Rugby is traditionally credited to William Webb Ellis, a pupil at Rugby School in England. According to legend, in 1823, during a school football match, Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it, defying the rules of the time which prohibited running with the ball in hand. This act is said to have originated the distinctive style of rugby football
. However, while this story is widely accepted in rugby folklore and commemorated at Rugby School, it lacks first-hand evidence and is considered by many historians as more of a myth than a documented fact
. Despite this, William Webb Ellis remains celebrated as the symbolic inventor of rugby football, and the Rugby World Cup trophy is named the Webb Ellis Cup in his honor
. In summary, William Webb Ellis is traditionally recognized as the inventor of rugby, based on the famous 1823 incident at Rugby School, though the historical accuracy of this story is debated.
