Rugby Football Union
The
Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the
rugby union governing body in
England.
In
1871 21 English clubs met at a London hostelry to form the Rugby Football Union (RFU), which would draw up rules for the game first played at
Rugby school in
1823. There would have been 22, but the Wasps' representative never reached that inaugural meeting.
Similar unions were organised during the next few years in
Ireland,
Wales,
Scotland,
New Zealand,
Australia,
France,
Canada,
South Africa, and the
United States.
Among the Union's chief activities are conferences, organising international matches, and educating and training players and officials. Their publications include handbooks and guides for coaches. Headquarters are at
Twickenham,
Middlesex, inside
Twickenham Stadium.
The national team is called
England Rugby.
The Rugby Football Union and Premier Rugby Limited (PRL) are partners in a joint venture calledEngland Rugby Limited (ERL) created to manage the elite professional game in England.
The RFU's turnover for the year ended 30 June 2005 was
£84.8 million, up from £72.3 million the previous year. £18.9 million was distributed to member clubs. [
1]
Since
1890 the
RFU has recognised the
International Rugby Board as the world governing and law-making body for the game of Rugby Union. Other countries' governing bodies are often called by a simliar name for example,
Irish Rugby Football Union (
IRFU). See the
IRB article for a full list of National Rugby Unions.
Main article: History of rugby union: The forming of the First Rugby Union
*
England national rugby union team*
Guinness Premiership*
National Division One*
Powergen Cup*
Calcutta Cup*
English Rugby Union teams*
Rugby union in England*
Official website*
The Schools' Rugby Website*
Official Photo Store*
Official Travel Company
