William Webb Ellis

William Webb Ellis (24 November 1806 – 24 January 1872) was an English Anglican clergyman who is famous for being the alleged inventor of rugby. Though credited with the invention of Rugby football while he was a pupil at Rugby School, the story of how he founded the game may be false; nevertheless, his name is firmly established in the folklore of the rugby union code of rugby, where he is immortalised by the William Webb Ellis Cup, presented to... more

William Webb Ellis (24 November 1806 – 24 January 1872) was an English Anglican clergyman who is famous for being the alleged inventor of rugby. Though credited with the invention of Rugby football while he was a pupil at Rugby School, the story of how he founded the game may be false; nevertheless, his name is firmly established in the folklore of the rugby union code of rugby, where he is immortalised by the William Webb Ellis Cup, presented to the winners of the Rugby Union World Cup. No recognition is given by the rugby league code. Webb Ellis was born in Salford, Lancashire (some sources say he was born in Manchester; Webb Ellis actually said he was born in Manchester in the 1851 census as he later moved to the city). He was the younger of two sons of James Ellis, an officer in the Dragoon Guards, and Ann Webb, whom James married in Exeter in 1804. After his father was killed at the Battle of Albuera in 1811, Mrs Ellis decided to move to Rugby, Warwickshire so that William and... less