RugbyFootballHistory.com

1880 - Canadian RFU founded.

The origins of the Welsh Rugby Union can be traced back to 1880 at the Tenby Hotel in Swansea but its actual foundation occurred at the Castle Hotel, Neath a year later.

28 February - England become the first winners of the Calcutta Cup when they defeat Scotland by 2 goals & 3 tries to 1 goal.

A famous author and philosopher of the day, Tom Hughes (Rugby school old boy), had earned fame as an author of a series of books the most famous of which was 'Tom Browns School-Days, by an Old Boy' (dedicated to Mrs Arnold of Fox Howe), which came out in April 1857. On October 5th 1880 he dedicated the new cooperative settlement of Rugby, Tennessee as the site of his noble experiment in social living. By 1884 Hughes vision seemed bent on becoming a thriving reality Colonists visitors enjoyed rugby football, horseback riding, croquet and swimming in clear flowing rivers surrounding the town site. The Grand Tabard Inn, named for Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, soon became the social center of the colony. Hughes died at Brighton, on 22nd March 1896.

In the USA the Scrum was replaced by the line of scrimmage, drawing emphasis from the free-running characteristic of the game.

Three three-quarters first used in an international game by Scotland against Ireland.

Leicester Tigers were formed in August 1880 at a meeting in the George Hotel, Leicester and was an amalgamation of three clubs: Leicester Societies AFC, Leicester Amateur FC and Leicester Alert. Leicester Football Club played their first game that October against Moseley at the Belgrave Cricket and Cycle Ground in their original club colours (black) and Leicester were known as "The Death or Glory Boys".

On 22nd December a letter send from Matthew Holbeche Bloxham (O.R.) was published in "The Meteor". Read the full text here.

The RFU agree travelling expenses for international matches.

1881 - 19 February 1881 the first International played by Wales against England at Richardson's Field, Blackheath. The team is organised by Richard Mullock, who will become the first honorary secretary and treasurer of the WRU. England won by 7 goals, 1 dropped goal and 6 tries to nil or put into modern scoring 69 - 0. This did much to bolster support and discussion on how the team could be improved.

Independent referee introduced for international matches.

The Welsh Rugby Union was founded at the Castle Hotel, Neath on March 12th 1881. Representatives from 11 clubs: Bangor, Brecon, Cardiff, Lampeter, Llandilo, Llandovery, Llanelli, Merthyr, Newport, Pontypool and Swansea. Swansea president CC Chambers is elected the first president. The Welsh Rugby Union was run by Walter Rees from his home in Neath for over 50 years.

1882 - 2nd September 1882 it was agreed at a special AGM that "Bedford Britannia would henceforth play football of the Association code". Those members who wanted to play rugby code left and immediately formed a new Club to be known as Bedford Swifts Football Club.

Queensland RU was founded.

Arthur Evanson and Arthur Taylor played for England against Wales and became the first international players to follow their brothers into becoming internationals too. Their brothers Wyndham Evanson and Henry Taylor having played for England previously.

Wales beat Ireland in their second international, 2 goals and 2 tries to nil.

The first overseas tour takes place when New South Wales visit New Zealand and the boat journey takes 5 days. Even though the tourists expect to win all of their seven games, they underestimate the strength of the New Zealanders and only win four.

1883 - 28th April, 1883 the first sevens tournament held at Melrose Football Club, Scotland. The club was casting around for ideas to help the Club's finances when the suggestion of a football tournament was put forward by NED HAIG. The thought a football tournament might prove attractive but as it was not possible to hold several games in one afternoon with fifteen players on each side, the teams were reduced to seven men. The competition was played under rugby rules, fifteen minutes play being allowed to each heat, and seven members of each club competing.

	Winners 1883 (Standing: J. Tacket, A. Haig, J. Simpson, J. Riddell. Sitting: T. Riddell, G. Mercer. Front: D. Sanderson) Credit: The official history of the Melrose sevens - Walter Allan

1884 - Rugby was first played in Fiji by European and Fijian soldiers of the Native Constabulary at Ba, on Viti Levu Island. Garryowen Football Club was founded in Limerick in Sept. 19th 1884, at Athenaeum and takes its name from the Garryowen area of Limerick. Garryowen has become part of the terminology of the game - ‘A Garryowen’ – the origin of the internationally famous kick, the up-and-under.

