Which sport came first - Rugby league or rugby union?

zbeckabee

Rugby union and rugby league are two separate games that evolved from a common rugby origin. The original split in 1895 was over the issue of paying players. http://www.uidaho.edu/clubs/womens_rugby/RugbyRoot/rugby/FAQ/faq.shtml#G2 Apr 19 06, 8:27 AM

Babyboo152

Both at the same time... they were originally one game until 1895, then rugby league became proffesional, and union less so. Read this for more info :-) http://www.uidaho.edu/clubs/womens_rugby/RugbyRoot/rugby/FAQ/faq.shtml#G2 Apr 19 06, 5:12 PM

alanyuma

Rugby Union came first. The split came when there was a disagreement over paying players for lost earnings (broken time payments) which were seen as necessary in the north of England but not in the south where the game was more of an ex-public schoolboys game, people who didn't work on Saturday and if they did, could afford the time off. The dispute led to the breakaway of the Northern Union who paid their players and were studiously ignored and avoided by the unioin officials. Indeed you could have been banned from playing union just by being seen in a rugby league ground. Then a century or so later Union went professional and they are all jolly good friends again - but the games remain different! Apr 24 06, 5:32 PM