Rugby, a private preparatory school at Rugby in Warwickshire, England. It was founded in 1567. Rugby earned renown when Thomas Arnold was headmaster, 1828-42. He broadened the curriculum and stressed character-building. Notable Rugby students include Arnold's son, Matthew, and Walter Savage Landor, C. L. Dodgson (Lewis Carroll), and Rupert Brooke. Rugby football originated here. The school became coeducational in 1976.