Variousfootball games were played in England before this time but it wasaround the middle of the 19thcentury that rules began to be formulated.

Thefirst set of rules are believed to have originated at Rugby Schoolin 1845 but it was prior to that Falcons Justin Bethel Jersey , that William Webb Ellis, a pupilat the school from 1816 聳 25 http://www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/anthony-miller-jersey , "who witha fine disregard for the rules of football as played in his time,first took the ball in his arms and ran with it". Whilstprobably a myth WebbEllis is credited with starting the game and the Rugby World Cuptrophy is now named after him.

Theformation of the Football Association (FA) was actually just acritical in the formalisation of the game of Rugby. Upon formation Authentic Auston Matthews Jersey ,the FA drew up a set of rules which in particular precluded 'runningwith the ball' and 'hacking' (kicking an opponent in the shins). Theintroduction of these rules led to the Blackheath Club's withdrawalfrom the FA in 1863. Other clubs followed claiming the new ruleswould "do away with all the courage and pluck from the game聰.

In1870 Blackheath and Richmond teamed up with 19 other clubs todetermine a code of practice for the game of rugby and they thenwent on to form the Rugby Football Union (RFUand the first laws of the game which were approved in June 1871.

Sincethen changes to the laws of the game have beenmade at various times and this process still continues today. Thenumber of players was reduced from 20 to 15 a side in 1877.

Historically,no points at all were awarded for a try John Kelly Jersey Elite , the reward being to "try"to score a goal (to kick the ball over the cross bar and between theposts). The number of points from a try increased tofive in 1992.

Rugbyis now a major international sport played across the globe and is ahuge draw for legions of sports fans.