Which school is traditionally credited with rugby union’s origin in 1823?

Rugby School is traditionally credited with the origin of rugby union in 1823.

According to the famous school tradition, William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran forward during a football match at Rugby School in Warwickshire, England. The story became central to rugby’s origin mythology, although historians have found no contemporary evidence proving that the incident happened exactly as described.

Rugby School was founded in 1567 and became one of England’s major public schools. Its football rules were written down during the nineteenth century, helping spread the handling-and-running style that later developed into rugby football. The Rugby Football Union was formed in 1871, and international rugby followed soon afterward.

The Webb Ellis story should therefore be treated as a tradition rather than an established eyewitness fact. The school’s name, however, unquestionably became attached to the sport. Rugby union and rugby league later became separate codes, with the split occurring in 1895.