Topic:	Was Rugby invented in Cornwall
Midcornwall.com Posts: 461 Posted: 7.Aug 2007 - 13:20	I was reading one of the "Cornish" books that stand like bastions of TRUE FACT in the frontage of most superstores in the Duchy. "Cornish Recipies" "Cornish Ghiosts" "Cornish Inventors" "Cornish Recreational Saphhism in the Middle ages" etc... and there was one which had a one liner about how rugby was invented in Cornwall. Any one know what the evidence is for this rather nifty claim? Refute\|Salute\|Mute but don't just dispute. Please read my Cornish diary at www.midcornwall.com
morgarrow Posts: 337 Posted: 7.Aug 2007 - 17:31	I just think it was because we had hurling which was similar and someone has put 2 and 2 together and made 5 ....... unless of course it can be proved Webb Ellis had Cornish links???
Nosdan Posts: 965 Posted: 7.Aug 2007 - 21:08	I remember reading this, I believe it comes from the fact that there was a documented hurling game played on a Penzance beach which had a goal at each end and the played with the same of side rule as Rugby has now, (ie no forward pass). Also at the time Webb Ellis was at Rugby school i believe a cornishman was the head teacher, trevelyan rings a bell but could just be my imagination! Mar vedhow avel gelvinek (as maazed as a curlew)
Nosdan Posts: 965 Posted: 7.Aug 2007 - 21:21	Just found this... http://wesclark.../r_myth.html Pretty good reasoning. Mar vedhow avel gelvinek (as maazed as a curlew)
Midcornwall.com Posts: 461 Posted: 8.Aug 2007 - 13:33	NosdanJust found this... http://wesclark.../r_myth.html Pretty good reasoning. Great link, thanks And yes, good reasoning Refute\|Salute\|Mute but don't just dispute. Please read my Cornish diary at www.midcornwall.com
TGG Posts: 948 Posted: 8.Aug 2007 - 20:21	Probably a good point to pose the slightly off-topic query. Can anyone give any information why Cornwall was the only place to represent GB at Rugby in the 1908 Olympics [lost to Australia ] - the games one and only inclusion, I believe? TGG ps Act in haste!!! Plenty of info on-line An inexplicable statement for a 'British' team : QuoteThe choice of Cornwall was controversial, as only three of their players had ever represented England, as well as the fact that Australia, who had been on a tour of the United Kingdom, had defeated them 18 points to five. edited by: TGG, Aug 08, 2007 - 08:54 PM The existence of divergent views occur because the lies and deception have a more profoundly negative, and contrived, consequence for the Cornish people than for anyone else within this island.
Kéighlán Posts: 153 Posted: 9.Apr 2008 - 23:19	As far as im aware the Rugby game we now today (with the rules and such) was invented in England.Cornwall has a similar game (hurling) But it is not rugby K.c
Cawsando Posts: 228 Posted: 10.Apr 2008 - 12:59	Thats right, that's why we need to standardise the rules and popularise Cornish hurling, as an alternative to Rugby.
CJenkin Posts: 652 Posted: 10.Apr 2008 - 14:11	Yes Rugby was invented in Cornwall - Read Richard Carew's description of in-field hurling - the rules are almost identical to the early rules of Rugby football. Why was it called Rugby you may ask? Well yes the rules were formalised at Rugby School during the rule of Thomas Arnold. (William Webb Ellis is just a later schoolboy myth). Rugby needed an athletic sport because many Public schools already had a field sport (e.g. like the the Eton Wall game). Thomas Arnold introduced it. http://en.wikip...homas_Arnold See here re: Thomas Arnold. What's the Cornish connection you might ask? Well see who he was married to - her mother was a Trevenen (a relation of mine) - they were heavily involved in the setting up of Helston Grammar School - The Eton of the West. Thomas Arnold often visited his Penrose and Trevenen relations in Cornwall and would have seen field hurling being played around Helston possibly even at the Grammar School (where Derwent Coleridge was the Master) http://en.wikip...nt_Coleridge
Kéighlán Posts: 153 Posted: 10.Apr 2008 - 21:35	Despite many Cornish people being involved with the formation of Rugby, was it invented on Cornish soil? if it wasn't then it's was not invented in Cornwall
Abieuan Posts: 270 Posted: 10.Apr 2008 - 22:42	Some of the above posts seem to suggest that rugby was invented in Cornwall, but that the English made it their official rules. There is no evidence to the contrary that i know of, Kéighlàn.