King's College London
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Faster & fairer - science & sport at King's College London

Rugby

Guy's Rugby Team, 1878Guy's Rugby Team, 1878King's College London lays claim to hosting the oldest recorded rugby club in the world - Guy's Hospital Rugby Football Club.

Founded in 1843, the club came into being only a few years after pupils at Rugby School decided to liven up traditional football matches by picking up and running with the ball.

Rugby Fixtures List, 1881-2Rugby Fixtures List, 1881-2Clubs were also set up at St Thomas's Hospital (c. 1864) and King's College (c. 1869) and in common with the Guy's club, were founding members of the Rugby Football Union in 1871.

This was when representatives from 22 different university colleges, schools and local clubs met in London to agree the first common set of rules for the game.

Before this date, it was usual for captains to meet before each match to decide on the rules for that particular game.

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