Rugby MP Mark Pawsey took the opportunity last week to raise the profile of the town in the annual Eater Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons.
In light of this year’s upcoming Rugby World Cup Mark took the opportunity to highlight the town’s importance as the home of the sport discussing the inception, and evolution, of the game.
Mark said:
“It all started in 1823 at Rugby School, which was originally established by Lawrence Sheriff for the boys of the town. In a game that largely did not have any rules a pupil called William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it creating the characteristic feature of the Rugby game.”
Mark added:
“The game started modestly in Rugby and has grown in the UK to 200 clubs nationwide. Two and a half million people are engaged in rugby activity throughout England and Rugby Union is played in more than 100 countries spanning six continents.”
Mark concluded:
“In four year’s time the Rugby World Cup will be here in England and Rugby will welcome visitors from across the world to see for themselves where it all began.”
Concluding the debate Deputy Leader of the House David Heath MP re-affirmed the Government’s hope that Rugby could play it’s part in the process of celebrations for the 2015 World Cup.