ABSTRACT
The ‘origin and diffusion of modern sport’ is arguably the most foundational theme in both the broad historical narrative and the corresponding historiography of the field. The paradigm posited a relatively recent Western conception of sport which is unique in world history – fundamentally different from ‘traditional’ sports of Western and non-Western cultures alike. By the end of the nineteenth century the rugby union game had spread throughout the British Empire’s colonies and dominions. The vibrant growth of organizations and associations coalesced into a formidable international sports system which provided a viable structure for the further diffusion and development of global sport around the turn of the twentieth century. The chapter employs the key roles and concepts of empire, industrial capitalism, cultural imperialism, and postcolonialism. The practice of cultural appropriation of team names and mascots by non-Natives persists in the contemporary North American sports world despite protests from indigenous groups.
