With roots in 19th Century England, rugby union is as physically demanding as it is technical. Commonly referred to as,
simply, 'rugby', the sport takes pride in the soul of the game: celebrating team effort and hard work. Combining raw muscles
with strategic self-restraint, live rugby is a sight to behold, where brutal exchanges on the pitch end with a handshake as
the whistle blows.
Knocked out by France in the 2011 Rugby World
Cup, England saw the Welsh rugby union triumph with Wales playing in the semi-finals. On StubHub! UK you can buy rugby union tickets for upcoming games under the assurance of our FanProtect Guarantee.
More About Rugby - Going Professional in the '90s
According to legend, rugby union was born when Rugby School student William Webb Ellis circumvented the rules of football
during a game in 1823, picking up the ball and making a run for it. Less intriguing, but more historically correct, rugby
did indeed originate from a game played at Rugby School which later spread to Cambridge and Oxford.
A full contact sport, rugby games are played between two teams of 15 players where the goal is to retain and gain possession
of the ball in order to score. Long considered to be an amateur sport, the International Rugby Board (IRB) opened up the possibility
for a professional rugby union in 1995 by removing restrictions on player payments. In recent years, players like New Zealander
Jonah Lomu and Englishman Jonny Wilkinson have brought edge to the game, which is played in over 100 countries.
Other Sports Events
Gaining traction during the 21st century, new supporters discover the thrill of rugby every day. On StubHub! UK you can
find tickets for internationally-known rugby events like the Heroes Rugby Challenge or tickets for organisations like the England Rugby League.