While football typically steals the spotlight when the topic of sports comes up in the UK, we can’t forget that rugby has also thrived in the nation for over a century.

In fact, while football is a phenomenon in various countries worldwide, rugby has a particularly strong cultural presence in the UK. As it originated in England, the sport has a unique historical significance to the region, with early rivalries being built between the countries of the United Kingdom.

Whether at a grassroots level or on the professional stage, the sport’s development showcases the traditions that fans have fallen in love with. Just like American football in the US has a much deeper significance than a simple sport, rugby has that same reputation in the UK. It brings families and strangers together over their love for the sport or pride in specific teams.

Rugby’s Roots in the UK

In 1823, rugby became a sport when a schoolboy at ‘Rugby School’ by the name of William Ellis picked up a football and ran towards the rival’s goal line. No one had any idea that this unexpected act would lead to the creation of one of the biggest sports in the UK. But this wasn’t the first time rugby was played, as the first iterations came from different forms of football that had existed since even the 14th- and 15th-century.

Because of its rigorous development at Rugby School, the sport became synonymous with developing into manhood and becoming a young gentleman. As part of training to be a gentleman was a commitment to physical activity, rugby and cricket quickly became the sports that represented that. The values of altruism, teamwork, bravery, and self-control were inherently part of rugby, and everyone wanted to embody them.

As rugby developed into its own, it transcended beyond those elitist beginnings to other countries and colonies and across social classes. Just like casinos.com allows people from all walks of life to enjoy convenient gambling from their devices, rugby started to appeal to many communities. Interestingly, while football and its stakeholders were doing everything in their power to put together competitions and leagues and build official rules, the Rugby Football Union actively resisted those developments.

Despite this resistance, England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland would play matches against each other and eventually formed the ‘Home Nations’. Matches were played spontaneously until its international presence became so widespread and intense that there was no choice but to commercialise and professionalise the sport. Especially since TV broadcasting was now a mainstay, rugby was a spectacle in the UK and beyond.

When it came to structure, there was one association above all that shaped the sport: the National Clubs Association (NCA). Once it was established in the 1980s, the NCA was able to bridge the gap between pro-level and grassroots rugby, so clubs had the mobility and chance to move up the ranks or enjoy a high level of operation even below the elite level. It was the NCA that allowed players to get experience on the pitch, get noticed, and promote rugby as a community-centred sport. With that kind of support, clubs could uphold a certain standard while staying accessible to local fans and players.

What Made Rugby So Popular?

Given rugby’s deep roots in the UK’s cultural fabric, the sheer tradition and heritage the sport has nurtured over so many decades are a big part of what makes it so popular. It’s a lot like going to the theatre, afternoon tea, or going down to the chippy—what makes these activities so loved is their longstanding tradition. In turn, that has given way to a strong sense of national pride and historical rivalries, giving rugby matches that emotional intensity.

But while we’ve spoken so much about tradition, we can’t forget that rugby as a sport is riveting. With such physicality, close contact, and strategic pressure, that level of action will surely attract many viewers and those wanting to get first-hand into the action. Its distinct style of play sets it well apart from other sports, involving a big collective effort, unpredictable events, and a continuous pace that keeps everyone on the edge of their seats. The sport’s inherent culture involves a serious level of camaraderie, reinforcing its values surrounding teamwork and respect.

The community aspect of rugby, although just as strong as football, differs in a handful of ways. Rugby clubs further emphasise community-level participation, with volunteer-driven roles and a more personal feel rather than that veil of corporate glitz that can sometimes come with football. That accessibility and humility have made the sport a lot more appealing to some, especially those who prefer a community-oriented approach to their sporting experiences. Perhaps they aren’t interested in high-profile trades or the celebrity status of international players. Rather, they crave the old-school ground-up manner and the connection to the authentic game that might be lost in commercialisation.

Today, the brand value of English, Welsh, and Irish rugby governing bodies all surpass 100 million euros, which can be considered ironic considering the pushback against commercial growth. However, there has been some separation within the UK regarding attitudes and involvement in rugby. While Scottish men participate less in the union, the number of Scottish women playing the sport nearly doubled between 2018 and 2023. In Wales, there has been an increase in adults playing rugby union, while in Ireland, the sport is thriving more than ever before in its golden age.