Before 1895, there was only one “Rugby Football.” However, a massive divide was growing within the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

• The Southern View: The RFU was based in the more affluent southern areas like London and championed “amateurism.” They believed sports should be played for the love of the game, and anyone taking money was “tainted.”
• The Northern Reality: In the industrial North (Yorkshire and Lancashire), players were mostly miners and factory workers. If they traveled to play on a Saturday, they lost a day’s wages—something they couldn’t afford.

1895

On Tuesday, August 20, 1895, at a meeting at the Mitre Hotel, Leeds, the 12 clubs agreed they should form a Northern Union, but at the same time made it clear they wished to retain their links with the Yorkshire Union. It was decided that a five-man panel would meet a sub-committee of the Yorkshire Union to place before them a scheme for the settlement of the dispute.’ The Union, however, immediately rejected the proposal.

The clubs decided to break all links with the union and to form the Northern Rugby Football Union NRFU (on amateur lines, but with the acceptance of the principle of payment for broken time). It was also agreed to hold a joint meeting of Yorkshire and Lancashire clubs at the George Hotel, Huddersfield on Thursday, August 29, when the formation of the NRFU could be officially announced.

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The awarding of caps

At the time of the split in 1895 the awarding of caps in Rugby Union was prevalent. As with many things associated with the game the awarding of caps came with it.