1 8 7 1 ▁when ▁the ▁first ▁game ▁was ▁played ▁between ▁Scotland ▁and ▁England ▁at ▁Ra eb urn ▁Place ▁in ▁Edinburgh . ▁The ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup , ▁first ▁held ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 , ▁is ▁cont ested ▁every ▁four ▁years . ▁The ▁Six ▁Nations ▁Championship ▁in ▁Europe ▁and ▁The ▁Rugby ▁Championship ▁in ▁the ▁Southern ▁Hem is phere ▁are ▁other ▁major ▁international ▁compet itions ▁that ▁are ▁held ▁ann ually . ▁ ▁National ▁club ▁and ▁provincial ▁compet itions ▁include ▁the ▁Prem iers hip ▁in ▁England , ▁the ▁Top ▁ 1 4 ▁in ▁France , ▁the ▁Mit re ▁ 1 0 ▁Cup ▁in ▁New ▁Zealand , ▁the ▁National ▁Rugby ▁Championship ▁in ▁Australia , ▁and ▁the ▁C urr ie ▁Cup ▁in ▁South ▁Africa . ▁Other ▁trans n ational ▁club ▁compet itions ▁include ▁the ▁European ▁Rugby ▁Champions ▁Cup , ▁the ▁Pro 1 4 ▁in ▁Europe ▁and ▁South ▁Africa , ▁and ▁Super ▁Rugby ▁in ▁the ▁Southern ▁Hem is phere ▁and ▁Japan . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁The ▁origin ▁of ▁rugby ▁football ▁is ▁re put ed ▁to ▁be ▁an ▁incident ▁during ▁a ▁game ▁of ▁English ▁school ▁football ▁at ▁Rugby ▁School ▁in ▁War wick shire ▁in ▁ 1 8 2 3 , ▁when ▁William ▁Web b ▁Ell is ▁is ▁said ▁to ▁have ▁picked ▁up ▁the ▁ball ▁and ▁run ▁with ▁it . ▁Although ▁the ▁story ▁may ▁well ▁be ▁ap oc ry phal , ▁it ▁was ▁imm ort al ised ▁at ▁the ▁school ▁with ▁a ▁comm emor ative ▁pla que ▁that ▁was ▁un ve iled ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 5 ,