During a football match at Rugby School in the latter half of 1823, William Webb Ellis allegedly disrupted the established order of the game by catching the ball and running forward with it. This single, unverified moment is the foundation for the tradition that identifies him as the inventor of the sport now known as rugby football.
Early Life and Education
Born in Salford on 24 November 1806, William Webb Ellis was the son of James Ellis, a cornet in the 7th Dragoon Guards who died in 1812 near Albuera. His mother, Ann, relocated to Rugby, Warwickshire, allowing her sons to attend Rugby School as local foundationers. Between 1816 and 1825, he lived in Town House, distinguishing himself as a student and a cricket player.
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The claim regarding the invention of rugby football stems from accounts provided by Matthew Bloxam decades later. In 1876 and subsequent correspondence, Bloxam described how Webb Ellis disregarded the rules of the time by rushing toward the goal with the ball in his hands instead of retreating. An Old Rugbeian Society sub-committee investigated these claims in 1895, yet modern historians frequently categorize the narrative as an origin myth rather than documented fact.
Clerical Career
Following his time at Rugby, he entered Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1826. He represented the university in cricket against Cambridge in 1827 and earned his B.A. in 1829, followed by an M.A. in 1831. He pursued a life in the Church, serving as chaplain of St George’s Chapel in London and later as rector of St Clement Danes. He eventually moved to Essex, becoming rector of Magdalen Laver in 1855.
Death and Legacy
Webb Ellis never married. He died on 24 February 1872 in Menton, France, and was interred at the Cimetière du Vieux Château. His estate of £9,000 was bequeathed primarily to various charities. Today, his connection to the sport remains symbolized by the Webb Ellis Cup, which is awarded to the victors of the Rugby World Cup.
Fast facts
- Born: 24 November 1806, Salford
- Died: 24 February 1872, Menton
- Educated: Rugby School, Brasenose College
- Occupations: Clergyman, cricketer
- Burial site: Cimetière du Vieux Château
- Estate value: £9,000
Questions readers ask
Did William Webb Ellis actually invent rugby?
The account is largely considered an origin myth by historians, as the story was not recorded until long after the incident allegedly occurred.
What is the Webb Ellis Cup?
It is the trophy presented to the winners of the Rugby World Cup, named in honor of the figure credited with the game's invention.
