatens the British and Irish Lions as well as smaller rugby nations sides in the Rugby World Cup.

While the earlier rugby players wore a wool and later a cotton rugby shirt, shorts, socks and studded boots apparel has moved on very quickly since then. Modern rugby shirts are now either a mix of cotton and polyester or just plain polyester. They are much stronger, stretch without tearing, have rubber buttons and even draw sweat away from the players body (breath). Boots now have studs which are adjustable for different conditions. Specific stud patterns, weights and boot shapes allow for the requirements of the different player positions. Players now also wear protective gear like chest and shoulder padding, head gear and even mittens for better ball handling. Rugby balls are no longer made of leather as they get to heavy in the wet, get very slippery and loose their shape from kicking. Each ball now has layers of rubber over the bladder for the best balance to help kickers, ensure better passing and to retain the shape. There is also no lace and very small dimples all over the ball for better grip.

You can view rugby shirts, rugby balls, protective rugby gear, t-shirts, hats and rugby souvenirs from all over the world on our site for men, women and children by clicking here.

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