The popular idea of rugby development is the story about the William Ellis? violations while playing the football that caused the appearing of new ball game. The innovation of already existing game took place during the time between 1820 and 1830. It is considered that rugby was invented in Rugby school but different schools (Cheltenham, Shrewsbury and Marlborough) picked up the growing popularity of this game and represented it in their own variant. Rugby school developed not only rugby game but also the system of strict rules for it. No one can answer why exactly Rugby school's system (and not Eton, Winchester, Marlborough, Westminster, Shrewsbury or Harrow) gained so popularity all over the world.
In 1839 one of the former Rugby students, Pell Arthur established Cambridge University Club. The old ?rugbyans? offered new variant of football game with permitted using of hands. In 1848 the most influential British schools met to decide and state exactly the rugby's rules. Because of its rough nature and strict rules rugby was always perceived as a play for real men.
The rugby union was born in 1871 in one of the London's restaurant. There were decided to add some new rules that had to be less violent and systematize them. It was Edwin Ash who was able to assemble all rugby players in one place for one purpose ? creating of system of rules ? just by giving a simple advertisement in the newspaper. At the very beginning of the project the initiator was joined by 21 local rugby clubs but many provincial rugby clubs gained the rugby union a little bit later.
The parallel event to rugby union foundation was the start of rugby committee development. The game's rules were named rugby's rules. Sure they were changed a lot since 1871, the year of their invention. That year was very important for rugby development. The rugby union decided to judge game in accordance with scored goals. In 1886 it was accepted goal and try equivalents: one goal brought three point s for team, a try ? only one. Scotland's proposition to equal penalty goal to only two points was rejected. The distinguish feature is its ball. Although it was very important, its size and shape were not stipulated till 1892. At the present it is still oval-shaped but its weight has changed to 410-430 grams.
The six nations championship is traced to 1882 so it is the oldest championship if to talk about rugby's competitions history. From early beginning it was planned specially for four British countries (England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland), France had become a member of this union only in 1910 and Italy was lucky to join this rugby union only in 2000.
Today rugby union world cup is one of the most famous and popular competitions. It takes the place near the two other top competitions (Olympic Games and the World Cup of Soccer). Today the Rugby Super League is represented by five teams (England, France, New Zeeland, the South Africa and Australia). The last Rugby league championship took place in 2003 in Australia and New Zeeland.