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[[Image:Boston College Rugby Running With Ball.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A Rugby match at Boston College.]]

[[Image:Boston College Rugby Running With Ball.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A Rugby match at Boston College.]]

'''Rugby Football''', or more commonly "Rugby", is a team ball game that originated at the English public school of the same name. It was invented during a game of Association Football (soccer) when one of the pupils foresook the laws of the game and picked up the ball and ran.  The laws of the game were later codified by the Rugby Football Union so that a team comprised 15 players and games were played over two halves of 40 minutes.  An alternative version with 13 players per team was developed by the Rugby League.  Historically, Rugby Union was played at southern English public (private) schools and the senior teams comprised strictly amateur players.  Rugby League was mainly played in working class areas of northern England and used professional players.  

'''Rugby Football''', or more commonly "Rugby", is a team ball game that originated at the English public school of the same name.  

Rugby League was popularized on Brtish television by northern commentator Eddie Waring with catchphrases such as "Its an up and under", and "it looks like he's having an early bath" when a player was sent off before the end of the game.

It was suggested in the 1890s that rugby was invented during a game of Association Football ([[soccer]]) when one of the pupils, [[William Webb Ellis]] foresook the laws of the game and picked up the ball and ran. This is highly questionable and is now regarded as a myth. The game of soccer was not codified until the 1860s and handling of the ball was commonly allowed in the game during the early nineteen centuary, furthermore the idea that it would have been considered a new set of rules rather than a simple cheat seems far fetched. Webb Ellis himself is nto recorded to have made any mention of inventing a new game, and the first time he is credited with the game is some period following his death.

Despite its English origins, rugby gained popularity amongst the smaller British nations of Scotland, Ireland and Wales.  Through emigration, British colonies in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa developed also a strong following.  Unusally, the game was also adopted in France who formed one of the "Five Nations" teams that compete in the annual northern hemisphere competition.  This has recently been expanded to Six Nations with the addition of Italy.  Other countries wher the game is popular include Argentina and various southern pacific islands.

 

 

Despite its English origins, rugby gained popularity amongst the smaller British nations of Scotland, Ireland and Wales.  Through emigration, British colonies in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa developed also a strong following.  Unusally, the game was also adopted in France who formed one of the "Five Nations" teams that compete in the annual northern hemisphere competition.  This has recently been expanded to Six Nations with the addition of Italy.  Other countries where the game is popular include Argentina and various southern pacific islands.

Mini versions of the game have also been developed, such as Rugby Sevens, where only seven players are in a team. Rugby has typically been a physical contact sport for men but alternative versions such as touch rugby where a player is obliged to release the ball when touched rather than physically tackled have also been developed.

Mini versions of the game have also been developed, such as Rugby Sevens, where only seven players are in a team. Rugby has typically been a physical contact sport for men but alternative versions such as touch rugby where a player is obliged to release the ball when touched rather than physically tackled have also been developed.