▁and ▁the ▁International ▁Rugby ▁Board ▁( IR B ), ▁has ▁been ▁the ▁gover ning ▁body ▁for ▁rugby ▁union ▁since ▁ 1 8 8 6 , ▁and ▁currently ▁has ▁ 1 0 1 ▁countries ▁as ▁full ▁members ▁and ▁ 1 8 ▁associate ▁members . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 4 5 , ▁the ▁first ▁football ▁laws ▁were ▁written ▁by ▁pup ils ▁at ▁Rugby ▁School ; ▁other ▁significant ▁events ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁development ▁of ▁rugby ▁include ▁the ▁decision ▁by ▁Black he ath ▁F . C . ▁to ▁leave ▁the ▁Football ▁Association ▁in ▁ 1 8 6 3 ▁and , ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 5 , ▁the ▁ac rim on ious ▁split ▁between ▁the ▁then ▁amateur ▁rugby ▁union ▁and ▁the ▁professional ▁rugby ▁league . ▁ ▁Histor ically ▁rugby ▁union ▁was ▁an ▁amateur ▁sport , ▁but ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 5 ▁formal ▁restrictions ▁on ▁pay ments ▁to ▁players ▁were ▁removed , ▁making ▁the ▁game ▁open ly ▁professional ▁at ▁the ▁highest ▁level ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time . ▁ ▁Rugby ▁union ▁spread ▁from ▁the ▁Home ▁Nations ▁of ▁Great ▁Britain ▁and ▁Ireland ▁and ▁was ▁emb rac ed ▁by ▁many ▁of ▁the ▁countries ▁associated ▁with ▁the ▁British ▁Empire . ▁Early ▁ex ponents ▁of ▁the ▁sport ▁included ▁Australia , ▁New ▁Zealand , ▁South ▁Africa ▁and ▁France . ▁Count ries ▁that ▁have ▁adopted ▁rugby ▁union ▁as ▁their ▁de ▁fact o ▁national ▁sport ▁include ▁F iji , ▁Georgia , ▁Mad agas car , ▁New ▁Zealand , ▁Sam oa , ▁and ▁T ong a . ▁ ▁International ▁matches ▁have ▁taken ▁place ▁since ▁