“Play Up” is to go all out, do not give up, play until exhaustion, until reaching the goal.
Everything stems from the discovery of some photos of rugby in the last years ‘800.
Male, determined, proud. So the portraits of the players are painted in pose or during the game.
In contrast with this image the view of some photos of Blackburn Rovers team, winners of the Lancashire Cup in 1883.
Some relaxed, some sitting or lying down, with mawkish poses almost feminine leaning their head on the companion’s legs.
Same story for the British Lions in 1896.