Socialist History Seminar report. William Webb Ellis & Culture Wars in rugby
On 23rd October at the Institute of Historical Research Prof. Tony Collins spoke on William webb Ellis and the class struggles. He is the author of Who Framed William Webb Ellis.
The seminar was not recorded but the bullet points below are based on my notes while chairing the seminar. Any inaccuracies (likely as I was multi-tasking) are my responsibility along
William Webb Ellis. b1806. Rugby school. Vicar d1872.
Unaware he’d be a rugby symbol. He played no rules football, handling & kicking the ball
Rugby school version popular due to class status of the school.
Thomas Arnold, Head Teacher published in 1857 Tom Brown’s Schooldays
1870s Rugby was a mass spectator sport. North of England, SouthWales.
1874 Factory Act. Half-holiday Saturday to watch game
Rugby became part of working class life-Eric Hobsbawm noted between 1880-90.
Featherstone miners 1893, where several were shot. Inquest in same pub as Featherstone Rovers were formed 1902
Rugby Football Union feared working- class crowds & players..
In 1886 the RFU turned amateur
Northern clubs were seen as professional with payments (compensation).
1893 RFU voted down compensation payments. Oxford & London focus to RFU.
Class divide 1895 Huddersfield split to Rugby League
William Webb Ellis officially named as inventor of Rugby football after inquiry. No actual evidence was presented.
Clarion Rugby correspondent an SDF member & Salford rugby
RFU Professionalism rules banned League 1895 for life. ‘Are you now or have you ever been’ League test used for Huddersfield RFU club
Twickenham Maginot line of class system JG Ballad.
England Rugby team privately educated
League publications run by CP & ILP
Similar pattern in Australia & New Zealand Culture & class division
Vichy France banned League 1941
RFU Tory Party at play but some cross class presence in for example Bath, Bristol
Oswald Mosley called Rugby the perfect fascist game
South Africa. Vorster said a black man will never wear Springbok Jersey
2023 class split on deprivation-Red Wall has League Clubs. The Rugby World Cup upholds the made up tradition of Webb Ellis. League sees itself as democratic egalitarian
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