Well, I don’t know if you have already read my previous post on Rugby, if not you can check that out. If already been done, and just wanted to know about how this foreign sport came life in India? Then let’s dive into the Surprising Rise Of Rugby Sport Happened In India 2025.
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Surprising Rise Of Rugby Happened In India 2025
History Of Rugby
Rugby is a high-intensity contact team sport known for its physicality, tactical play, and unmatched excitement. The game is played between two teams of 15 players (Rugby Union) or 13 players (Rugby League), which involves carrying, passing, kicking, and grounding the ball in the opponent’s try zone to score points.
Rugby originated in 1823 in Rugby School, England, when student William Webb Ellis reportedly broke the rules of a football game and ran with the ball. This act laid the foundation for the sport. (Funny isn’t it, like breaking rules gave birth to such an exciting new sport).
By 1871, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) was formed in England, and the sport quickly spread across the British Empire. Two main formats emerged—Rugby Union and Rugby League—due to differences over amateur and professional play.
In 1987, the first Rugby World Cup was held, solidifying rugby as a truly global sport.
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History Of Rugby In India
Rugby was first introduced to India in the 19th century by British colonialists, particularly military officers and civil servants. It was initially played in army cantonments, schools, and by refugee clubs in cities like Calcutta, Bombay (Mumbai), and Madras (Chennai).
One of the earliest formal clubs built was the Calcutta Football Club, established in 1872. After a match against a visiting Royal Navy team, the club disbanded—but not before melting down their remaining funds into a silver trophy, the Calcutta Cup, which remains one of the oldest and most prestigious trophies in the sport, now contested between England and Scotland.
Despite early exposure, rugby failed to take root among the Indian population at the time due to a lack of access, awareness, and infrastructure.
After independence in 1947, rugby got overshadowed by sports like Cricket, football, and field hockey, which dominated India’s sports landscape.
The sport saw little formal structure until 1998, when the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) was formed. Later renamed as Rugby India, the body became affiliated with the International Rugby Board (IRB) in 2001, allowing India to officially participate in global competitions.
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Rise of Rugby in India
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If you enjoy reading it, comment below and leave your suggestions and any other topics that I should write about in the comments. Don’t just read alone, share it with others, in this way everybody will enjoy it. I will be back soon with another game or related info. Till then…
—DHANYAVAAD—
