Backpackers Guide to London
Rugby in London
Backpackers' Guide to London's Tourist Information | Backpackers' Guide to London Tourist Attractions | Backpackers' Guide to London's Historical Attractions | Backpackers' Guide to Shopping in London | Backpackers' Guide to Sport in London | Backpackers' Guide to Entertainment in London | Backpackers' Guide to Food in London | Backpackers' Guide to London Museums Rugby has been described as football without protective gear, but there is more to it than the banging of bodies and a mad race to run across a field without being hit or tackled by an opposing player. It requires agility, technical skill, strategy, and gracefully orchestrated moves—made even more interesting in that one wrong move could lead to heavy injury. In general, a rugby team consists of 15 players, with 7 substitutions of players permitted during a match. One .game usually lasts for 80 minutes and is divided into two 40-minute halves. It has no time-outs, forcing players into a test of endurance and the ability to make split second decisions without the benefit of a coach. The game was said to have originated at Rugby School in Rugby, England, where a student supposedly picked up and carried a ball during a football game in 1823. This uniquely British innovation was adopted and modified by other English schools, and in 1871, the English Rugby Union was organized to create a standard set of rules. Aside from being allowed to carry the ball, Rugby is different from American football in that the ball is oval and slightly more blunt in shape—making it easier to bounce and kick. Today, Rugby is one of London’s most beloved sports, and when tournaments and other sporting events are held in its coliseums, the nearby accommodations are packed. Visitors who wish to see a match should take appropriate steps in
booking accommodations long before an important game. Rugby’s popularity has spread to over 100 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, England, France, Italy, Fiji, and South Africa. Visitors can see the development of Rugby and look up close at artifacts from various periods of its history at the Museum of Rugby and Twickenham Stadium. Exhibits include trophies, jerseys and individual achievements by the various players who have contributed so much to the development of the sport. There are also interactive touch screen media displays.
Introduction
History
Museum of Rugby and Twickenham Stadium
Ashlee House, 261-265 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8QT, England
Tel: +44 (0)20 7833 9400 Fax: +44 (0)20 7833 9677
