Football: The Rugby Game

by Harry Vassall

The All-England Series

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Rugby
⁠Football

BY

Harry Vassall

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Price One Shilling

F. H. AYRES,
MANUFACTURER OF
ALL SPORTS & GAMES,
111, Aldersgate Street, London.

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FOOTBALLS.

Made with the Best Materials and Workmanship.

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LA CROSSE.

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THE INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY STICK (PATENT).

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To be obtained from all Dealers.

FOOTBALL.

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HARRY VASSALL.

THE ALL-ENGLAND SERIES.

 

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Small 8vo, cloth, price 1s. each.

• CRICKET. By the Hon. Ivo Bligh.
• LAWN TENNIS. By H. W. W. Wilberforce, Sec. A.E.L.T.C.
• ROWING AND SCULLING. By W. B. Woodgate, Diamond Sculls.
• SAILING. By E. F. Knight, Author of "The Cruise of the 'Falcon,'" &c. [Double volume, 2s.]
• GOLF. By W. T. Linskill, Cam. Univ. Golf Club.
• SWIMMING. By Martin Cobbett.
• CYCLING. By H. H. Griffin, L.A.C., N.C.U., C.T.C.
• ATHLETICS. By H. H. Griffin, L.A.C.
• FOOTBALL—RUGBY GAME. By Harry Vassall.
• FOOTBALL—ASSOCIATION GAME. By C. W. Alcock.
• BOXING. By R. G. Allanson-Winn, Winner of Middle and Heavy Weights, Cambridge, 1876–8.
• WRESTLING. By Walter Armstrong, Author of "Wrestliana."
• TENNIS. By Julian Marshall.
• FENCING. By H. A. Colmore Dunn, Inns of Court School of Arms.
• SKATING. By Douglas Adams, London Slating Club.

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LONDON: GEORGE BELL & SONS.

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

BY
HARRY VASSALL,
HON. TREASURER OF THE RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION,
LATE CAPTAIN OF THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL CLUB.

WITH A CHAPTER ON PROFESSIONALISM
BY
ARTHUR BUDD,
PAST PRESIDENT OF THE RUGBY UNION.

LONDON : GEORGE BELL & SONS, YORK STREET,
COVENT GARDEN.
1889.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.

PREFACE.

 

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Since well-nigh everything that there is to be said about the game of football has already appeared in print in various magazine articles and football handbooks, we cannot lay claim to much originality of subject-matter for this work. Nevertheless we have been led to suppose that a comprehensive treatment of the subject on practical lines might still prove of interest to the football world.

We have throughout presupposed on the part of our readers an elementary acquaintance with the game, and have, therefore, not thought it necessary to attempt any definition of the game itself, or of the terms in ordinary use in connection with it.

Keeping strictly in mind the practical nature that this work is intended to bear, we have eschewed all reference to what may fairly be termed the ancient history of the game, no less than all unnecessary comparisons with the sister game of Association, and, after tracing the rise of the Rugby Union and the development of the various styles of play, have confined our hints to players to the requirements of the game as it is now played.

In the later chapters we have something to say on professionalism, on refereeing, and on the reforms which have been already effected, as well as those which are still needed; the laws themselves we have placed in an Appendix at the end of the book.

CONTENTS.

 

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I.

Rise of the Rugby union ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

1

II.

The Union Matches ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

5

III.

Development of the Play ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

9

IV.

Captaincy ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

11

V.

Full-back ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

16

VI.

Three Quarter-back ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

20

VII.

Half-back ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

25

VIII.

Forward ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

28

IX.

The Referee ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

34

X.

The reform of the Laws ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

37

XI.

The Effect of Professionalism on the Rugby Game ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

43

Appendix—

Bye-Laws—Laws of the Game—Regulations for Umpires, etc. ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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