It is a popular belief that Rugby was born in 1823 when William Webb Ellis, "with fine disregard for the rules of football as played in his time at Rugby school in England, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it, thus originating the distinctive feature of the Rugby game”. Fast forward to 1992, when the Metropolis Rugby Football Club was formed out of two pre-existing clubs, the Minneapolis Rugby Football Club, founded in 1960, and the Metro Rugby Football Club, founded in 1980.

Prior to shooting this story, I had no knowledge of the rules, or the intensity with which the game transpires. I raised many winced eyebrows as players took hits with no padding what-so-ever. I came away with a great respect for Rugby and it’s players, along with an appreciation for the community that has been created through the sport.