Rugby Union, or rugby for short, is a contact group sport originated in England in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes for rugby, which is based on holding the ball with the hand. In the most common form, the game is played in a rectangle between two teams of 15 players, and the oval ball is on the H-shaped doorpost at both ends.

Rugby League is a popular sport all over the world. In 2014, there were more than 6 million people playing games in the world, of which 2.36 million were registered players. World rugby, formerly known as the International Rugby Board (IRFB) and the International Rugby Board (IRB), has been the governing body of the rugby league since 1886. Currently, 101 countries are full members and 18 associate members.

In 1845, the students of Rugby School made the first football law. Other important events in the early development of rugby included the departure of Blackheath F.C. from the football association in 1863 and from the rugby league and rugby league in 1895. Historically an amateur sport, restrictions on player payments were lifted in 1995, bringing the game to its highest level of publicity for the first time.

Rugby League originated in Great Britain and Ireland and was supported by many countries related to the British Empire. Early representatives of the sport included Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and France. Countries that make Rugby federations a de facto national sport include Fiji, Georgia, Madagascar, [4] New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga.

International competitions have been held since the first match between Scotland and England at Raeburn place in Edinburgh in 1871. The Rugby World Cup was first held in 1987 and is played every four years. The Six Nations Championship and the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship held every year in Europe are other major international competitions held every year.

National clubs and provincial competitions include England's Premier League, France's top 14, New Zealand's mitre 10, Australia's national rugby championship and South Africa's Curie cup. Other international club competitions include the Champions League, pro14 in Europe and South Africa, and super football in the southern hemisphere and Japan.