Home > Europe > United Kingdom > England > London > Sport > Rugby
Foot Ball at Rugby, 1845. Creator: Smyth
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Heritage Images
Foot Ball at Rugby, 1845. Creator: Smyth
Foot Ball at Rugby, 1845. Schoolboys playing rugby football at the public school where the game was invented in about 1845, although forms of football in which the ball was carried and tossed date back to medieval times. This truly English game is played in perfection at the fine Elizabethan school, at Rugby, in Warwickshire. Our artist has sketched a match, at the moment of a " skrummage; " the buildings in the background being the Chapel and part of the School-house...Pepys, in his Memoirs, 1664-5, says, " January 2, to my Lord Brounckers by appointment in the Piazza, Covent garden: the street full of foot balls, it being a great frost." Foot ball was mostly played by " sturdie plowmen, lustie, strong, and bold...". From " Illustrated London News", 1845, Vol VII
Heritage Images features heritage image collections
Media ID 20551835
© The Print Collector/Heritage Images
Football Football Pitch Open Space Pepys Playing Field Private School Public School Rugby Rugger Samuel Samuel Pepys School Schoolboy Schoolboys Schoolchild Schoolchildren Smyth Warwickshire Illustrated London News Playing An Instrument Scrum
FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS
> Arts
> Artists
> Related Images
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> London
> Sport
> Football
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> London
> Sport
> Rugby
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> Sports
> Football
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> Warwickshire
> Rugby
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print titled "Foot Ball at Rugby, 1845" takes us back to the origins of the game that would become known as rugby football. In this historic image, we witness a group of schoolboys engaged in a match on the grounds of Rugby School, where this truly English sport was invented around 1845. The artist has beautifully captured a moment during a "skrummage" showcasing the intensity and physicality of early rugby. The backdrop features prominent buildings such as the Chapel and part of the School-house, adding an air of tradition and heritage to this scene. Interestingly, references to football can be traced back even further than 1845. Samuel Pepys mentions seeing streets filled with foot balls during frosty weather in his memoirs from 1664-5. However, it is here at Rugby School that we see organized play taking shape. The image reminds us that while today's rugby may differ from its medieval predecessors, it still carries the spirit of strength and boldness associated with those early games played by sturdy plowmen. This engraving serves as a testament to how far this beloved sport has come since its humble beginnings. Preserved through time in newspapers like The Illustrated London News from 19th-century Britain, this print allows us to appreciate both the historical significance and cultural impact of rugby football. It offers a glimpse into an era when education intertwined with sportsmanship on open playing fields - shaping not only young boys but also British identity itself.
MADE IN THE USA
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools
SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you
* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Cart.
