55 Rugby Facts That Even The Die-Hard Fans Don’t Know About

Reviewed by Soliu.

Get ready to scrum down and tackle the world of rugby with our collection of fascinating Rugby Facts

Did you know that the first rugby match took place in 1823 at Rugby School in England and did you know that a student named William Webb Ellis picked up the ball during a soccer match and ran with it, giving birth to rugby?

From the sport’s rich history to its thrilling matches, unique terminology, and standout players, we’ll explore the ins and outs of this exciting game. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just curious about the sport, these rugby facts are sure to surprise and inform.

Did you know that the origin of rugby can be connected back to the game of  “football”, that was played at Rugby School in England in the early 1800s? . The game was similar to modern soccer, but it allowed players to carry the ball in their hands.

In 1823, a student named William Webb Ellis was said to have one day picked up the ball during a game of football and run with it. This was against the rules of the time, but it is credited with being the birth of rugby. The game of rugby quickly spread from Rugby School to other schools and universities in England. In 1871, the first rugby union club was formed, and the first rugby union match was played between England and Scotland.

Rugby is a tough sport that needs strength, speed, and agility on the field. It is also a team sport, so talking and working together are very important. People all over the world like this sport, and both men and women play it. Countries like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, and Wales are big fans of the sport.

Rugby is a sport that people of all ages and skill levels can enjoy. It is a fun and difficult way to work out and learn how to work as a team.

55 Rugby facts that even die-hard fans may not know about

Rugby was also introduced to other parts of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. These countries eventually became some of the most successful rugby nations in the world.

The first Rugby World Cup was held in 1987, and it was won by New Zealand. The Rugby World Cup is now held every four years, and it is one of the most popular sporting events in the world.

Here are 55 Rugby facts that even die-hard fans may not know about:

1. The first rugby match was played in 1823 at Rugby School in England by William Webb Ellis.
2. Rugby was originally played with a round ball, but this was changed to an oval ball in 1871.
3. The first Rugby World Cup was held in 1987, and it was won by New Zealand.
4. The longest rugby match ever played lasted for 25 hours and 15 minutes. It was played between two teams in South Africa in 1906.
5. The heaviest rugby player ever was Jonah Lomu from New Zealand. He weighed 120 kilograms (265 pounds).

6. The fastest rugby player ever was Cheslin Kolbe from South Africa. He can run 100 meters in 10.7 seconds.
7. The highest rugby stadium in the world is the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is 1,884 meters (6,181 feet) above sea level.
8. The All Blacks from New Zealand is the most popular rugby team in the world..
9. The most famous rugby player in the world is Jonny Wilkinson from England. He is best known for kicking a winning goal at the Rugby World Cup final of 2023.
10. The first female rugby match was played in 1891 in New Zealand.

11. The first international women’s rugby match was played in 1982 between England and France.
12. The first Rugby Sevens World Cup was held in 1993, and it was won by Fiji.
13. The most world successful rugby sevens team in the world is New Zealand. They have won the Rugby Sevens World Cup three times and the Olympic gold medal once.
14. The largest rugby crowd ever was 191,587 people, at the 2009 Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium in London, England.

15. The smallest rugby crowd ever was 0, at a match between the United States and Canada in 1949 due to a blizzard.
16. The highest-scoring rugby game ever was between the Barbarians and Fiji in 2010, with the Barbarians winning 71-51.
17. The lowest-scoring rugby match ever was between England and Scotland in 1871, with England winning 1-0.
18. The longest rugby kick ever was a 75-meter drop goal kicked by Jonny Wilkinson in 2003.
19. The fastest rugby try ever was scored by Cheslin Kolbe in 2021 in just 9.9 seconds.

20. The Romanian team that played against England in 1989 was the biggest rugby team ever, with each player weighing an average of 110 kilograms (243 pounds).
21. The tallest rugby player ever was Inga Tuigamala from Samoa, who was 2 meters (6 feet 7 inches) tall.
22. William Webb Ellis, who invented rugby in 1823 when he was 14 years old, was the youngest player ever.
23. The oldest rugby player ever was John Campbell from Scotland, who was 83 years old when he played his last match in 1967.

24. Jonny Wilkinson from England was the first rugby player to make 100 points in a single international game.
25. Graham Henry from New Zealand is the best rugby coach of all time. He has won the Tri-Nations Championship three times and the Rugby World Cup once.
26. Nigel Owens from Wales is the best rugby referee of all time. He is the only judge who has worked more international games than anyone else.
27. The most well-known rugby song is “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” England fans usually sing it, but fans of other teams around the world also sing it.
28. The most well-known movie about rugby is “Invictus.” It tells the story of how Nelson Mandela brought South Africa together after racism by using rugby.

