823 - During a game of soccer, William Webb Ellis, then a 16 year old boy at Rugby School in England, caught the ball and ran with it towards the opponent's goal line. Thus the game of Rugby was born.
1829 - "The Sydney Monitor" of 25th July reports a game of football at the soldiers Barracks (modern dayBarrack St in Sydney).
1841 - Running with the ball was officially allowed in Rugby School's rules, providing the ball was taken on the bound; passing was specifically forbidden.
1864 - The first Australian rugby football club was established at Sydney University.
1871 - The first international match, between England and Scotland was played. Twenty players a side, 13 forwards, 3 half backs, 1 three quarter and three fullbacks.
1874 - The Southern Rugby Union - later changed to New South Wales Rugby Union - is formed at a meeting at the Oxford Hotel in Sydney.
1875 - Tries received major recognition in the game. If both teams scored the same number of goals or if no goals were kicked, they match was decided on the majority of tries.
1877 - Player numbers in international matches reduced from 20 to 15.
1882 - The first inter Colonial match is played between New South Wales and Queensland. New South Wales won 28-4.
Football is not an English invention, since there is evidence that it has been played for centuries in various nations. It came to England in the 11th century and was hugely enjoyed by the population. In the 15th and 16th centuries it was banned because of the damage caused by the participants and also because it interfered with the practice of archery - vital to the defence of the country before the development of gunpowder.
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