The Rugby Football Union (RFU) was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board (IRB) in 1886. It has since functioned within England as a society to promote and run the sport, including organising international matches for the England national team, educating and training players and officials and acting as the governing body for England.

The RFU is structured as an industrial and provident society, owned by over 2,000 member clubs,^[3] representing over 2.5 million registered players,^[4] and forms the largest rugby union society in the world, and one of the largest sports organisations in England. It is based at Twickenham Stadium, London.

In September 2010 the women's rugby body the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) was integrated into the RFU as a "constituent body", and whilst it retains some independence within the organisation, its adoption of RFU structures and management effectively unify the men's and women's sport under a single governing body.

History[link]

The First England Team, 1871, in the 1st international, vs Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland won by 1 goal & 1 try to 1 try

Formation of the first Rugby Union[link]

On 4 December 1870, Edwin Ash of Richmond and Benjamin Burns of Blackheath published a letter in The Times suggesting that "those who play the rugby-type game should meet to form a code of practice as various clubs play to rules which differ from others, which makes the game difficult to play." On 26 January 1871 a meeting attended by representatives from 21 clubs was held in London at the Pall Mall Restaurant on Regent Street.

The 21 clubs present at the meeting were: Blackheath (represented by Burns and Frederick Stokes, the latter becoming the first captain of England),^[5] Richmond, Ravenscourt Park, West Kent, Marlborough Nomads, Wimbledon Hornets, Gipsies, Civil Service, The Law Club, Wellington College, Guy’s Hospital, Flamingoes, Clapham Rovers, Harlequin F.C., King's College Hospital, St Paul's, Queen’s House, Lausanne, Addison, Mohicans, and Belsize Park. The one notable omission was the Wasps. According to one version, a Wasps' representative was sent to attend the meeting, but owing to a misunderstanding, was sent to the wrong venue at the wrong time on the wrong day; another version is that he went to a venue of the same name where, after consuming a number of drinks, he realised his mistake but was too drunk to make his way to the correct venue.

Plaque marking the foundation location of the RFU

As a result of this meeting the Rugby Football Union (RFU) was founded. Algernon Rutter was elected as the first president of the RFU and Edwin Ash was elected as treasurer. Three lawyers who were Rugby School alumni (Rutter, Holmes and L.J. Maton) drew up the first laws of the game which were approved in June 1871.

Although similar unions were organised during the next few years in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, France, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, the RFU was the first and therefore had no need to distinguish itself from others by calling itself the English RFU.

Participation in the IRFB[link]

Until 1885, the laws of rugby union were made by the RFU. However, following a disputed try in an international between Scotland and England, the home unions of Scotland, Ireland and Wales founded the International Rugby Football Board. England refused to take part, stating that they should have greater representation, as they have more clubs.

In 1890, England joined the IRFB.

The secession of the northern clubs – Rugby Football League[link]

On 29 August 1895, 22 rugby clubs from across the north of England held a meeting in the George Hotel in Huddersfield, next to the railway station. They voted to secede from the Rugby Football Union and set up the Northern Rugby Football Union (later to be renamed the "Rugby Football League"). The RFU took strong action against the clubs involved in the formation of the NRFU, all of whom were deemed to have forfeited their amateur status and therefore to have left the RFU. A similar interpretation was applied to all players who played either for or against such clubs, whether or not they themselves received any compensation. Such players were effectively barred sine die from any involvement in organised rugby union. These comprehensive and enduring sanctions, combined with the very localised nature of most rugby competition, meant that most northern clubs had little practical option but to affiliate with the NRFU in the first few years of it existence. Discrimination against rugby league players could verge on the petty – even as late as the 1970s an English rugby union club was instructed to dismiss a cleaner who was married to a professional rugby league player.

The modern era[link]

The RFU long resisted competitions and leagues fearing that they would encourage foul play and professionalism. The first club competition, then known as the R.F.U Club Competition first took place in 1972. Following a sponsorship agreement it became known as the John Player Cup in 1976

The RFU agreed to the formation of a league pyramid in 1987.

In 2003, the RFU began talks about a merger with the governing body for women's rugby union the RFUW. After five years of discussion it was announced that the two bodies will "integrate" (rather than merge) from September 2010, with the RFUW remaining in existence as a "Constituent Body" within the RFU.

