Ten things you never know about the sport of rugby

While rugby has never had the same level of television exposure as football, it seems to become much more popular in recent years. Many people’s memories of rugby are of shivering in the rain at school and praying the big guy doesn’t come anywhere, but it’s a great game to watch from the comfort of your living room! With rugby seeming to get better deals on TV these days, for those who may be new to rugby, here are ten things you probably didn’t know about the sport.

1. What is an attempt called?

A try is called a try, because when the game was first played, no points were awarded for touching the ball at your opponent’s end of the field. However, what did win you over was an attempt, or an attempt, to reach the finish line.

2. The game is named after the British school where it was invented

When football was played in English schools in the 19th century, there were no formal rules to the game and each school created its own rule book. A boy named William Webb Ellis, who attended Rugby School, is believed to have invented the game of rugby when he decided to take the ball and run towards the goal during a football match. The Rugby Union World Cup is still called the Web Ellis Cup to this day.

3. Rugby balls were first made from pig bladders.

Rugby balls and soccer balls used to be made with a pig’s bladder for the inside. Unfortunately, pig bladders did not heal very well and often rotted. The wife of the man, who made the rugby balls at the Rugby School in the 19th century, died from the effects of fumes she inhaled from the balls.

4. The current Olympic champions are the USA.

By a twist of fate, the current reigning Olympic champions in the sport of rugby are the USA and they have held that title since 1924. The reason is that rugby was eliminated as an Olympic sport in that year.

5. Two different types of Rugby are played

Just to make it even more confusing for non-experts, there are two types of rugby that are played, rugby league and rugby union. The games are very similar, but the rules are quite different, including a different scoring system.

6. The big scores

One of the differences between soccer and rugby that anyone new to the sport will notice is the big scores. The largest score difference ever recorded in an international match was in a game between Australia and Namibia, when Australia won the game by 142 points to nil.

7. The centenary whistle of the world cup

At the start of each rugby world cup, the tournament kicks off when the referee blows a centenary whistle. It is the same whistle that was used for a 1924 match between England and New Zealand at the Paris Olympics.

8. The rugby world cup has never been held by a team

The New Zealand team are the favorites to win the 2015 rugby world cup and if they win they will be the first to reach a rugby world cup, because the title has never been held by a team, since the tournament began. in 1987.

9. A rugby coach invented basketball

New England rugby coach James Naismith is credited with inventing basketball. It is said that he invented basketball so his rugby team could train indoors when the weather was too bad to train outside.

10. The singing of the national anthem at sporting events began with rugby.

The traditional singing of national anthems before an international sporting event began in rugby. It began when Welsh rugby fans responded to the New Zealand team’s Maori war dance with their own national anthem in 1905. Singing national anthems before a match was then officially adopted.

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