Changes

==International==

==International==

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 also developed a strong following.  The game was also adopted in France after being introduced by British residents who formed one of the "Five Nations" teams that compete in the annual northern hemisphere competition. A similar annual competition was established in the southern hemisphere after the re-admission of South Africa into international sporting competition after the days of apartheid. This currently called the Tri Nations competition.

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 also developed a strong following.  The game was also adopted in France after being introduced by British residents and later Italy both of which form two of the "Six Nations" teams that compete in the annual northern hemisphere competition. A similar annual competition was established in the southern hemisphere after the re-admission of South Africa into international sporting competition after the days of apartheid. This currently called the Tri Nations competition.

Attempts to start the game simultaneously with soccer by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany in Germany proved to be a failure due to the subsequent popularity of soccer and the advent of World War I, and thus the game did not spread as a '''national game''' in continental Europe beyond France until the relatively modern era, although many rugby football clubs were started throughout Europe and South America.  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.

Attempts to start the game simultaneously with soccer by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany in Germany proved to be a failure due to the subsequent popularity of soccer and the advent of World War I, and thus the game did not spread as a '''national game''' in continental Europe beyond France until the relatively modern era, although many rugby football clubs were started throughout Europe and South America.  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.

[[American Football]] is derived from rugby and started to codify its own rules during the 1880s.

[[American Football]] is derived from rugby and started to codify its own rules during the 1880s.

== See also ==

== See also ==