On this day 24 Sept 2103

Top of the League

Local leisure-conglomerate Harlequins announced yesterday that they are top of the National League.  No! not the prestigious Alstom Korfball league (in which they're still firmly rooted in the relegation zone), but in the little-known sport of "Rugby Union" (see panel)

Proud

Not many people have heard of 'Rugby' nowadays, and far fewer play it, but nevertheless it's an achievement the city-slicker outfit are proud to talk about. They even dare to hope that success in the forthcoming club rugby 'season' this year may attract local people back to this little known, and highly complex sport. And they're deadly serious! - what Quins long-suffering fans may not realise is that Harlequins Leisure,  modern-day Competitive-Dance and Korfball behemoths, were originally founded as a specialist Rugby outfit, playing games on an outdoor pitch where Stoop Games Arcade currently stands..

So, next time you're at the mighty Evans Field - the Quins' shiny new home -  why not take the time to visit the Quins Museum? Here you'll find a temporary exhibition celebrating the glory days of Quins Rugby of the 2010s. At that time Rugby was the only game in town for the club, and they grew to dominate a sport whose terminal decline was first noted way back in 2003. After visiting the exhibition, and admiring the replica trophies, you can even sample a 'Pork Roll' - a traditional snack served at games, no longer available, but a memory much revered by old-time rugby fans.

Interested in finding out more about this peculiar old sport? To recognise the achievements of Quins Rugby (known for some reason as 'The Trews') this weekend they will play a special exhibition match against an invitation "London Irish" team (named for a long defunct rugby club, and one-time local rival). This will form a unique curtain raiser before the main event: the visit of Dance giants and current league leaders Rotherham (see preview pages 91, 92, 96 & 97)

Played between two teams of 15, with 17 substitutes and five referees. Rugby in the mid 21st Century was a violent and incomprehensible game exclusively for the entertainment of the middle classes. In structure Rugby was somewhat similar to Korfball, but  played with an oval ball, which could be kicked or very occasionally carried (but never forwards) but was not allowed to bounce. Hard to learn, and difficult to enjoy, a key feature of the game was that the Laws were strictly confidential and never fully explained.

Reaching the height of its popularity in England in the early part of the century, the game's collapse was hastened by in-fighting amongst the ruling upper-class elite and rugby was gradually overtaken in schools by more exciting sports including Dance, Synchronised Swimming, Real-Tennis and, of course Korfball. At its peak Rugby boasted no fewer than 1,500 Rugby clubs, today there are eleven.