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William Webb Ellis

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Athlete

The Resume

    (November 24, 1806-January 24, 1872)
    Born in Salford, England, United Kingdom
    During a football (soccer) match at Rugby school, picked up the ball and ran with it (1823)
    Allegedly invented the sport of rugby as a result
    Later became an Anglican clergyman
    Namesake for the William Webb Ellis Cup given to the winner of the Rugby World Cup

Why he might be annoying:

    At Rugby, he was described as 'rather inclined to take unfair advantage at cricket.'
    The story about him inventing rugby was first published more than a half century after the incident (1876).
    The Encyclopedia of Rugby concluded, 'The only thing that is for certain is that Rugby School's William Webb Ellis did not spontaneously invent the game when he picked up the ball and ran with it.'
    In the same way that Abner Doubleday's military career is largely ignored in favor of his alleged creation of baseball, Ellis' religious career is overshadowed by his spurious status as a sports inventor.

Why he might not be annoying:

    When he was five, his father was killed in battle during the Napoleonic Wars.
    His grave in Merton, France, was rediscovered by Ross McWhirter (1958) and restored by the French rugby union.
    Since the first stories about him inventing rugby surfaced four years after his death, it seems unlikely that he was tooting his own horn.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 84.62% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 21 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying