{"product_id":"9781068618987-rugby-victoriana","title":"Rugby Victoriana","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Highs and Lows of Northern Rugby in Victorian England\u003cbr\u003eThe Victorian era witnessed a dramatic growth in sport, none more than football, both Association and Rugby, particularly in northern England. Diligently researched, this tome covers the first ever representative game in 1870 up to season 1900-01. Included are details of 622 representative matches, 90 league tables and 99 cup competitions\u003cbr\u003eThe Victorian era witnessed a dramatic growth in sport, none more than football, both Association and Rugby, the latter initially proving more popular, particularly in northern England. \u003cbr\u003eCompetitive rugby thrived in the north's industrial communities and its leading clubs attempted to invigorate the code via the introduction of league and cup competitions. \u003cbr\u003eIn part this was to combat the expanding reach of Association which introduced the F. A. Cup (in 1871-72), professionalism (1885) and the Football League (1888-89).\u003cbr\u003eBut it was to no avail as Rugby Union's internal politics, mostly related to accusations of professionalism, led to the historic 1895 split when many prominent clubs, particularly in Lancashire and Yorkshire, created the Northern Union, later renamed Rugby League. \u003cbr\u003eMeanwhile, the Rugby Union abandoned its league competitions, seen as a route to professionalism.  It would not be until the 1970s that official leagues were reintroduced, initially as 'merit' tables, its amateur ethos ending in 1995. \u003cbr\u003eThose competitive 19th century rugby union games have been virtually forgotten. But now, for the first time, the facts and figures from that period are published here in Rugby Victoriana. \u003cbr\u003eDiligently researched by rugby historian Graham Morris, its scope covers the first ever representative game in 1870 - Yorkshire versus Lancashire - up to season 1900-01. \u003cbr\u003eIncluded are details of 622 representative matches, 90 league tables and 99 cup competitions,  plus comment on contemporary rugby issues, providing the reader  with a flavour of how the game was reported at that time. \u003cbr\u003eExploits of numerous leading northern rugby union teams of the period are documented, including Aspatria (Cumberland), Birkenhead Park (Cheshire), Hartlepool Rovers (Durham), Kendal Hornets (Westmorland) and Rockcliff (Northumberland). \u003cbr\u003eTo that list we can add many of today's rugby league clubs (Barrow, Huddersfield, Hull, Oldham, Swinton, Wigan, Wakefield Trinity, Warrington, etc.) whose first taste of competitive rugby came under  the auspices of the Rugby Union during the Victorian era.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54830789001590,"sku":"9781068618987","price":26.43,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/stand_32276209.jpg?v=1737439936","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781068618987-rugby-victoriana","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}