Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the rugby union governing body in England.
It was formed in 1871 to draw up rules for the game first played at Rugby School in 1823. Similar unions were organised during the next few years in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, France, Canada, South Africa, and the United States.
Among the Union's chief activities are conferences, organising international matches, and educating and training players and officials. Their publications include handbooks and guides for coaches. Headquarters are at Twickenham, Middlesex. Its officials were famously called "57 old farts" by Will Carling.
The national team is called England Rugby.
The RFU owns Twickenham stadium.
International connections
Since 1890 the RFU has recognised the International Rugby Board as the world governing and law-making body for the game of Rugby Union. Other countries' governing bodies are often called by a simliar name for example, Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). See the IRB article for a full list of National Rugby Unions.
History
Main article: History of rugby union: The forming of the First Rugby Union