Skip to content
Insporta Book
en
EnglishРусскийDeutschEspañolEestiSuomiItalianoFrançaisPolski日本語한국어中文
FootballCricketFutsalTriathlonTennisGolfFigure SkatingBasketballVolleyballRugbyBaseballMethodologyWhy it worksTake a test

Rugby · Level 9: Master · Sub-level 9.2

The Split and the Amateur Era

10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown

Rugby union as an amateur game: what amateurism meant, union after the 1895 split, the Home Nations Championship, France in and out, the Varsity Match and the Barbarians, the great grounds, Wales's golden eras, radio and television, leagues and cups, and the road to the open game.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1What amateurism meantTake a test

  1. No payment for playing.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Rugby was a pastime.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. An ideal of the game.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Tours cost players dearly.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. A mix of everyday jobs.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Bans for professionalism.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Clubs still had costs.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Work, train, travel, play.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Union stayed amateur until 1995.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Day jobs.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 2Union after the splitTake a test

  1. Northern clubs joined the Northern Union.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. A weaker England.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Lifelong bans.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Wales stayed with union.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. The cause of the split.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. The north.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Open era, open doors.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Split, bans, 1995, freedom.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. League is northern.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. The northern exodus.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 3The Home NationsTake a test

  1. First season 1882-83.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. The four home unions.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. A home nations honour.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Since 1879.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. The Calcutta club's funds.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. First contested 1879.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. A clean sweep.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. 1883, 1910, 2000.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Five, three, one.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Cobras and an elephant.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 4France in and outTake a test

  1. France joined in 1910.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Allegations of professionalism.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. After the war, in 1947.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. War halted internationals.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. League boomed in the 1930s.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. The south-west.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Back in the fold.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. 1910, 1931, 1947.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Four, five, six.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Les Bleus.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 5The Varsity Match and the BarbariansTake a test

  1. Since 1872.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. First played in 1872.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. At Twickenham since 1921.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Carpmael founded the Baa-Baas.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Club socks with hooped shirts.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Invitation-only.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Running rugby.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. 1872, 1890, 1909.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Barbarians change most.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Hoops and club socks.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 6The great groundsTake a test

  1. Harlequins v Richmond, 1909.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Market gardens.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Murrayfield, 1925.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Later replaced by the Millennium Stadium.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Rebuilt as the Aviva.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Big crowds, big income.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Built for the 1999 World Cup.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. 1878, 1909, 1925, 1999.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Largest to smallest.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Market garden origins.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 7Wales's golden erasTake a test

  1. Around 1900-1911.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Wales beat the Originals.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. The 1970s.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Gareth Edwards.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. J. P. R. Williams.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Brilliant backs.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Finished by Gareth Edwards.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. 1905, 1910, 1973.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. 1900s, 1970s, 1995 on.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. The 1970s.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 8Radio and televisionTake a test

  1. England v Wales at Twickenham, January 1927.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Wider reach.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. TV reach.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. Fear for gate money.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. International weekends.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. TV deals funded the game.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Commentators became famous.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Print, radio, TV, streaming.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. TV reached most.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Radio era.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 9Leagues and cupsTake a test

  1. Counties competed.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Competition was linked to professionalism.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. The RFU Club Competition, 1971-72.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. The Courage leagues from 1987.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Sharper competition.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Competition raised stakes.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. French championship from 1892.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. 1889, 1971-72, 1987.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. League has most.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Leagues arrive.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Test 10The end of amateurismTake a test

  1. Unofficial money.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  2. Secret payments.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  3. Demands grew.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  4. A threatened breakaway.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  5. Rupert Murdoch's company.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  6. Paris, 26 August 1995.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  7. Professionalism allowed.

    Source: General rugby union reference · recall

  8. Pressure, World Cup, TV deal, August 1995.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  9. Open to hidden to none.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

  10. Hidden payments.

    Source: General rugby union reference · applied

Sources

World Rugby handbooks and coaching material, union and competition records; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered Laws belong to the Laws category.

  • General rugby union reference100