Timeline of foundation of national rugby unions
Encyclopedia
This timeline lists the foundation dates of the national governing bodies for rugby union
—known as rugby unions or federations. The first union was the Rugby Football Union
(RFU) that was founded in 1871 to govern rugby union within England
. It was founded following the first ever rugby union international, played between England
and Scotland
in 1871. The Scottish Football Union
(later renamed the Scottish Rugby Union) was then founded in 1873, the Irish Rugby Football Union
in 1879 and the Welsh Rugby Union
in 1881.
This timeline lists the foundation dates of the national governing bodies for rugby union
—known as rugby unions or federations. The first union was the Rugby Football Union
(RFU) that was founded in 1871 to govern rugby union within England
. It was founded following the first ever rugby union international, played between England
and Scotland
in 1871. The Scottish Football Union
(later renamed the Scottish Rugby Union) was then founded in 1873, the Irish Rugby Football Union
in 1879 and the Welsh Rugby Union
in 1881.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
—known as rugby unions or federations. The first union was the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
(RFU) that was founded in 1871 to govern rugby union within England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was founded following the first ever rugby union international, played between England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
and Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
in 1871. The Scottish Football Union
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
(later renamed the Scottish Rugby Union) was then founded in 1873, the Irish Rugby Football Union
Irish Rugby Football Union
The Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played...
in 1879 and the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
in 1881.
Timeline
- 1871 (English) Rugby Football UnionRugby Football UnionThe Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
(RFU) - 1873 Scottish Rugby UnionScottish Rugby UnionThe Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
(as Scottish Football Union until 1924) - 1874 Southern (Australian) Rugby Union (later New South Wales Rugby UnionNew South Wales Rugby UnionThe New South Wales Rugby Union is the organisation responsible for the sport of rugby union in most of the state of New South Wales, Australia...
) - 1879 Irish Rugby Football UnionIrish Rugby Football UnionThe Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played...
(a merger of two Irish unions both formed in 1874) - 1881 Welsh Rugby UnionWelsh Rugby UnionThe Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
- 1883 Northern (Australian) Rugby Union (later Queensland Rugby UnionQueensland Rugby UnionThe Queensland Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Queensland. It is a member and founding union of the Australian Rugby Union.-See also:*Queensland Reds*Australian Rugby Union*The Wallabies*Rugby union in Queensland...
) - 1889 South African Rugby BoardSouth African Rugby BoardThe South African Rugby Board was the rugby union governing body of white South Africans between 1889 and 1992. The governing of white and coloured rugby union was handled separately during South Africa under Apartheid....
(merged with South African Rugby Union in 1992 to form South African Rugby Football Union; merged body renamed South African Rugby Union in 2005) - 1892 New Zealand Rugby Union (founded as New Zealand Rugby Football Union)
- 1895 Rhodesia Rugby Football UnionZimbabwe Rugby UnionThe Zimbabwe Rugby Union was founded in 1895 as the Rhodesia Rugby Football Union, and is the governing body of rugby union in Zimbabwe....
(Zimbabwe RU after 1980) - 1895 Northern Rugby Football UnionRugby Football LeagueThe Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
- 1899 Argentine Rugby Union
- 1900 German Rugby FederationDeutscher Rugby-VerbandThe German Rugby Federation is the governing body for rugby union in Germany. It was founded on November 4, 1900 in Kassel, and so it is the oldest national rugby union in continental Europe. After the Second World War, the DRV was restored on May 14, 1950.-History:Prior to its foundation several...
- 1908 Sri Lanka Rugby Football UnionSri Lanka Rugby Football UnionThe Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in Sri Lanka. It is one of the oldest governing bodies in the world, being founded as the Ceylon Rugby Football Union in 1908...
(as Ceylon Rugby Football Union) - 1913 Fiji Rugby UnionFiji Rugby UnionFiji Rugby Union is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Fiji. It is divided into over 30 provincial unions. The Fiji Rugby Union is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance , along with Samoa and Tonga. There are approximately 80,000 registered players from a total population...
