Rugby - 347 km

A market town that gave birth to a sport played by millions around the world, Rugby is in Warwickshire in the West Midlands.

The game of rugby football is inextricably linked to Rugby School, a prestigious Public School dating back to 1567. The first rules for rugby football were written by three Rugby School pupils in 1845. There’s also a widespread origin legend that claims the game was invented by William Webb Ellis, another pupil who decided to carry the ball during a football match in 1823. Rugby, the town, has started to embrace its sporting history.

If the population of Rugby went to Twickenham there would be more than 11,000 empty seats.

Ever wonder why rugby balls are oval? Hope you’re food’s digested for this one. The first ever rugby balls were made by a Richard Lindon who fashioned it out of hand stitched leather casing and pigs’ bladders. Apparently, pigs’ bladders naturally take on an oval shape. Hmm, so does that make it edible? The trademark oval ball only took over from the spherical ball they’d originally used in 1892. 

Another fun fact about rugby - the same whistle has been used for the first opening Rugby World Cup game since 1987. It’s known as the Gil Evans whistle, named after the Welsh ref to first use it.