The first use of four three-quarters by a club (Cardiff) when they brought in a young reserve F E Hancock (an Englishman) to play against Cheltenham College and had a very good game thereby keeping his place for the next game. Thus on 23 February in the game against Gloucester (played at home) four three quarters were played. There was no score in the game but the formation was seen as a success and thereby became a set formation.

First New Zealand tour, to New South Wales (Australia). The tourists do not play any tests, but win all of their matches.

1885-86 The referee was given a whistle! Umpires were given sticks.

At Cardiff F.E. Hancock was appointed captain (only one of three Englishmen to even have captained Cardiff). They recorded there most successful year using the new four three quarter system and only lost once to Moseley.

1885 - Twenty-six clubs were affiliated to the Irish Union of which ten were in Ulster, nine in Leinster, seven in Munster. First visit of a French team (Paris F.C.) to England.

The first international game to have a brothers on each side. Scotland vs. Wales where George and Richard Maitland played for Scotland and Arthur and Bob Gould for Wales.

1886 - The foundation of the International Rugby Board by Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England declines to join since they believe they should have greater representation on the board for having a greater number of clubs. They also refuse to accept that the IRFB should be the recognised law maker of the game. The IRFB agrees that the member countries will not play England until the RFU agrees to join.
Points for scoring adopted by IRFB.
The 'broken time' issue starts to be discussed in Lancashire, where soccer and cricket players can be recompensed by their clubs for time taken off work to play sport, whilst rugby players can not.

Bedford RUFC was founded in November 1886 after an amalgamation between Bedford Rovers (1876) and Bedford Swifts (1882) although the name change was not formally voted through until the Annual General Meeting on 14th September 1887. The Blues, as they were called, were born, but the name Swifts was to be lost for 63 years (see 1950).

The Connacht Branch, Ireland was formed.

Rugby Union adopted scoring by points which was a system which had been existence at Cheltenham College for many years. Goal = 3 points and Try = 1 point.

The first international where the four three-quarter system was tried by Wales was against Scotland in 1886 with six Cardiff players in the side, however, the experiment was not successful and it was cast aside until it was brought back against the New Zealand Natives team in December 1888, Wales won by a goal and two tries to nil.

In 1887 Middlesex as the strongest county in the south was selected to do battle with Lancashire, the champions of the north, on the occasion of the Charity Festival organized in London jointly by the Rugby Union and the Football Association. A stubbornly contested match resulted in Middlesex, though having the best of the game, being defeated by a try. As a matter of fact Middlesex also gained a try, but the short space marked out between the goal line and the dead-ball line lost them the point. It is worthy of note that his Majesty King Edward VII, then Prince of Wales, was present at the match, and at the conclusion of the game several of the players were brought and introduced to his royal highness. Causa honoris we give the names of the Middlesex team:-E. T. Gurdon, A. Rotherham, W. E. Maclagan, C. J. B. Marriott, John Hammond, A. E. Stoddart, W. G. Clibborn, J. H. Roberts, C. J. Arkle, G. L. Jeffery, G. C. Lindsay, E. S. McEwen, C. Collier, T. Riddell, and A. S. Johnson.

1886/7

In 1886 a regular team of Royal Engineers Rugby Football players (normally officers) formed to make the' Sappers' Rugby Club. Some of these founder players were skilled players; notably A. WALPOLE who played twice for Ireland. The team was able to play many of the best clubs In the south of England and for some years played the team of the Royal Artillery, at this stage it did not rank as a club representing the Corps but this is believed to be the longest and still standing fixture played between 2 Corps in the British Army. The first recorded game was played at Woolwich on December 11th, 1887. The Sappers won 24 - 0.

1888 - British team tours Australia and New Zealand which was the first major tour abroad.

A fourth three-quarter was introduced and adopted by the Welsh Union.

In December the New Zealand team lost to Wales who used the four three quarter system by a goal and two tries to nill. It was also notably used by Wales to win the 1889-90 match vs. England .

Newbridge (Wales) formed.

New Zealand Native team tours Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. On the longest tour ever, they play 107 matches, winning 78, drawing 6 and losing 23. The tour lasts for over a year.

In 1888, the year before the County Championship was officially recognized, Middlesex was without question the strongest Rugby team of the season.

1889 - British Columbia Rugby Union and South African Rugby Football Board formed.

The RU recognized the county championship for the first time.

 

Back