(founded as Fiji Rugby Football Union) - 1916 Royal Moroccan Rugby Federation
- 1919 French Rugby Federation
- 1921 Malaysian Rugby UnionMalaysian Rugby UnionMalaysian Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Malaysia. It was founded in 1921 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1988. They organise the annual Malaysia Sevens tournament....
(As Malaya Rugby Union)
This timeline lists the foundation dates of the national governing bodies for rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
—known as rugby unions or federations. The first union was the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
(RFU) that was founded in 1871 to govern rugby union within England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was founded following the first ever rugby union international, played between England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
and Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
in 1871. The Scottish Football Union
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
(later renamed the Scottish Rugby Union) was then founded in 1873, the Irish Rugby Football Union
Irish Rugby Football Union
The Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played...
in 1879 and the Welsh Rugby Union
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
in 1881.
Timeline
- 1871 (English) Rugby Football UnionRugby Football UnionThe Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
(RFU) - 1873 Scottish Rugby UnionScottish Rugby UnionThe Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
(as Scottish Football Union until 1924) - 1874 Southern (Australian) Rugby Union (later New South Wales Rugby UnionNew South Wales Rugby UnionThe New South Wales Rugby Union is the organisation responsible for the sport of rugby union in most of the state of New South Wales, Australia...
) - 1879 Irish Rugby Football UnionIrish Rugby Football UnionThe Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played...
(a merger of two Irish unions both formed in 1874) - 1881 Welsh Rugby UnionWelsh Rugby UnionThe Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
- 1883 Northern (Australian) Rugby Union (later Queensland Rugby UnionQueensland Rugby UnionThe Queensland Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Queensland. It is a member and founding union of the Australian Rugby Union.-See also:*Queensland Reds*Australian Rugby Union*The Wallabies*Rugby union in Queensland...
) - 1889 South African Rugby BoardSouth African Rugby BoardThe South African Rugby Board was the rugby union governing body of white South Africans between 1889 and 1992. The governing of white and coloured rugby union was handled separately during South Africa under Apartheid....
(merged with South African Rugby Union in 1992 to form South African Rugby Football Union; merged body renamed South African Rugby Union in 2005) - 1892 New Zealand Rugby Union (founded as New Zealand Rugby Football Union)
- 1895 Rhodesia Rugby Football UnionZimbabwe Rugby UnionThe Zimbabwe Rugby Union was founded in 1895 as the Rhodesia Rugby Football Union, and is the governing body of rugby union in Zimbabwe....
(Zimbabwe RU after 1980) - 1895 Northern Rugby Football UnionRugby Football LeagueThe Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
- 1899 Argentine Rugby Union
- 1900 German Rugby FederationDeutscher Rugby-VerbandThe German Rugby Federation is the governing body for rugby union in Germany. It was founded on November 4, 1900 in Kassel, and so it is the oldest national rugby union in continental Europe. After the Second World War, the DRV was restored on May 14, 1950.-History:Prior to its foundation several...
- 1908 Sri Lanka Rugby Football UnionSri Lanka Rugby Football UnionThe Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in Sri Lanka. It is one of the oldest governing bodies in the world, being founded as the Ceylon Rugby Football Union in 1908...
(as Ceylon Rugby Football Union) - 1913 Fiji Rugby UnionFiji Rugby UnionFiji Rugby Union is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Fiji. It is divided into over 30 provincial unions. The Fiji Rugby Union is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance , along with Samoa and Tonga. There are approximately 80,000 registered players from a total population...
(founded as Fiji Rugby Football Union) - 1916 Royal Moroccan Rugby Federation
- 1922 Catalan Rugby Federation
- 1923 Spanish Rugby Federation
- 1923 Tonga Rugby Football UnionTonga Rugby Football UnionThe Tonga Rugby Union are the governing body of the sport of rugby union in Tonga. They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
- 1923 Samoa Rugby Football UnionSamoa Rugby Football UnionThe Samoa Rugby Union are the governing body of the sport of rugby union in Samoa. They were formerly members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Tonga....