29. The most popular rugby TV show is “All Blacks: A Rugby Odyssey.” It is a video series about the 2017 season of the All Blacks team.
30. In 1937, a game between England and Scotland was the first to be shown on TV.
31. In 1997, a team of astronauts and a team of Russian cosmonauts played the first rugby game in space.
32. In 2013, two teams of scuba swimmers in the Bahamas played the first rugby game underwater.

33. In 2003, England’s Jonny Wilkinson got 23 points in a single Rugby World Cup game.
34. In 2006, Paul O’Connell from Ireland got two red cards in one rugby game, which is the most that has ever happened in one game.
35. Sergio Parisse from Italy in 2012 got four yellow cards in a single rugby game, which was the most ever given to a player in a single game.
36. The New Zealand All Blacks won 18 games in a row from 2015 to 2016. This is the longest winning run in rugby.
37. The Romanian national team lost 36 straight games from 1994 to 1999, which is the longest losing streak in rugby history.

38. The French club Toulouse Olympique is the most famous rugby club team in the world. They have won the European Rugby Champions Cup five times.
39. New Zealand has been crowned the most successful rugby union country after Winny the tornament cup 3 times.
40. Jonny Wilkinson, an English rugby player, is the most well-known player in the world. He is best known for making the winning drop goal in the final of the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
41. The All Blacks from New Zealand are the most well-known rugby team in the world. They are famous for doing the haka, a traditional Maori war dance, before every game.

42. The Six Nations Championship, which England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales compete in, is the most popular rugby tournament in the world.
43. The National Rugby League (NRL) has 16 teams from Australia and New Zealand, is the most popular rugby league game in the world.
44. The World Rugby Sevens Series, with 16 teams from all over the world, is the most popular rugby sevens tournament in the world.
45. The Rugby World Cup, which happens every four years, is the most popular rugby union event in the world.
46. The Rugby League World Cup, which happens every four years, is the most popular league event in the world.

47. The Blackheath Rugby Football Club, which started in 1865, is the world’s oldest rugby union club.
48. The Halifax Rugby League Football Club, which started in 1871, is the world’s oldest league club.
49. The move of Beauden Barrett from the Hurricanes to the Blues in 2019 for a fee of NZ$1.2 million (US$750,000) was the most expensive rugby transfer ever.
50. Beauden Barrett is the best-paid rugby player in the world. He makes about NZ$1.5 million (US$940,000) per year.

51. Farah Palmer from New Zealand was the first woman to get into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007.
52. The first rugby player to get into the International Rugby League Hall of Fame was Clive Sullivan from Great Britain in 1988.
53. Graham Henry from New Zealand is the best rugby union coach of all time. He has won the Tri-Nations Championship three times and the Rugby World Cup once.

54. The most successful rugby league coach ever is Wayne Bennett, who has won the NRL Premiership seven times.
55. Gordon Tietjens from New Zealand has had more wins than any other coach in the history of rugby sevens. He has won nine times in a row in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

There it is, 55 Rugby facts that would now give you a basic and deep understanding of the sport. 

FAQs

What is the history of the rugby game?

In November of 1823, at Rugby School, an independent school in England, a boy named William Webb Ellis, gripped by a great rush of enthusiasm while playing football, began to run toward the opposing team’s goal but holding the ball in his arms, ignoring the basic ‘no-hands’ rule of football.

Who created the game of rugby?

The exact origins of rugby are unknown, but many researchers believe it to have originated in England in the early 1800s. The legend goes that in 1823, during a football game at the Rugby School in England, a student named William Webb Ellis decided to go against the rules, and instead of kicking the ball, he picked it up and ran.29 Dec 2022.

How do you explain rugby to a child?

It is a game where Two teams play a ball game on a green field. Each team tries to move the ball down the field of the other team and into their goal.

Are there 2 types of rugby?

There are two types of rugby tournaments, called Rugby Union and the other Rugby League. Rugby Union was played in England by a team of gentlemen amateurs, while the Rugby League was played by a team of working-class guys for money. 

Which came first, rugby or football?

Both sports descend from the older game of rugby football, which originated in 19th Century England. British colonists and the British military in Canada brought football to North America. It became popular in American and Canadian universities and prep schools.

Conclusion 

Rugby is a complex and fascinating sport with a rich history. With this thrilling rugby facts, you now understand why It is a sport that is enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities, and it is played all over the world. Rugby is a sport that teaches teamwork, discipline, and respect.

It is a sport that challenges players both physically and mentally. It is a sport that brings people together into one fun environment. This is a sport that is worth celebrating. It is a sport that offers something fun to everyone.

I hope that you have learned something new with these Rugby facts and historical insights provided. I encourage you to learn more about this great sport and to support your local rugby team. and also, share your progress and contributions with us in the comment section. 🏉