Let’s create a William Web Ellis award

Roar Pro

By Greg Smith, 4 Jul 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro

Tagged:: british and irish lions, International Rugby, Rugby Union, South Africa, william webb ellis

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William Webb Ellis, rightly or wrongly, is the name associated with the beginnings of rugby union. In the town of Rugby, England in 1823, Webb Ellis, “who with a fine disregard for the rules” began to run with the ball in hand at Rugby School, thus gave the world the game we all love today.

All things considered, I’ve a belief that if William Webb Ellis was around today, he’d pick my team (the Springboks) as the team of the last 200 years. But to be fair, I’d like to propose that the matter be more ‘scientifically’ adjudicated and more professionally promoted.

Up for grabs is the title of the “William Webb Ellis Team – the best team over 200 years.” I imagine there would be a number of categories, such as team spirit, fair play, victories, diplomacy and others, to accommodate everyone.

2009 is flying by, so there are just thirteen years to build up to William Webb Ellis-Day. And this is what I propose:

1. An effort be made to run with and promote the 2023 concept
2. A countdown beginning now
3. A proper and thorough archive of rugby history
4. An impartial ‘interviewing’ crew to document anecdotal and other rugby history for broadcast building up to 2023.
5. Fair terms of adjudication to be agreed upon, especially taking into account the spirit of William Webb Ellis and his “fine disregard for the rules.”
6. Worldwide legends, old boys, classic and retro festival rugby as a countdown feature.
7. A badge for each award on the rugby jersey which can subsequently be reviewed annually.
8. Golden Oldies world tours.
9. A 2023 website with all the relevant data and polls.
10. A 2023 ‘long bets’ opportunity (perhaps for a charity)
11. Specific rugby tourist routes or even globetrotter packages.

Just off the top of my head I can think of plenty of great idea’s and I hope that somebody will pick up on this soon.

With South Africa in with an excellent ‘home stretch’ to 2023, and the possibility of hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2023, I’d prefer the appearance of impartiality.

My pick? South Africa – Best Team, William Webb Ellis Team, and Most Rugby World Cups (4).

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The Crowd Says (15) | Page 1 of Comments

Spiro Zavos said | July 4th 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment

This is a terrific concept, except for the last bit. In 1923 a special commemoration match was played at Rugby School. I believe Greg’s concept of a worldwide, deep celebration of the iconic year is a great idea. There is a great deal of evidence that William Webb Ellis did not run with the ball in 1823. This is one of the beautiful myths of sport that has been embraced by the IRB (with the World Cup being named after him). It’s the context of the myth, the fact that rugby is historically a running/handling game that is im;portant. And a tremendous celebration in 2123 (hopefully we’ll all be around to enjoy it) is exciting and worth developing.

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Spiro Zavos said | July 4th 2009 @ 9:03am | Report comment

I forgot to note in my previous comment that 2123 is a Rugby World Cup year that must be the centre piece of the celebrations of 200 years of the game (in myth at least).

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pothale said | July 4th 2009 @ 9:11am | Report comment

Eh Spiro

If we’re all around in 2123, I’ll be celebrating my 160 somethingth birthday along with recognising 300 years of rugby as Ireland take the World Cup for the 6th time in a row, with Brian O’Driscoll’s great-grandson, Brian Junior, Junior leading out the team.

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Gary said | July 4th 2009 @ 9:23am | Report comment

What a great idea Greg has. Who caes if the Ellis legend is fact or just a deeply held myth. It is a date everyone can agree on. Perhaps the team should be the fairest and best 22 players from any country in the last 200 years.

We’ll see the Boks at Subiaco in August and see then who is the best team in 2009. Subi is perhaps the fairest of all the teste venus. Altitude is not a factor and both sides will have significant crowd support as there will be as many South Africans there as Aussies.

BTW Spiro, much as I hope to enjoy life for a long while yet I doubt any of us will be around in 2123!

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katzilla said | July 4th 2009 @ 12:09pm | Report comment

‘I’d prefer the appearance of impartiality.

My pick? South Africa – Best Team, William Webb Ellis Team, and Most Rugby World Cups (4).’

Greg stop it please. Be still my aching sides…..:D

Still even though this has merely been a vehicle for your Bok fluffing a celebration will do doubt take place to commemorate 200 years of the game we love. I doubt any official titles will be given out to say ‘Who the best team of the last 200 years is’

Gary – So you think that 2009s best team will decided at Subiaco Oval? Early season form certainly says so……..

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sheek said | July 4th 2009 @ 2:34pm | Report comment

I don’t know if this is a serious post, or not. In any case, I’ll play ‘devil’s advocate’ & suggest nothing serious should ever be named after William Webb Ellis.

I think the joke’s on rugby union that they have even been suckered enough to name their most valuable & prestigious sporting trophy after a person around whom there is extreme doubt he ever did anything of the sort attributed to him.

Anyway, beyond that, I remain sceptical of the seriousness of this post.

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Cameron said | July 4th 2009 @ 2:47pm | Report comment

sheek you miss the point.

It doesn’t matter if William Web Ellis is real or not. Personally I believe there may be a grain of truth to the story but of course its riduculous that it would be the impetus for the birth of rugby as a new sport. But its a quirky story, a little bit eccentric, and a lot of myth, but there’s no sin in embracing one of the game’s quirks.

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Working Class Rugger said | July 4th 2009 @ 4:39pm | Report comment

Sheek

I doubt anyone in Rugby truly believes that the game was spontaneously created by a cheeky schoolboys in 1823. By its a great piece of Rugby folklore. I personally love the fact that the William Webb Ellis Cup is the ultimate prize in rugby. Well the ultimate prize in Rugby next to the Bledisloe Cup in my opinion.

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Greg Smith said | July 4th 2009 @ 6:13pm | Report comment

To me, 2023 is an unparalleled opportunity in terms of review, goal setting, promotion & expansion of rugby.

Making 2023 a multi-year countdown, rather than a one-off event would be hugely beneficial.

2023 could be stretched from now until well after 2023 in terms of build up and post bi-centennial celebration.

Start the clock ! Organise the global retro tournaments, the global legends games, the global exhibition games in New York, Sao Paulo, Iceland and such and such …

It would be a great pity if 2023 was minimalistic

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sheek said | July 4th 2009 @ 6:52pm | Report comment

Guys,

I don’t mind the mirth & quirkiness, not at all. I just don’t think something as important as the RWC ought to be named after WWE, or a myth. But I can also live with it. I’m not going to make a big deal of this.

Of course, after Australia & NZ pushed to create the RWC, the Brits decided to reclaim control by using WWE’s name on the Cup. And the antipodeans got one back by calling the thing “Bill”.

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