- 1923 Kenya Rugby Football UnionKenya Rugby Football UnionKenya Rugby Football Union is the governing body of Rugby Union in Kenya. It organises Kenyan national teams and various competitions. It is a member of the International Rugby Board....
(as Rugby Football Union of Kenya) - 1926 Japan Rugby Football UnionJapan Rugby Football UnionThe Japan Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in Japan. It was formed November 30, 1926 and is currently one of only two federations from a "Tier 2" country with a seat on the International Rugby Board executive council, the sport's international governing body...
- 1926 Portuguese Rugby Federation
- 1926 Czech Rugby Union (as Czechoslovakia)
- 1928 Italian Rugby Federation
- 1928 Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football UnionTrinidad and Tobago Rugby Football UnionThe Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in Trinidad and Tobago. It was founded in 1928 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1992...
- 1931 Romanian Rugby Federation
- 1932 Dutch Rugby Union
- 1932 Swedish Rugby Union
- 1935 Belgian Rugby FederationBelgian Rugby FederationThe Belgian Rugby Federation is the governing body for rugby union in Belgium. It was founded in 1931 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1988....
- 1936 Rugby Union of RussiaRugby Union of RussiaRugby Union of Russia is the governing body for rugby union in Russia. It was founded in 1936 originally as the Rugby Union of the Soviet Union...
(founded as, and successor of, Rugby Union of the Soviet Union) - 1946 Korean Rugby Union
- 1948 Singapore Rugby UnionSingapore Rugby UnionThe Singapore Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Singapore. It was founded in 1948. The current president is Low Teo Ping, and current CEO is Ian Bremner.-2005 Financial Scandal:...
- 1949 Australian Rugby UnionAustralian Rugby UnionThe Australian Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. It was founded in 1949 and is a member of the International Rugby Board the sport's governing body. It consists of eight member unions, representing each state and territory...
- 1950 Danish Rugby UnionDanish Rugby UnionThe Danish Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Denmark. Rugby began being played in Denmark in 1931 but it was not until 1950 that the DRU was established. In 1971 the DRU joined FIRA - Association of European Rugby followed by the Skandinavisk Rugby Union in 1974 before finally...
- 1951 Uruguayan Rugby Union
- 1952 Niue Rugby Football UnionNiue Rugby Football UnionNiue Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in Niue. It was founded in 1952 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1999.The Niue Rugby Football Union are also members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance....
- 1953 Hong Kong Rugby Football UnionHong Kong Rugby Football UnionHong Kong Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in Hong Kong. It was founded in 1953 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1988. They organise the annual Hong Kong Sevens tournament....
- 1953 Federación de Rugby de Chile
- 1957 Polish Rugby Union
- 1959 Uganda Rugby UnionUganda Rugby UnionThe Uganda Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Uganda. It was established in 1959 and is responsible for organising local competitions and the Rugby Cranes national representative team. The URU is a member of both the International Rugby Board and the Confederation of African...
(as URFU) - 1961 Cote d’Ivoire Rugby FederationFédération Ivoirienne de RugbyFédération Ivoirienne de Rugby is the governing body for rugby union in the Ivory Coast. It was founded in 1961 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1988.-References:...
- 1961 Lithuanian Rugby FederationLithuanian Rugby FederationThe Lithuanian Rugby Federation administers rugby union in Lithuania-External links:* in Lithuanian* Lithuania dreaming of 2011 Rugby World Cup, AFP story published by rugbyweek.com...
(as regional body under USSR - full nation body in 1990s) - 1962 Bulgarian Rugby Federation
- 1964 Georgia Rugby UnionGeorgia Rugby UnionThe Georgian Rugby Union is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in the nation of Georgia. Founded in 1964, it was part of the Rugby Union of the Soviet Union until 1991, with the Independent Georgian Rugby Union being established on May 27, 1991...
