Abstract

The author describes how rugby football gained increasing support after the inter-colonial rugby football series of 1883. He explains how the ethos of the sport was developed in Queensland and the social conditions on the 1880's that led to the adoption of middle class attitudes by the rugby football fraternity. He describes the influence exerted on the game of rugby in Queensland and contrasts these to situations in the game in Canada and Britain. He analyses the growing support and credibility which the game received. He highlights the British amateur sporting ethos and shows how many of the characteristics of rugby union football in the 1880's can be traced to these ideals. He gives a brief outline of the anti-British feeling that existed in the 1880's and shows how the Australian rules had an un-English philosophy. He contrasts the two systems and outlines the reasons for the establishment of a premiership in Australia. Eaton