A BRIEF HISTORY OF RUGBY LEAGUE

1823: According to the myth, American student William Webb Ellis runs with the ball in hand during a football match in Rugby Public School, England.

1872: Rugby Union rules were standardised with the first clubs being formed in France and England.

1892: The Rugby Union charges a number of working class clubs in the north of England with 'professionalism'. The dispute was over 'broken time' payments being made to players who lost wages for not being at work while playing football, or through injury sustained while playing football. The hard line line taken by the Rugby Union made it almost impossible for the working-class man to play the game, and this created a wedge between the north and south of England.

1895: The issue of compensation for lost work time led to a break-away movement. On August 27th or 29th, at an historic meeting at the George Hotel, Huddersfield the 'Northern Rugby Football Union' is formed. 'Coincidentially', England's Rugby Football Union creates the 1823 myth of William Webb Ellis, 72 years after event was supposed to have happened.

Delegates from nine Lancashire and 12 Yorkshire rugby union clubs met in Hudderfield and formally break away from the Rugby Union and form a new, independent body: the Northern Union.

The first round of Rugby League matches was played in Great Britain on September 7th, 1895. 
The only media report was in the Pall Mall Gazzette which stated "Professional Rugby League set in on Saturday - no deaths were reported".

The original clubs and year of foundation (and formation years as a rugby football club): Batley 1880, Bradford 1863, Brighouse Rangers 1878, Broughton Rangers 1877, Dewsbury 1875, Halifax 1873, Huddersfield 1864, Hull 1865, Hunslet 1883, Leeds 1890, Leigh 1877, Liversedge 1877, Manningham 1876, Oldham 1876, Rochdale Hornets 1871, St Helens 1874, Tyldesley 1879, Wakefield Trinity 1873, Warrington 1875, Widnes 1873, Wigan 1879.
Dewsbury withdrew a few days later and were replaced by Runcorn (1876). Stockport was also accepted by telephone at the meeting at the George Hotel. The inaugural competition which the 22 founding clubs played for was called the Northern Union.

1897: The 'lineout' is abolished by the Northern Union. Goals were reduced to two points.

1898: The Northern Union legalises professionalism.

1906-7: A number of rule changes were made. Teams were reduced to 13 players a side instead of 15.

1907-1908: A New Zealand team tours Great Britain playing under Northern Football Union rules.
On the 1st January, 1908, at Aberdare, the first ever full Rugby League international from a touring side takes place, Wales versus New Zealand. Wales win the game 9-8 before a crowd of 17,000. An Australian team tours soon after playing three Tests 1908-1909.
The New South Wales Rugby League is formed in Australia in 1908.

1922: The name 'Rugby League' is adopted by the Northern Union.

RUGBY LEAGUE IN AUSTRALIA

1907: Rugby Union was being played in Australia and New Zealand for time with similar debates was over payment to players who were injured or missing work due to football commitments. Many wanted to form a separate competition. Some accounts say that it was Alex 'Bluey' Burdon (aka 'Alec' & 'Alick') who was the catalyst for the breakaway League when he was refused compensation for a broken arm in a Rugby Union match in the NSW RU tour of the Northern Rivers. More likely is that there were a number incidents which caused the split. Victor Trumper's Sports Store in Sydney was the venue for the breakaway discussions. The formation of new competition was inevitable but it's level of success depended on the inclusion of Dally Messenger, a Rugby Union star with much drawing power. Messenger agreed to play in the new Rugby League, a decision which was ultimately made by his mother. A 'Rugby League' team was formed which included Burdon, Messenger and a number of other ex-Rugby Union players who were all promptly disqualified from ever playing Union again. The first Australian 'Rebels' game of the breakway was played under Union rules at Sydney's Agricultural Ground on August 17th, 1907. Three Sydney matches were organised against the New Zealand 'All Golds' (a derogatory name given to them by the pro-RU New Zealand press because the breakaway players apparently only played for money) who were on their way to England. The 'All Golds' won all three matches with the organisers showing a profit of £189. This money was used to form the New South Wales Rugby League with James J. Giltinan as it's founder. 1908: The first 'Rugby League' competition is formed in Sydney and played under the new Northern Rugby Football Union rules. There is some debate over which club was the first to form with founding clubs Glebe and Newtown both staking claims. Recently discovered documents support the Newtown RLFC claim. Other foundation clubs were South Sydney, Western Suburbs, North Sydney, Eastern Suburbs, Newcastle, Balmain and Cumberland. The first round of competition kicked off on the 20th April 1908. The eventual First Grade 'premiers' were South Sydney when they defeated Easts 14-12 in the 1908 Final at the Agricultural Showground on the 29th August in front of 4,000 people. On the 27th September, the first Kangaroos arrived in England, and played their first ever Test against Great Britain, (the GB team was referred to as the 'Northern Union', or 'England' until 1948) in December in London. It finished in a 22-22 draw. 1909: The second Test in January 1909 attracted a crowd of 22,000 in Newcastle, and GB won it 15-5. The third Test was played at Aston Villa, GB won it 6-5 before a crowd of 9000. The Australians suggested that the series should be called 'The Ashes'. In the same year, Balmain forfeited the 1909 premiership decider. The decision to forfeit followed a number of disputes including the choice of venue, politics and money, culiminating in Balmain's insistence that the Final not be played as a curtain raiser to a 'Wallabies v Kangaroos' match. 1914: World War I. Rugby Union in Sydney is suspended for four years but Rugby League plays on. With only one major football code to watch, the popularity of Rugby League soars. 1922: England drops the name 'Northern Rugby Football Union' and adopts the Australian name, 'Rugby Football League'. 1954: World Cup is instigated with Australia, New Zealand, France and Great Britain. The first Rugby League World Cup took place in France, in October and November. The final, played at the Parc des Princes packed with 30,000 fans, took place on 13th November, where Great Britain defeated France by 16-12. Also in 1954, a then world record 102,569 League attendance was set when Warrington beat Halifax in a Challenge Cup Final replay at Odsal Stadium, Bradford. Also in 1954, Grand Finals become mandatory in the NSWRL Sydney competition. From 1908 to 1953, there were 13 'Grand Finals' under various semi-final / finals systems. 1962: NSWRL re-introduced the allowance of two replacement players up to and including half time. Replacements were previously allowed up until 1923. 1967: The most significant rule change in the history of the game occurred with the altering of the unlimited tackle rule to a four tackle rule. In 1971 (1972 in GB), this was extended to six tackles. 1971: Field goals (drop goals) were reduced from two points to one point. Conversion and penalty goal remained at two points. 1980: The first 'State of Origin' match is played between New South Wales and Queensland. Previously, interstate matches fielded players based on the location of their current clubs, usually giving NSW a decisive advantage. The State of Origin concept based selection of the junior careers of players. In front of estatic crowd at Brisbane's Lang Park, Queensland won the first State of Origin encounter 20-10. The significance of State of Origin was typified by Queensland captain, Arthur Beetson who although a born and bred Queenslander, played the majority of his adult career for Sydney clubs. 1983: Tries are increased are increased in value from three points to four points. Mid-1990s: The League's interpretation in regards to scrum play is altered to accomodate the modern game. By the mid-1990s, scrum penalties became a thing of the past with referees allowing the half back to feed the scrum in a manner which saw his team win the ball on almost every occasion. This led to a faster more free flowing game but made redundant the role of the hooker forward in scrum play. Another major change was the extension of replacements to an interchange rule which allowed a limited number of players to leave the field and return thus creating a US style 'bench' environment. During the Super League conflict of 1996-97, the interchange rule went unlimited. Since then, limits have been re-imposed with teams being allowed 12 interchanges off a four-man bench. 1996: 'Super League' is formed as a breakaway organisation in Australia. With the advent of Super League, the top tier of the game in Britain moves from a traditional winter to summer sport. 1997: Super League runs separate competition to the Australian Rugby League (ARL). The game ends up in the courts with the NSWRL and ARL on one side and Super League on the other. 1998: Rugby League reforms under new name of National Rugby League (NRL). The ARL controls international fixtures. 1999: St.George & Illawarra becomes Rugby League's first successful joint venture. A new attendance world record of 107,999 is set at Stadium Australia for the 1999 NRL Grand Final on the 26th September 1999. The match won controversially by Melbourne Storm over the St George Illawarra Dragons 20-18. This record crowd surpassing the Rugby League 'double header' (featuring Parramatta Eels v Dragons, won 20-10 by Parramatta) 104,583 set at the same ground on the 6th March 1999 during the launch of the all new Stadium Australia. Also in 1999, foundation club, South Sydney are cut from the competition. The NRL stating that South Sydney did not meet the new competition criteria - a claim that was hotly disputed by South Sydney officials.  2000: Other clubs merge and by 2001 the 14 competing Clubs include: St George-Illawarra Dragons, Newcastle Knights, Sydney (formerly Eastern Suburbs) Roosters, Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos, NZ (formerly Auckland) Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys, Wests Tigers (formerly Western Suburbs and Balmain), Northern Eagles (formerly North Sydney and Manly), Canberra Raiders, Parramatta Eels, Cronulla Sharks, Penrith Panthers and the Bulldogs (formerly Canterbury Bulldogs). The Northern Eagles would later dissolve with the license reverting back the Manly Sea Eagles. Foundation club North Sydney were ultimately cut from the NRL competition at the end of 2001. 2002: South Sydney Rabbitohs are re-admitted in the NRL first grade competition following a court ruling the previous year. Souths first match of the year, a pre-season Charity Shield trial against St George, attracts a crowd of 37,000 at the Sydney Football Stadium. A record for a Rugby League pre-season encounter. The match ended in a 20-all draw. In one of the biggest scandals in the game's history, competition leaders Canterbury Bulldogs have been found to have breached the salary cap by approximately $1MIL over two seasons. The NRL fines the Bulldogs and strips them of all 37 competition points effectively relegating them to last placed wooden spooners for 2002. 2005: The NRL announces the inclusion of a 16th team, the Gold Coast, for the 2007 competition. Omitted from the NRL in 1998, the Gold Coast 'Titans' will join the Cowboys, Wests Tigers, Dragons, Eels, Broncos, Storm, Sharks, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Panthers, Warriors, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Raiders and the Knights in 2007.

FIRST GRADE NSWRL / ARL / SL / NRL CLUBS SINCE 1908 The NSWRL first grade Rugby League competition was a Sydney-based for decades before it became a national and then an international competition with the introduction of Auckland. The make up of the current NRL competing clubs is unrecognisable when compared to the foundation clubs of 1908. Here is a complete list of district clubs which have come, gone, had name changes or merged since the Sydney competition began. Team Nickname(s) Years Premierships Notes Adelaide 'Rams' 1997-1998 0 * Annandale 'Dales' 1910-1920 0   Auckland / New Zealand 'Warriors' 1995- 0 * Balmain 'Black and Golds' / 'Watersiders' / 'Tigers' 1908- 11     11     =>2000 Wests Tigers 'Wests' / 'Tigers' 1 TOTAL 16 Western Suburbs 'Wests' / 'Magpies' 1908- 4 =>1909 Western Suburbs Cumberland 'Fruitpickers' 1908- 0     4   Brisbane 'Broncos' 1988- 6 * Canberra 'Raiders' 1982- 3 * Canterbury-Bankstown / Canterbury 'Berries' / 'Bulldogs' 1935- 8 * Cronulla-Sutherland / Cronulla 'Sharks' 1967- 0 * Eastern Suburbs / Sydney 'Easts' / 'Tri-Colours' / 'Roosters' 1908- 12   Glebe 'Dirty Reds' 1908-1929 0   Gold Coast 'Seagulls' / 'Gladiators' / 'Giants' / 'Chargers' / 'Titans' 1988-1998 ~ 2007- 0   Hunter 'Mariners' 1997 0 * Manly-Waringah / Manly 'Sea Eagles' 1947- 5                 =>2000 Northern Eagles =>2001 Manly 'Sea Eagles' 5 Norths not part of the 2002 competition North Sydney 'Norths' / 'Shoremen' / 'Bears' 1908-2001 2           Melbourne 'Storm' 1998- 1   Newcastle 'Knights' 1908-1909 ~ 1988- 2 Foundation club re-joined competition in 1988 Newtown 'Bluebags' / 'Jets' 1908-1983 3   North Queensland 'Cowboys' 1995- 0 * Parramatta 'Eels' 1947- 4   Penrith 'Panthers' 1967- 2 * Perth 'Western Reds' 1995-1997 0 * South Queensland 'Crushers' 1995-1997 0   South Sydney 'Souths' / 'Rabbits' / 'Rabbitohs' 1908-1999 ~ 2002- 20 Foundation club re-joined competition in 2002 St George 'Saints' / 'Dragon Slayers' / 'Dragons' 1921- 15   15         =>1999 St George-Illawarra 'Saints' / 'Dragons' 0 TOTAL 15 Illawarra 'Steelers' 1982- 0   0   University of Sydney 'Students' / 'Varsity' 1920-1937 0   * In 1997 there were 2 competitions * denotes teams which competed in Super League. FIRST GRADE PREMIERSHIP RECORDS NSWRL / ARL / SL / NRL YEAR PREMIERS RUNNERS UP SCORE No. OF TEAMS IN SEMIS (Total including play-off teams if applicable) ‡ MINOR PREMIERS 1ST ON LADDER‡ 2ND ON LADDER‡ WOODEN SPOON (last) 1908 Souths Easts 14-12 4 Souths & Easts - Cumberland 1909 Souths Balmain forfeit 4 Souths Balmain Wests 1910 Newtown† Souths 4-all 2 Newtown Souths Wests 1911 Easts Glebe 11-8 2 (3) Glebe Easts & Souths Balmain 1912 Easts† - - 0 Easts Glebe Wests 1913 Easts† - - 0 Easts Newtown Wests 1914 Souths† - - 0 Souths Newtown Annandale 1915 Balmain† - - 0 Balmain Glebe Norths 1916 Balmain Souths 5-3 2 Balmain & Souths - Wests 1917 Balmain† - - 0 Balmain Souths Norths 1918 Souths† - - 0 Souths Wests Annandale 1919 Balmain† - - 0 Balmain Easts Norths 1920 Balmain† - - 0 Balmain Souths Annandale 1921 Norths† - - 0 Norths Easts University 1922 Norths Glebe 35-3 2 Norths & Glebe - St George 1923 Easts Souths 15-12