(as regional body under USSR - full nation body in 1990s) - 1965 Rugby CanadaRugby CanadaRugby Canada, is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in Canada. Rugby Canada was incorporated in 1974, and stems from the Canadian Rugby Football Union, a body established in 1884 that now governs amateur Canadian football as Football Canada; and the now-defunct Rugby Union of...
(founded as Canadian Rugby Union) - 1965 Zambia Rugby Union
- 1968 Indian Rugby Football UnionIndian Rugby Football UnionIndian Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in India. It was founded in 1968 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 2001. In April 2009 the Indian Rugby Football Union changed its name to Rugby India and its logo became a sun. In 2009 Rugby India for the...
- 1970 Paraguayan Rugby Union
- 1972 Swiss Federation
- 1972 Brazilian Rugby Association
- 1972 Tunisian Rugby Federation
- 1974 Arabian Gulf Rugby Football UnionArabian Gulf Rugby Football UnionThe Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union was the governing body for rugby union in the Gulf Cooperation Council member countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. To begin with most matches were played on sand but today almost all matches are played on grass...
(founded as Gulf Rugby Football Union) — then an overseas member of the Rugby Football Union; became independent in 1990. Officially disbanded in 2011; to be replaced with separate national unions in each of its former member countries. The new United Arab Emirates union was founded shortly before the AGRFU dissolution. - 1974 Luxembourg Rugby Federation
- 1975 USA RugbyUSA RugbyUSA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States. It is divided into seven territorial Unions: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Coast, Southern California, South, and West...
(founded as United States of America Rugby Football Union) - 1977 Brunei Rugby Football UnionBrunei Rugby Football UnionThe Brunei Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in Brunei.-History:Rugby Union, which is played in 105 countries around the world, has already been played in Brunei since the 1950s...
- 1982 Norwegian Rugby Union
- 1986 Andorran Rugby Federation
- 1989 Tahiti Rugby Union
- 1989 Cook Islands Rugby UnionCook Islands Rugby UnionThe Cook Islands Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in the Cook Islands. It was founded in 1989 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1995.The Cook Islands Rugby Union are also members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance....
- 1990 Namibia Rugby UnionNamibia Rugby UnionNamibia Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Namibia.It was formed in March 1990, the same month that it joined the International Rugby Board....
- 1990 Hungarian Rugby UnionHungarian Rugby UnionThe Hungarian Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Hungary. It was founded in 1990 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1992. It organises the two leagues, the NB I and II, and the various national teams...
- 1992 Austrian Rugby Federation
- 1992 South African Rugby UnionSouth African Rugby UnionThe South African Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in South Africa and is affiliated to the International Rugby Board...
(founded as South Africa Rugby Football Union, a merger of the white South African Rugby Board and the non-racial South African Rugby Union; adopted current name in 2005) - 1996 Monegasque Rugby FederationMonegasque Rugby FederationMonegasque Rugby Federation is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Monaco. The union was established in 1996.-External links:* * on IRB.com...
- 1997 Peruvian Rugby FederationPeruvian Rugby FederationThe Peruvian Rugby Federation organizes rugby union in Peru and is a member of the International Rugby Board.-History:The Universidad de Lima, the Pontificia Universidad Catolica, the Club de Rugby San Isidro and the Old Markhamians Rugby Club decided to create the Unión Peruana de Rugby on...
- 1998 Philippine Rugby Football UnionPhilippine Rugby Football UnionThe Philippine Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in the Philippines. It was founded January 19, 1998 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board Monday, 1 November 2004.- External links :** at IRB.com...
- 2000 Pakistan Rugby UnionPakistan Rugby UnionThe Pakistan Rugby Union is the rugby union governing body in Pakistan. Among the Union's chief activities are conferences, organising international matches, and educating and training players and officials.The national team is called Pakistan Rugby....
- 2004 Azerbaijani Rugby Federation
- 2008 Ecuadorian Rugby Federation
- 2007 Jordan Rugby Union.
- 2009 Turkey Rugby Federation
- 2010 United Arab Emirates Rugby Association (not yet a full IRB member)