| − | The game is said to have originated in the 1830s at Rugby School in England. Rugby quickly spread to all of the United Kingdom and France and by the 1880s to the colonies of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The game was popular in California around the turn of the century. The game split in 1895 over professionalism. The Rugby Union demanded (with varying degrees of effectiveness) complete amateurism for the game; the newly-formed Rugby League allowed players to be paid. Rugby Union remained amateur until 1995. Rugby featured at the Olympics until 1924, with the United States winning the last Olympic medal. In 1987 the first world cup was held with New Zealands' All Blacks winning at home. Since then the world cup has been won by Australia (twice) South Africa (twice) and England (once). A notable feature of the world game since the World Cup Era began, has been the dominance of the All Blacks between world cups but their inability to win the main prize. | + | The game is said to have originated in the 1830s at Rugby School in England. Rugby quickly spread to all of the United Kingdom and France and by the 1880s to the colonies of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The game was popular in California around the turn of the century. The game split in 1895 over professionalism. The Rugby Union demanded (with varying degrees of effectiveness) complete amateurism for the game; the newly-formed Rugby League allowed players to be paid. Rugby Union remained amateur until 1995. Rugby featured at the Olympics until 1924, with the United States winning the last Olympic medal. A modified version of rugby played with seven players per team (rugby sevens) will feature at the Olympics from 2016 onwards. In 1987 the first world cup was held with New Zealands' All Blacks winning at home. Since then the world cup has been won by Australia (twice) South Africa (twice) and England (once). A notable feature of the world game since the World Cup Era began has been the dominance of the All Blacks between world cups but their inability to win the main prize. |