By Keith Douglas, local historian
Legend has it that the game of rugby began with the antics of Rugby School pupil, William Webb Ellis, who in 1823, 'with a fine disregard for the rules of football as played in his time, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it, thus originating the distinctive feature of the sport.' Whatever the origins, throughout the 1800s the sports of football and rugby became more identifiable from each other in style, and in 1871, ten years after the common rules of football were set, the first Rugby Union was founded in London and firm rules of the game were established.

In the same year the first international match between Scotland and England was played in Edinburgh on 27 March 1871. The Scots formed their own Rugby Union in 1873; the Irish Rugby Union was formed in 1879 and the Welsh Rugby Union in 1880. Up until 1885 England, as the founder Union, had made the Laws of the Game.

In 1886 an International Board was formed by Scotland, Ireland and Wales but England refused to take part. As a result the other Home Unions refused to play England. In 1889 England changed its stance with regard to representations on the Board and in 1890 relations were resumed. The International Board gradually took over more and more responsibilities and now, at the present time, they make the Laws and run the game. In the latter part of the nineteenth century the popularity of rugby grew around the world, particularly in the Southern hemisphere countries of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

Many new clubs were formed in England, and it was in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire that the game really took hold. Here rugby was largely a working manâs game, whilst the southern clubs were largely middle-class.

The strength of support for rugby grew over the following years, and large paying crowds were attracted to major matches. England teams of the era were dominated by Yorkshire and Lancashire players, however, these players were forbidden to earn any of the spoils of this newly-rich game. Predominantly working-class teams found it difficult to play to their full potential because in many cases player recreational time was limited by the need to earn a wage. Even if they could take time off to play regularly, training time was often curtailed. If injured, they had to pay their own medical bills and possibly take time off work, which for a man earning a weekly wage could easily lead to financial hardship.

In 1892, charges of professionalism were laid against clubs in Bradford and Leeds after they compensated players for missing work. In 1893, Yorkshire clubs complained that southern clubs were over-represented on the RFU committee and that committee meeting were held in London at times which made it difficult for northern members to attend. By implication they were arguing that this affected the RFU's decisions on the issue of "broken time" payments (as compensation for the loss of income) to the detriment of northern clubs who made up the majority of English rugby clubs. Payment for broken time was a proposal put forward by Yorkshire clubs that would allow players to receive up to six shillings when they missed work due to match commitments. The idea was voted down by the RFU, and widespread suspensions of northern clubs and players began.

On August 29, 1895 representatives of the northern clubs met in the George Hotel, Huddersfield, to form the "Northern Rugby Football Union" consisiting of twenty-two clubs. The separate Lancashire and Yorkshire competitions of the NRFU merged in 1901, forming the Northern Rugby League, the first time the phrase rugby league was used officially.

THIS excellent shot above from the records of Clif Barker shows a lineout from the game between Wigan Old Boys and Kendal at Prospect Park, Standish, on Saturday October 5th 1935. The Wigan players that have been identified, in black and white of course, are J. Slevin, E. Wilson, S. Pennington, W.Wilson, A. Sim, D. Halewood, H. Jones, J. Simpson. Note the lack of post protectors (they were hard in those days), the primitive head protectors, and the lack of lifting in the lineout!

OUR second picture below shows action at Prospect Park from the game between Wigan Grammar School and Leigh Grammar School, in the season 1939-40. The watertower looms large in the background as the lads indulge in desperate defence under the sticks.