<human>:  What is the history behind the game of rugby?
<bot>: Rugby is a sport that originated in England in the early 19th century. It is believed to have been created in 1823 when William Webb Ellis, a pupil at Rugby School, picked up the ball and started running with it during a game of football. The rules of the game were established in 1845 at the same school, and it quickly became popular across the country. In 1871, the first international rugby match was played between Scotland and England. Since then, the sport has spread around the world and is now played in more than 120 countries. Rugby is an incredibly physical game, with physical contact at its core, and it is popular among players of all ages and genders.