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Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in England in the first half of the 19th century. Rugby is based on running with the ball in hand.
In rugby union, World Rugby regulates the size and shape of the ball under Law 2 (also known as Law E.R.B); an official rugby union ball is oval and made of four panels, has a length in-line of 280–300 millimetres, a circumference (end to end) of 740–770 millimetres, and a circumference (in width) of 580–620 millimetres.
The team has represented South African Rugby Union in international rugby union since 30 July 1891, when they played their first test match against a British Isles touring team. Currently, the Springboks are the reigning World Champions, having won the World Cup a record four times ( 1995 , 2007 , 2019 and 2023 ).
It was designed to organise rugby union outside the authority of IRB. In the 1990s, the organisation recognised the IRB as the governing body of rugby union worldwide and later changed its name twice—in 1999 to FIRA—Association of European Rugby, and in 2014 to Rugby Europe. Today, Rugby Europe promotes and rules over rugby union in the ...
French rugby player Jean Bouin (right) at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. A number in other fields have also been notable rugby players, these include: Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics, was a rugby fan and referee of the first ever French championship rugby union final on 20 March 1892 between Racing Club de France and Stade ...
A significant portion of rugby union's revenue is derived from the national team touring overseas and visiting tours, while rugby league's is largely generated by its strong domestic league. The number of rugby union players in New Zealand is estimated to be 129,000, with 95,721 [61] playing rugby league.
In response to rugby's move to professionalism, the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) was established in October 1995 to safeguard the interests of Australia's professional rugby players. Greg Smith was national coach in 1996 and 1997 when Australia only won two of their eight Tri-Nations Tests, both over South Africa in Australia, and ...
England rugby union players typically wear all-white jerseys and white shorts, with predominantly navy blue socks. The emblem on the jerseys is a red rose . As of July 2023, the strip is manufactured by Umbro and the shirt sponsor is O 2 .