International connections[link]

Since 1890 the RFU has recognised the International Rugby Board as the world governing and law-making body for the game of Rugby Union. Other countries' governing bodies are often called by a similar name for example, Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). See the IRB article for a full list of National Rugby Unions.

Director of Elite Rugby[link]

In response to the faltering results of the England National Team on August 18, 2006 Rob Andrew was appointed by the RFU to undertake the post of Director of Elite Rugby to oversee all aspects of representative rugby in England, from the regional academies to the full senior side, including senior team selection powers and the power to hire and fire coaches at all levels of English rugby. Rob also has the task of building bridges with the premiership clubs and the RFU in terms of players withdrawal from their club duties for international duties.

Streamlining of RFU Structure[link]

On 6 January 2011, Rob Andrew's role as director of elite rugby at the Rugby Football Union was scrapped in an overhaul of the organisation's structure.

Chief executive John Steele opted to create a single rugby department divided into the areas of performance, operations and development with the emphasis on "delivering rugby at all levels", with each area having its own director.^[6]

See also[link]

• Anglo-Welsh Cup
• Army Rugby Union
• British and Irish Cup
• Calcutta Cup
• County Championship
• England national rugby union team
• English Colts Club Knockout Cup
• English Rugby Union Leagues
• English Rugby Union teams
• Guinness Premiership
• RFU Championship
• National League 1
• National League 2 North
• National League 2 South
• Powergen National Trophy
• Rugby union in England

References[link]

1. ^ Official Site of FIRA
2. ^ "President Willie Wildash". RFU.com. http://www.rfu.com/AboutTheRFU/WhoIsWho/President-WillieWildash.aspx. Retrieved 19 December 2011. 
3. ^ "Careers and Vacancies at the RFU". Rugby Football Union. http://www.rfu.com/AboutTheRFU/CareersAndVacancies. 
4. ^ "International Rugby Board - England". International Rugby Board. http://www.irb.com/unions/union=11000002/index.html. 
5. ^ Steve Lewis, One Among Equals, page 9, 2008, (Vertical Editions:London)
6. ^ Rob Andrew's role at RFU scrapped in overhaul

• Collins, Tony (2009); A Social History of English Rugby Union, Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-47660-7.

External links[link]

• Official website
• Official RFU Clubs Website
• Official Photo Store
• Official Travel Company
• Army Rugby Union

A scrum during a rugby union game between the Crusaders and Brumbies.

Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union. See comparison of rugby league and rugby union.

History[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

The field at Rugby School where, according to legend, the game was invented.

Statue of William Webb Ellis, running with the ball in his hand, outside Rugby School. In the foreground, a hedge carved into the shape of a cup—in the town where legend claims the game was invented—commemorates England's victory at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Rugby football developed from a version of football played at Rugby School and was originally one of several versions of football played at English public schools during the 19th century.

The game of football that was played at Rugby School between 1750 and 1859 permitted handling of the ball, but players were not allowed to run with it in their hands towards the opposition's goal.^{[citation needed]} With no limit to the number of players per side, hundreds would participate in an enormous rolling maul, sometimes resulting in major injuries. The innovation of running with the ball was introduced between 1859 and 1865. The popular myth of the sport's origin states that Rugby pupil William Webb Ellis broke the local rules by running forward with the ball in his hands in 1823. Rugby School produced the first written rules for their version of the sport in 1845.

In the result that the teams were still tied at the end of the match, a drop goal shootout was held. The selected kickers of the two teams would have one shot at the goal each and would take turns shooting at the goal until one of the kickers missed.^{[citation needed]}

Consolidated timeline for rugby union and rugby league[link]

This list (which may have dates, numbers, etc.) may be better in a sortable table format. Please help improve this list or discuss it on the talk page. (November 2011)

Status of rugby codes in various countries[link]

Rugby union is both a professional and amateur game, and is dominated by the first tier unions: Argentina, Australia, England, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales. Second and third tier unions include Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Fiji, Georgia, Japan, Mexico, Namibia, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Samoa, Spain, Tonga, the United States, Uruguay and Venezuela. Rugby Union is administered by the International Rugby Board (IRB), whose headquarters are located in Dublin, Ireland. It is the national sport in New Zealand, South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Madagascar, and is the most popular form of rugby globally,^[1] with the seven-a-side version of the game, known as Rugby Sevens, having been admitted into the programme of the Olympic Games from Rio de Janeiro in 2016 onwards.^[2] There is also a possibility that Rugby Sevens will also be a demonstration sport at the 2012 London Olympics.

