GIVEN that we don’t really know who invented rugby – and that the Webb Ellis story is essentially an agreed compromise – we have almost no chance of dating the start of women’s rugby.
What we do know, however, is that women enthusiasts, despite active discouragement from their menfolk for decades, have played a form of rugby much longer that you might imagine.
There are some reports of women being involved in – and then being banned from – annual Shrove Tuesday Football matches between villages in the Medieval ages when the rumbustious action was much closer to what we call rugby than what became soccer, and then in the 19th century we have the first confirmed women’s rugby matches or involvement in the game.
The first came in a noted series of eight football games played between Scotland and England women’s teams on a tour around Scotland and northern England in May and June 1881, but only recently has it come to light that the final two games were almost certainly played under Rugby Union laws.
Six matches into the series and the ladies pitched up at the Cattle Market Inn Athletic Grounds at Stanley in Liverpool on Saturday June 25 for the first of two fixtures there. The first was to kick off at 5pm that night and the second at 7.30pm on the Monday. Admission was 1 shilling, unusually expensive for the time, possibly to deter protesters who had caused the abandonment of two of the earlier games off football in Scotland.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
HONEYMOON periods are not set in stone and in my estimation Steve Borthwick’s ends this summer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still in good shape.
Barrington ready to power up the Mob
RICHARD Barrington has signed up to the Ampthill “Mob” reassured that he’ll still have a target on his back most weeks.
Skivington keen to build identity
GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.
Roebuck targets England success
WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.