The Rugby Union came first. Then Northern Clubs favouring different rules split off from the Union creating their own Northern 'League'. Hence, Rugby League was born. The reason for the split was issues around money. In northern England most rugby players were working class. They wanted to change the rules to make the game less physical because if they got injured playing then they couldn't do any manual labour and therefore couldn't get paid. The middle class proffessionals who mostly played it in the South didn't have to worry about this in their cosy office jobs. Also people in the north liked the idea of being aable to earn money as a proffessional spotsman.
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The governing body of the union code were approached by a number of north England clubs who wanted to pay their players as many of those with talent were being encouraged to move south of the UK for work. The RFU decided that the game would remain armature and payment would not be made. The clubs in the north then broke away and formed the National Rugby league
Many believe that rugby was invented when in 1823 William Webb Ellis, while a pupil at Rugby School, picked up a soccer ball and ran with it. Although there is nothing to substantiate the story it is recognised as the true origin of the game by the International Rugby Committee.
its a more open, running version of the game. There are no lineouts. ruck and maul plays and scrums are basically uncontested. The league code have dropped the 2 flanker positions. There are Many prefer this form to that of the union code so take it up as their sport to play or watch. .
It initially started in 1823 but was not formulaised with rules until January 26th 1871