The information in this book is derived from original archive material available to the author at Rugby school. The book covers the early history of the game of Rugby from William Webb Ellis to the formation of the Rugby Football Union in 1872. All developments of the game are dicussed including its origins at Rugby school, the gradual increase in formality in arrangement for matches, and the decision in 1845 to write down rules. The book illustrates how the basic rules have influenced other sports such as American Football and Australian Rules Football. There is a description of the match from "Tom Brown's Schooldays" linking the characters to real players, and other contemporary accounts. The author is the librarian at Rugby school and is on the organising committee for the 1991 Rugby World Cup.