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According to legend, rugby originated in 1823 during a school football match in the town of Rugby, England, when a student named William Webb Ellis defied the rules by picking up the ball and running toward the opponent's goal line. This moment is widely regarded as the birth of rugby, although its exact origins remain a subject of debate.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, rugby had surged in popularity across different social classes and was exported around the world, leading to the development of several variations. The two most prominent formats today are rugby union and rugby sevens, though others like touch rugby, rugby tens, rugby flag, and beach rugby also enjoy participation globally. While the rules differ slightly across formats, they all share the sport's core values of teamwork, respect, and physical endurance.
Rugby union, which features 15 players per team, was included in the Olympic Games four times — in 1900, 1908, 1920, and 1924 — before being removed from the programme. Rugby sevens, a faster-paced, shorter format with seven players per side, made its Olympic debut at Rio 2016 for both men and women. Each tournament consists of 12 teams, with matches lasting two halves of seven minutes. Teams have five substitutes, with a maximum of three allowed per match. The shorter format and open style of play have helped rugby sevens gain strong international appeal and secure its place in the Olympic movement.
Qatar Sports Committee for Rugby and Hockey
The Qatar Sports Committee for Rugby and Hockey was officially established in 2015 as the national governing body for both sports under the umbrella of the Qatar Olympic Committee. The creation of the committee followed decades of grassroots activity, particularly in rugby, which dates back to the 1970s when Qatar was part of the Gulf Rugby Union.
In a major milestone, Qatar became a full member of World Rugby in 2023, after being an associate member since 2020 — a testament to the sport’s growing infrastructure and popularity within the country. The committee oversees both men’s and women’s national rugby teams, covering traditional 15-a-side and rugby sevens formats. It also organizes domestic leagues and facilitates Qatar’s participation in Gulf and West Asian tournaments.
In field hockey, the committee has shifted the sport from a community-based activity into a more structured competitive platform. It has launched a national league featuring multicultural teams and is working to develop a national team capable of competing at the regional and continental levels. The committee also partners with the Asian Hockey Federation to offer regular training and officiating workshops.
With a vision to establish long-term infrastructure and broaden the sports base, the committee is actively working on developing dedicated facilities and expanding youth participation in both disciplines — in line with Qatar’s commitment to sports diversity and Olympic ambition.
Mr. Yousef Al-Kuwari
President
Mr. Abdullah Aman
Secretary GeneralContact