In Canada and the United States, rugby union evolved into gridiron football. During the late 1800s (and even the early 1900s), the two forms of the game were very similar (to the point where the United States was able to win the gold medal for rugby union at the 1924 Summer Olympics), numerous rule changes have differentiated the gridiron-based game from its rugby counterpart. Among unique features of the North American game are the separation of play into downs instead of releasing the ball immediately upon tackling, the allowance for one forward pass from behind the site of the last tackle on each down, the evolution of hard plastic equipment (particularly the football helmet and shoulder pads), a smaller and pointier ball that is favorable to being passed but makes drop kicks impractical, a generally smaller and narrower field measured in customary units instead of metric (in some variants of the American game a field can be as short as 50 yards between end zones), and a distinctive field (shaped like a gridiron, from which the code's nickname is derived) with lines marked in five-yard intervals.

Rugby league is also both a professional and amateur game, administered on a global level by the Rugby League International Federation. In addition to amateur and semi-professional competitions in the United States, Russia, Lebanon, Serbia, Europe and Australasia, there are two major professional competitions—the Australasian National Rugby League and the European Super League. International Rugby League is dominated by Australia, England and New Zealand. Other nations from the South Pacific and Europe also play in the Pacific Cup and European Cup respectively.

Rules[link]

Distinctive features common to both rugby codes include the oval ball and the ban on throwing the ball forward, so that players can gain ground only by running with the ball or by kicking it. As the sport of rugby league moved further away from its union counterpart, rule changes were implemented with the aim of making a faster-paced and more try-orientated game.

The main differences between the two games, besides league having teams of 13 players and union of 15, involve the tackle and its aftermath:

• Union players contest possession following the tackle: depending on the situation, either a ruck or a maul can occur. League players may not contest possession after making a tackle: play is continued with a play-the-ball.
• In league, if the team in possession fails to score before a set of six tackles, it surrenders possession. Union has no six-tackle rule; a team can keep the ball for an unlimited number of tackles before scoring as long as it maintains possession and does not commit an offence.

Set pieces of the union code include the "scrum", in which packs of opposing players push against each other for possession, and the "line-out", in which parallel lines of players from each team, arranged perpendicular to the touch-line, attempt to catch the ball thrown from touch. A rule has been added to line-outs which allows the jumper to be pulled down once a players's feet are on the ground.

In the league code, the scrum still exists, but with greatly reduced importance as it involves fewer players and is rarely contested. Set pieces are generally started from the play-the-ball situation. Many of the rugby league positions have similar names and requirements to rugby union positions, but there are no flankers in rugby league.

Culture[link]

The Home Countries[link]

In England, rugby union is widely regarded as an "establishment" sport, played mostly by members of the upper and middle classes. For example, many students at private schools and grammar schools play rugby union.^[3] In contrast, rugby league has traditionally been seen as a working class pursuit. An exception to this stereotype is evident in the neighboring countries of England and Wales. In England rugby union is associated with the public school system. In Wales, rugby is associated with small village teams which consisted of coal miners and other industrial workers playing on their days off.^[4] In Ireland, and in particular Leinster, rugby union is also associated with private education and the "D4" stereotype, and this image of the spoilt, ignorant, wealthy rugby-playing jock inspired the best-selling Ross O'Carroll Kelly novels.

In Australia support for both codes is concentrated in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory (see Barassi Line). The same perceived class barrier as exists between the two games in England also occurs in these states, fostered by rugby union's prominence and support at schools.^[5]

Exceptions to the above include New Zealand (although league is still considered to be a lower class game by many, or a game for 'westies' referring to lower class western suburbs of Auckland and more recently the poorer southern Auckland where the game is popular), Wales, France except Paris, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Somerset, the Borders region of Scotland, County Limerick in Ireland (see Munster), and the Pacific Islands, where rugby union is popular in working class communities. Nevertheless, Rugby League is perceived as the game of the working class people in northern England,^[6] and in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland.^[5]

In the United Kingdom, rugby union fans sometimes use the term "rugger" as an alternative name for the sport, (see Oxford '-er').^[7] New Zealanders refer to rugby in general as "footy" or "football", rugby union simply as either "rugby" or "union" and to rugby league as "rugby league" or "league".^[8] In the U.S., people who play rugby are sometimes called "ruggers", a term little used elsewhere except facetiously.

