The game of rugby began life in Britain but is now loved all over the world and played by just about every type of person and though its origins are in one place it now encompasses so many countries that there are now international rugby union rules and conventions designed to keep the game recognizable globally. The game of rugby is said to have begun life at the school that still bears the same name, Rugby School in England. This private boys school still cherishes the game which is now known as union to differentiate it from other modern forms of the sport and since its inception it has become a favorite and been practiced by boys at private boarding schools throughout Britain and its former colonies.

 

It was traditionally a game for the more privileged people as the lower classes in Britain preferred to play football, or soccer as it is sometimes called. But that was in the past and now people of all classes and both men and women love the game and play it with relish. Unlike other ball sports like football which is a non-contact sport, rugby is a full contact sport in which players tackle one another to the ground in order to take possession of the ball for their team. This means that the game is not suitable for all types of people but many players and spectators still believe that international rugby union is the best game on earth.

For a game that began life in Britain at a private English school for boys rugby has spread all over the world where it is cherished and loved by people in hundreds of different countries and this means that international rugby union has established itself as one of the most popular games on the planet. Traditionally a game for the privileged in Britain rugby is now a sport played by all levels of society and many men and women enjoy playing it. The fact that it is a full body contact sport does tend to limit the interest of some people because it can be very intimidating to be tackled to the ground and this helps to explain why the sport often attracts big and brawny practitioners.

One of the key differences these days is that rugby is divided into two modern forms of the game, union and league. Rugby Union retains rules and a style of play that is closest to the original game invented at Rugby School in England in the 1700s and this accounts for much of its attraction today. Union is also the form of the game still played at many private boys school in Britain and throughout the Commonwealth countries and this too helps to preserve the link between modern day international rugby union and its origins.