Introduction

On 22nd December 1876 a letter send from Matthew Holbeche Bloxam (O.R.) was published in "The Meteor", here is the full text:

A leading article in the Times newspaper, the leading journal of Europe, a few weeks past, on the Rugby school Football Rules, has prompted me to write a few words on the game of football, as played at Rugby in my time, 1813-1820. The last time I played at Bigside in the close was just 60 years ago, and my recollections of the game extended to 67 years.

When I was entered at the school, after the summer holidays of 1813, a considerable portion of the close south of the wall of the headmaster's garden was parted off by paling, and the space thus enclosed filled with the debris of building materials, for the school house and school buildings, as originally designed, were just finished. A range of barns, partly tiled, partly thatched, adjoining the Dunchurch Road, fitted up temporarily as schoolrooms, were in existence and used as such, and near to these stood the famous "Treen's tree."

In 1813, the available space for the playground was not more than four acres at the most. There was an island - the altogether sadly altered from then past, and not for the better. The island was in a separate field from the close, and the Southern part of the present close was divided into fields, and formed a small dairy farm. Cricket and Football at Bigside were played at the North-West corner of the close, adjoining the Dunchurch Road. One of the goals was erected on the site of the chapel, not then in existence.

When preparations for the erection of the chapel were made and the ground enclosed for that purpose, circa A.D.1817-18, Bigside both at Cricket and Football was removed to that part of the close lying immediately South of the headmaster's garden wall. The procedure at Bigside of Football was then as follows: all fags were stopped on going out after three o'clock calling-over(I should add that the fifth form only, which was then next to the sixth form, was exempt from fagging) and compelled to go into the close, except those specially exempt, by having to attend the French master, Drawing master or Drill sergeant, the times for which, being extras, were taken out of the half holidays, and consequently little was learned. When, then, all had assembled in the close, two of the best players in the School commenced choosing in one for each side. One of these players in my time was an athlete in the lower forth form, then the lowest form in the upper school. After choosing in about a score on each side, a somewhat rude division was made of the remaining fags, half of whom were sent to keep goal on the one side, the other half of whom were sent to keep goal for the same purpose. Any fag, though not specially chosen in, might follow up on that side to the goal of which he was attached. Some of these were ready enough to mingle in the fray, others judiciously kept half back, watching their opportunity for a casual kick, which was not un frequently awarded to them. Few and simple were the rules of the game : touch on the sides of the ground was marked out, and no one was allowed to run with the ball in his grasp towards the opposite goal. It was football and not handball, plenty of hacking , but little struggling. As to costume, there were neither flannels or caps; the players simply doffed their hats and coats, or jackets, which were heaped together on either side near the goals till the game was over. All were scratch matches, one boarding house was never pitted against another, and there was no Cock House. There were no Rugbeian matches; railways had not commenced to pervade the land, and Rugby was a good twelve hours' journey from London. With Oxford there was no direct communication. Once a year, at Easter speeches, the school used to be visited by Old Rugbeian from Oxford, but these never amounted to more than a score in number, if so many. After the games of the day were concluded, however vigorously they may have been contended, all further remembrance of the game was consigned to the limbo of oblivion, our tasks to be learned at night were sufficiently onerous to allow leisure for discussion, and there was no Meteor in which the incidents of each game could be recorded.

In the latter half of 1823, some 57 years ago, originated, through without premeditation, that change in one of the rules, which more than any other has since distinguished the Rugby school game from the Association Rules.