Those considered to be heavily involved with the rugby union lifestyle—including heavy drinking and striped jumpers—sometimes identify as “rugger buggers”.^{[citation needed]}

The Rest of the World[link]

In France, rugby is widely played and has a strong tradition in the Basque people along the border regions between Spain and France. It rivals the popularity of Association Football. The game is very popular in South Africa among both blacks and whites, having been introduced by English-speaking settlers in the 19th century. British colonists also brought the game with them to Australia and New Zealand, where the game is widely played. It has spread thence to much of Polynesia, having particularly strong followings in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.

Rugby ball[link]

A Gilbert rugby football as used in rugby union

In rugby union, the International Rugby Board the size and shape of the ball under Law 2(also known as Law E.R.B); an official rugby union ball is oval and made of four panels, has a length in-line of 280–300 millimetres, a circumference (end to end) of 740–770 millimetres, and a circumference (in width) of 580–620 millimetres. It is made of leather or suitable synthetic material, and may be treated to make it water resistant and easier to grip. The rugby ball may not weigh more than 460 grams or less than 410 and has an air pressure of 65.71–68.75 kilopascals, or 0.67–0.70 kilograms per square centimetre, or 9.5–10.0 lbs per square inch.^[9] Spare balls are allowed under the condition that players or teams do not seek an advantage by changing the ball. Smaller sized balls may also be used in games between younger players. Much larger versions of traditional balls are also available for purchase, but these are mainly for their novelty attraction.

Rugby shirt[link]

Rugby shirts were formerly made of cotton but are now made of a cotton and polyester mix. This material has the advantage of not absorbing as much water or mud as cotton alone.

The rugby jerseys are slightly different depending on the type of rugby game played. The shirts worn by rugby league players commonly have a large "V" around the neck and they also tend to be more colourful than the rugby union jerseys.^[10] The players in the rugby union wear jerseys with a more traditional design, sometimes completely white (Cahors Rugby in France). However, most of the players in rugby union wear one color jerseys with a different color stripes.The number of the player and his or her surname are placed on the upper back of the jersey (often name above number, with the number being significantly larger and more central), and the logo of the team on the upper left chest.

See also[link]

	Rugby football portal
	Rugby league portal
	Rugby union portal

• Comparison of rugby league and rugby union
• Medieval football
• Rugby sevens
• Tag Rugby

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rugby football

• Rugby's Most Unfortunate Faces—slideshow by Life magazine
• The basics of rugby video

Julie Price is an English bassoonist. She is bassoonist of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, a chamber music recitalist and an academic teacher.

Professional career[link]

Price studied the bassoon at the Royal Northern College of Music and Manchester University with Edward Warren and William Waterhouse. She continued her studies with Roger Birnstingl in Geneva.^[1]

In 1980 she was a winner of the competition BBC Young Musician of the Year.

Price was principal bassoonist with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, then first bassoonist at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. She has been principal bassoonist of the English Chamber Orchestra (ECO) and co-principal bassoonist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.^[1][2]

As a chamber musician, Price is a member of the Razumovsky Ensemble and has played with the Lindsay String Quartet, the Nash Ensemble, the Haffner Wind Ensemble, and Endymion.^[3] She played William Yeates Hurlstone's Trio in G Minor for Clarinet, Bassoon and Piano on 22 November 2006 for the composer's centenary celebration concert and exhibition at the Royal College of Music.^[4] She performed at the 2009 conference of the International Double Reed Society in Birmingham, in the opening recital of the British Double Reed Society among others Gestural Variations of Graham Waterhouse. She was one of 16 bassoonists in the concert The Proud Bassoon, celebrating William Waterhouse on 16 April 2011 in Wigmore Hall. She played in Waterhouse’s arrangement for two bassoon choirs of Giovanni Gabrieli's Sonata Pian' e Forte and movements from Gordon Jacob’s Suite, dedicated to Waterhouse.^[5][6]

Price recorded with the ECO, conducted by Ralf Gothóni, Mozart's bassoon concerto and his Sinfonia concertante for flute, oboe, horn, and bassoon, K. 297b, and Edward Elgar's Romance for bassoon and orchestra, Op. 62.^[1]

Price is a Visiting Professor of Bassoon at the Royal College of Music.^[1]

She is married to Alan Garner, oboist of the Royal Opera House.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Julie Price (bassoonist) at Allmusic
• Meet the orchestra: bassoonist Julie Price timeout.com 2008