INTRODUCTION

Rugby, the beastly game played by gentlemen...

Legend has it that in 1843 at Rugby School in Warwickshire, England, a student called William Webb Ellis one day ignored the rules of football, caught the ball in his arms and ran with it towards the goal line, more or less inventing rugby as he did so. In 1845 the first codified rules of the game were drawn up by the school’s prefects and the game’s popularity spread throughout the UK in the 1850s and ‘60s. It’s now a sport that is followed by millions of fans throughout the world.

This little compilation bring together 101 quotes, mostly from players, but also coaches, spectators, commentators, actors and comedians, and reveals the humour and the passion in the sport.

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All Blacks

David Andrew

Anon

“Remember that rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Jonah”

A fax to All Blacks before the 1995 World Cup semi-final

“Subdue and penetrate”

All Blacks motto

“To the popular consciousness, rugby is as Welsh as coal mining, male voice choirs, ‘How Green Was My Valley’, Dylan Thomas, and Tom Jones”

David Andrew

“Football is a game played by men running around pretending to be hurt; rugby is a game played by men pretending not to be”

Anon

“Scrum: one man pushing four men’s heads up three men’s backsides”

Anon