A boy of the name of Ellis, William Webb Ellis, a town boy and a foundationer, who at the age of nine entered the school after the midsummer holidays in 1816, who in the second half year of 1823, was, I believe, a praeposter, whilst playing Bigside at football in that half year, caught the ball in his arms. This being so, according to the then rules, he ought to have retired back as far as he pleased, without parting with the ball, for the combatants on the opposite side could only advance to the spot where he had caught the ball, and were unable to rush forward till he had either punted it or had placed it for someone else to kick, for it was by means of these placed kicks that most of the goals were in those days kicked, but the moment the ball touched the ground, the opposite side might rush on. Ellis, for the first time, disregarded this rule, and on catching the ball, instead of retiring backwards, rushed forwards with the ball in his hands towards the opposite goal, with what result as to the game I know not, neither do I know how this infringement of a well known rule was followed up, or when it became as it is now, a standing rule. Mr Ellis was high up in the school, and as to scholarship of fair average abilities. He left the school in the summer of 1825, being the second Rugby exhibitioner of that year, and was entered at Brasenose College, Oxford. He subsequently took Holy orders, and at a later period became incumbent of the church of St. Clement Danes, Strand, London. He died on the continent some years ago. When ay school, though in a high form, Mr Ellis was not what we should call "a swell," at least none of his compeers considered him as such; he had, however, no lack of assurance, and was ambitious of being thought something of. In fact he did an act which if a fag had ventured to have done, he would probably have received more kicks than commendations. How oft is it that such small matters lead to great results.

Matthew Holbeche Bloxam, O.R.

Two extracts from his book (note the discrepancy on the year)

Rugby: the school and the neighbourhood By Matthew Holbeche Bloxam

Page 74

"As to football, a different game was played to that at present; the rules were few and unwritten, but well understood. Two of the best players chose in a certain number on each side; the fags, all of whom were required to be present, unless specially excused by a Praepostor, were then divided in a rough and ready way, one half being sent to keep one goal, the other half the other goal. Any of the fags, who kept or were supposed to keep goal, might, however, follow up on that side by which their goal was defended, and this some of the juniors did, but at a respectful distance from the main body of the combatants ; and as taking up the ball and running with it was not allowed, a kick at the ball was often obtained by a junior. The game was not then a scientific game; there were no matches to record, or press to record them. The taking up the ball first commenced in, I think, the year 1825, by a foundationer or town boy named Ellis ; he was also a Praepostor. Had he not been of that grade in the school, he would, I think, have received more kicks than halfpence for breaking the rule. Backs and half-backs were unknown, each combatant, subject to a few fixed rules, played as he individually might list. Whilst keeping goal and immediate attention was not required, games were often played by juniors, an old glove, stuffed with leaves, serving as a substitute for a football. There was no change of apparel for football, no caps, no flannels; hat and coat, or jacket, were simply doffed. There were no matches between house and house, or between the school and foreign teams. All were scratch games and unreported ; yet the games were played with as much zest as at present, though when finished the game was no longer thought of."

Page 107

In the latter half-year of 1823, some 57 years ago, originated though without premeditation, that change in one of the rules, which more than any other has since distinguished the Rugby School game from the Association Rules.

A boy of the name of Ellis—William Webb Ellis—a town boy and a foundationer, who at the age of nine entered the School after the midsummer holidays in 1816, who in the second half-year of 1823, was, I believe, a praepostor, whilst playing Bigside at football in that half-year, caught the ball in his arms. This being so, according to the then rules, he ought to have retired back as far as he pleased, without parting with the ball, for the combatants on the opposite side could only advance to the spot where he had caught the ball, and were unable to rush forward till he had either punted it or had placed it for some one else to kick, for it was by means of these placed kicks that most of the goals were in those days kicked, but the moment the ball touched the ground, the opposite side might rush on. Ellis, for the first time, disregarded this rule, and on catching the ball, instead of retiring backwards, rushed forwards with the ball in his hands towards the opposite goal, with what result as to the game I know not, neither do I know how this infringement of a well known rule was followed up, or when it became, as it is now, a standing rule. Mr. Ellis was high up in the School, and as to scholarship of fair average abilities. He left School in the summer of 1825, being the second Rugby Exhibitioner of that year, and was entered at Brasenose College, Oxford. He subsequently took Holy Orders, and at a later period became incumbent of the church of St. Clement Danes, Strand, London. He died on the continent some years ago. When at School, though in a high Form, Mr. Ellis was not what we should call a " swell," at least none of his compeers considered him as such; he had, however, no lack of assurance, and was ambitious of being thought something of. In fact he did an act which if a fag had ventured to have done, he would probably have received more kicks than commendations. How oft it is that such small matters lead to great results !

References:

1. Rugby: the school and the neighbourhood By Matthew Holbeche Bloxam