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Played in England since Tudor Times the earliest reference of rounders was in 1744 in the children’s book, A Little Pretty Pocket-Book. In 1828, The Boy’s Own Book by William Clarke included the rules of rounders, and contains the first printed description in English of a bat and ball base-running game played on a diamond.

The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) were the first to nationally formalise the rules in 1884 in Ireland and the organisation still regulates the sport in Ireland today. 

For England, however, the voluntary National Rounders Association was formed by a small group of teachers in 1943, with the primary aim of standardising the English interpretation of the rules. In the mid 1970's the first England team was selected, and matches were played against Wales. In 1999 the NRA received a small grant to pay one part time member of staff and it was not until December 2008 that rounders secured a grant from Sport England - at this time the NRA was rebranded as Rounders England. The sport today is played in over 87 per cent of schools across the country – it is even the third most-played team sport in schools, nudging ahead of both cricket and netball.

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Game of rounders on Christmas Day at Baroona, Glamorgan Vale, 1913
Wikipedia