When was the first season of rugby league played?

Question

Colin Meads, nicknamed 'Pinetree', a former rugby union footballer who played 55 test matches for his national team from 1957 until 1971 and was named his country's Player of the Century, represented which country?

Answer 1

1895-6
It was played by the breakaway Northern Rugby Football Union, subsequently called the Rugby Football League (RFL).