The concept started in 1823 at Rugby School in Warwickshire, England. There they played a game similar to soccer (football). In the game the ball could kicked as seen in normal football, tackles were allowed as seen in football but this included "hacking" which in-effect was kicking the legs from beneath the player. The ball was also allowed to be carried. However, this is where the game suddenly changed. William Web Ellis a student of the school technically broke the ball carrying rule. The rule in places was the ball could be picked up BUT the ball carrier had to retire back toward their own players to make a pass either for mare players to carryy the ball or to allow a player to kick the ball ahead and start the attack. Ellis actually picked up the ball and ran forward in breach of this rule but he actually then passed the ball backward for another player to take on the attack. This is where the story of webb Ellis picking up the ball and running comes from in the story.
The new carrying concept continued as students went off to university etc and took the game with them. Circa 1845 and the Football association was formed and removed a number of the existing rules. such as hacking and handing the ball. A group broke away and formed the RFU - Rugby Football Union which it is still called to day.
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William Webb Ellis is credited with inventing the game of rugby. He invented the game when he attended Rugby School in Warwickshire in 1823.
It is usually credited to William Webb Ellis. He was playing football at his school in Rugby (where the game got it's name from) when he picked up the ball and ran.
Its accredited to Rugby School In rugby England and in particular to a 15 year old pupil called William Web Ellis who it is alleged picked up a football and ran with it.