This Saturday at Rugby School the celebrations of 200 years of Rugby Football continue with two exciting game of Rugby Union and a re-enactment of that original game from 1823, played on the very fields where it began, The Close.
The re-enactment, at 12.30pm, will showcase some of the key moments in the history of Rugby Union, beginning with William Webb Ellis taking the ball in his arms and running with it on The Close at Rugby School, alongside the introduction of first caps, the first referees and the evolution of the laws, through the first woman to play the game, right through to the first Rugby World Cup.
There will then be a presentation of Rugbeian XV Caps to former Rugby School XV players, much like the British and Irish Lions have presented caps to all that have played for them, followed by two very special games, a Wooden Spoon Vets and Legends Women’s game at 1.35pm followed swiftly by a Wooden Spoon Vets and Legends Men’s game at 3pm.
Both games and the re-enactment of the original game will be broadcast live by NextGenXV and can be found below or on the NextGenXV YouTube channel
Wales and British and Irish Lions legend, John Taylor, will be on commentary, as he was for ITV at the every Rugby World Cup from 1991 to 2007. One of the greatest ever to play the game and to commentate on it will certainly add to what will be an incredibly special day at the birthplace of the game.
As throughout this bicentenary year, all funds will be split between Rugby School’s 1823 Bursary Fund and the Wooden Spoon Charity.
Both the Men’s and Women’s games will feature teams made up of Wooden Spoon Vets, Rugby Legends, and Rugby School Staff and former pupils, and among the stars turning out are Rugby World Cup winners Tamara Taylor, Gill Burns, and Heather Fisher, while former Scotland international Alex Groves lines up in the men’s game, so too England and British and Irish Lions hooker Lee Mears.
Schedule (Saturday 24th June):
12pm Gates Open
12.30pm Re-Enactment of the Game
1.10pm Caps Presentation to former Rugby School XV Players
1.35pm Women’s Vets and Legends Game
2.45pm Women’s Presentations
3pm Men’s Vets and Legends Game
4.10pm Men’s Presentations
