THE DNA OF RUGBY FOOTBALL
THE DNA OF RUGBY FOOTBALL
A short history of the origin of Rugby Football
By Gerhard Roodt
For Therese, Elbie, my brothers and all those who thought William Webb Ellis picked the ball up and start running with it during a soccer match
Contents
1. List of Illustrations
2. Name of the Game
3. Ancient Football Games
4. Ancient Football in England
5. Mob Football
6. Rugby School and William Webb Ellis
7. The Development of Football after William Webb Ellis up to 1871
8. From the Establishment of the RFU up to 1900
9. Rugby in other Countries
10. Other Football Sports List of Illustrations
1. Aboriginal children are playing Marn Grook in the background
2. Athletes in ancient Rome are playing Phaininda
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The ancient Britons being naturally a warlike nation did no doubt for the exercise of their youth in time of peace and to avoid idleness devise games of activity where each man might show his natural prowess and agility, as some for strength of the body by wrestling, lifting of heavy burdens, others for the arm as in casting the bar, sledge, stone, or hurling the bawl or ball, others that excelled in swiftness of foot, to win the praise therein by running, and surely for the exercise of the parts aforesaid this cnapan was prudently invented, had the same continued without abuse thereof. For in it, beside the exercise of the bodily strength, it is not without resemblance of warlike providence, as shall be hereafter declared, and first before I describe you the play, I will let you know that this cnapan happens and falls out maybe by two means. The one is a settled or standing cnapanthe date and place being known and yearly haunted and observed: of these cnapan days in Pembrokeshire there were to be five in number, the first at Bury sands between the parishes of Nevern and Newport upon Shrove Tuesday yearly; the second at Portheinon, on Easter Monday, between the parishes of Meline and Eglwyswrw; the third on low Easterday at Pwll-du in Penbedw between the parishes Penrhydd and Penbedw; the fourth and fifth were wont to be at St. Meigans in Cemais between Cemais men of one party, and Emlyn men, and the men of Cardiganshire with them of he other party, the first upon Ascention Day, he other upon Corpus Christi day, and these two last were the great and main places, far exceeding any of the former in multitude of people for at these places there have oftentimes been esteemed two tousand foot beside