Did a schoolboy named William Webb Ellis really invent rugby two hundred years ago in 1823?
It's myth - but it's always been a major part of the sport, emerging during the culture wars which led to rugby’s great split of 1895.
Who Framed William Webb Ellis? explores the puzzles which have always been debated in rugby. Which code can claim to be the authentic version? Who has rightful claim to the original British Lions? Why did rugby league become the dominant rugby in Australia? How come it isn’t the premier code in Wales?
There are endless puzzles on the pitch too. Why does union follow football and have a throw-in? What’s the role of the drop-goal in the modern age? And what are the reasons for the decline of scrums?
The book reveals that rugby was once far more popular than football, that Manchester was a hotbed of the oval ball, and that Leeds United owes its existence to a rugby league club. So what happened that meant soccer and not rugby became the world game?
Based on episodes of his 'Rugby Reloaded' podcast, the book explores the culture of rugby, and looks at Tom Brown’s School Days, the 19th-century equivalent of Harry Potter, 1960s kitchen sink movie classic This Sporting Life, the mysterious Battle of the Roses painting, and even a Sherlock Holmes detective story.
If you've ever had a question about rugby history, this is the book you need to read.