William Webb Ellis

Reverend William Webb Ellis (24 November 1806 – 24 January 1872) was an Anglican clergyman and the alleged inventor of rugby football whilst a pupil at Rugby School. According to legend, Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it during a school football match in 1823, thus creating the rugby-style of play. Although the story has become firmly entrenched in the sport's folklore, it is not supported by substantive evidence, and is discounted by most rugby historians as an origin myth.

The William Webb Ellis Cup is presented to the winners of the Rugby World Cup.

Biography

Webb Ellis was born in Salford, Lancashire, the younger of two surviving sons (the eldest, James, died aged three; the second son, Thomas, of Dunchurch, Warwickshire, was a surgeon) of James Ellis, a cornet in the 7th Dragoon Guards, in 1809 made a Lieutenant of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, joining them in Portugal, and Ann, daughter of William Webb, a surgeon, of Alton, Hampshire, whom James married in Exeter in 1804. His paternal grandfather was from Pontyclun in South Wales, a descendant of the Ellis family of Kiddall, Yorkshire. After his father was killed during the Peninsular War in a cavalry action near Albuera on July 1, 1812, Mrs Ellis, in receipt of an allowance of £30 from His Majesty's Royal Bounty in recognition of her husband's service, decided to move to Rugby, Warwickshire so that William and his older brother Thomas could receive an education at Rugby School with no cost as a local foundationer (i.e. a pupil living within a radius of 10 miles of the Rugby Clock Tower). He attended the school from 1816 to 1825 and was recorded as being a good scholar and cricketer, although it was noted that he was "rather inclined to take unfair advantage at cricket". The incident in which Webb Ellis supposedly caught the ball in his arms during a football match (which was allowed) and ran with it (which was not) is supposed to have happened in the latter half of 1823.

Webb Ellis (sportswear)

Webb Ellis Limited is a British company which manufactures apparel and sports equipment, focusing on rugby union market. Company's headquarters are located in London.

Products

Webb Ellis' manufactures and supplies products for the practise of rugby union. The following is a list of some of them:

Sponsorships

Webb Ellis sponsors the following rugby union teams and federations around the world:

Jerseys and apparel

Clubs

Unions

Webb Ellis is the official ball supplier for the following leagues and unions:

Unión de Rugby de Buenos Aires (referees)

Unión Cordobesa de Rugby

Unión de Rugby de Rosario

Unión de Rugby de Tucumán

References

External links

Webb

Webb may refer to:

Names

Places

Education

Other uses

Webb (given name)

Webb is a given name. Notable people with the name include:

Webb (Kent cricketer)

Webb (dates unknown) was an English professional cricketer who made five known appearances in first-class cricket matches during the 1781 season.

Career

He was mainly associated with Kent.

References

External sources