How did it start – Rugby

Rugby. It’s basically in our blood here in New Zealand. We cheer for the All Blacks and Black Ferns, play touch at lunch, and many of us have scraped knees from a tackle or two. But have you ever wondered where rugby actually came from? I did. So, I did a bit of digging, and guess what? The story goes way back, and it starts with a boy who didn’t follow the rules.

Let’s rewind to the year 1823 in a small town in England called Rugby. At a school there called Rugby School, boys played a type of football. It was kind of like soccer, but with fewer rules and lots of running around.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. A teenager named William Webb Ellis was playing in one of these matches. Legend has it that instead of kicking the ball like everyone else, he suddenly picked it up and ran with it. But instead of getting told off, this moment became the spark that eventually led to a whole new sport: rugby. Some people think this story might be a bit exaggerated or even made up, but William Webb Ellis is still considered the guy who inspired the game. Today, the Rugby World Cup trophy is even named after him.

After that cheeky moment in 1823, the game slowly started to change. Schools across England began playing different versions, and by 1871, the first official rugby rules were written down. The sport was now called rugby football to set it apart from regular soccer, and soon after, it spread like wildfire to other countries like Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.

Rugby came to Aotearoa in the 1870s, and we took to it like ducks to water. Our Māori and Pākehā communities both embraced it, and by the early 1900s, we had our first national team: the All Blacks. You’ve probably seen that iconic black jersey and the team’s haka before each game is known all over the world. We’ve been dominating ever since, with three World Cup wins.

But rugby in New Zealand isn’t just about the All Blacks. The Black Ferns, our women’s national team, are just as legendary. They’ve won six Women’s Rugby World Cups, and their 2022 win right here in Aotearoa inspired a whole new generation to pick up the ball and give rugby a go.

Then there’s Super Rugby, where New Zealand’s top regional teams like the Crusaders, Blues, Hurricanes, Chiefs, and Highlanders face off against teams from other countries. It’s like the rugby version of the Avengers – epic match-ups, big rivalries, and stadiums full of passionate fans.

So why has rugby stuck around for so long? Maybe it’s the teamwork, the strategy, or the thrill of scoring a try. For me, it’s the energy. The crowd roaring, the mud flying, and that feeling when your team pulls off an amazing pass or a game-winning tackle.

Rugby isn’t just a sport; it’s part of who we are as Kiwis. Whether you’re playing on the field, watching from the sidelines, or yelling at the TV when a ref makes a bad call, rugby brings people together. It’s in our history, our schools, our whānau, and even our weekends.

So next time you kick a ball around at lunch, just remember: it all started with a rule-breaking boy who ran with the ball, and a whole lot of people who turned that moment into something epic.

Comprehension Questions:
1. Who was William Webb Ellis, and why is he important in the history of rugby?
2. List two ways rugby is an important part of New Zealand culture today.

Activities:

1. Rugby Around Aotearoa Research Task
Pick a New Zealand region (like Canterbury, Waikato, or Northland) and research its local rugby team. What’s the team called? What are their colours? Have they won any championships? Write a short profile (3–5 sentences) about the team and draw their logo or mascot.

2. Design a New Rugby Jersey
Pick a real or made-up rugby team and design a new jersey for them! Think about colours, logos, and patterns that represent the team or where they come from. You could create a jersey for your school team, a future version of the All Blacks or Black Ferns, or even invent a team from another planet.