History
The International Rugby Board (IRB) established its hall of fame in 2006 at its annual award ceremony in Glasgow, Scotland.
The first inductees were William Webb Ellis and the Rugby School. Ellis supposedly inspired the creation of the sport during a football (soccer) game in 1823, when he caught the ball and ran with it. Although that story is almost certainly not true, it's as thoroughly a part of rugby lore as Abner Doubleday is of baseball lore.
Ellis was a student at the Rugby School when the alleged incident took place and it is certain that the sport of rugby grew out of a version of football developed at the school between 1859 and 1865.
Inductions have been held annually since then, in October or November. Hall of fame members are honored for their contributions to the sport of rugby union (as opposed to rugby league). They include players, coaches, administrators and officials.