About rugby in Britain

Rugby International: Wales v. Barbarians

Rugby has its roots in Britain - it was at Rugby School in 1823 that a student playing football first picked the ball up and ran with it, creating the basis of the game we know and love today.

Rugby is now played by men and women in over 100 countries across 5 continents. It's one of the most popular sports in Britain and has a huge following. England's win at the 2003 World Cup in Australia recruited even more fans, who flock to games in their thousands.

Murrayfield Stadium

Rugby is played with 2 teams of 15 men and an oval-shaped ball. Teams score at the opposite end of the pitch by touching the ball over the line, or by kicking it over the post. It's a demanding, exhilarating and exciting sport, which requires strong and fast players.

There are 2 types of rugby in Britain - Rugby League, which is played nationally between regional teams, and Rugby Union, played between international teams at fierce competitions such as the Six Nations and the Rugby Union World Cup (the 2007 World Cup takes place in France in September).

The Millennium Stadium illuminated by sunshine with rain clouds and a rainbow in the distance

Britain is home to some of rugby's most famous grounds, including Twickenham in London - the home of Rugby World Cup champions and the Web Ellis Cup. Then there's the spectacular 72,500-seat Millennium Stadium (www.millenniumstadium.com) in Cardiff, and Murrayfield (www.visitscotland.com/library/murrayfieldstadium?view=Standard) in Edinburgh - the home of Scottish rugby.

So whether you're a loyal rugby fan, or just want to learn a bit more about the sport, come to Britain and see some of the best grounds and the best teams in the world.

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