suited to see the William Webb Ellis myth is alive (Rugby gets its moment,Sport, 19 September). It was deliberately invented by rugby union authorities in approximately 1900. They were troubled by the rising popularity of the association code and wanted people to believe rugby was a more evolved form of football. In reality both emerged in public schools out of folk football, and all forms of which allow some handling. Ellis was vaguely remembered as a cheating sort,who took share in the illegal practice of “running in” after legally catching the ball.
John Cregan
Farnham, Surrey • I’ve always thought that the best English reply to the haka (Letters, or 22 September) would be the hokey cokey. Bit of easy action to learn and a brilliantly apposite lyric.
Geoffrey Brace
Wellington,Somerset Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com