The Rugby World Cup gets underway in France on Friday and will feature 20 countries from five continents scrapping it out for a golden trophy named after an Englishman who supposedly invented the sport by picking up the ball during a soccer game and running with it. This World Cup is a special milestone for rugby and marks the 200th anniversary of William Webb Ellis’ rebellious act in 1823 that gave birth to a new, oval-ball game. That’s if you believe the legend. Here’s what to know about rugby and its seven-week, 48-game main event.
