Tag: Early Rugby History
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The ‘Monkey’ Who Almost Had Wales Kicked Out of the Home Nations
Just a few years after the first official Home Nations tournament, the then very small rugby world would be torn apart by one man and his house. For a thirty-four year period at the turn of the twentieth century, Newport RFC boasted the talents of the Gould brothers. Harry, Bob, Arthur, Bert, Gus, and Wyatt…
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Chasing the Egg: A Short History of the Rugby Ball
The rugby ball is one of the most recognisable aspects of rugby, but also one of the most bizarre. How exactly did we end up as eggchasers? If you asked most people to describe a ball, they would describe a round sphere. However, in the sport of rugby, we use a bizarre ellipsoidal ball. Lovingly…
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Why is Rugby Union Posh?
In many countries, Rugby Union is considered to be a sport for the middle classes. Stereotypically played in private schools by the sons of professionals, the sport often struggles to overcome this perception. However, how true is this assumption and why did the sport gain it in the first place?
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Emily Valentine: The Female William Webb Ellis?
Emily Valentine was only ten when she picked up a rugby ball and played for Portora Royal School in Enniskillen. Since 2010 she has been hailed as the ‘female William Webb Ellis’ but how true is this? The story of Emily Valentine was hidden for over a century until rugby writer John Birch uncovered the…
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Barrette: The Original Female Rugby Code?
In the 1920s, feminists took part in ‘Rugby Féminin’. However the controversial sport faced its demise a decade after its first match. Did barrette influence the female rugby players of the 1960s? The origins of the modern women’s rugby movement can be traced to French universities during the 1960s. However, this was not the first…
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'I wanted to play for Wales with my whole heart': An Exploration of the Players Lost to Welsh Rugby Due To Racism
For over a century, working class rugby players left Wales in order to be paid. However, for many men, “Going North” was a necessity as their skin colour was a barrier to rugby in Wales. In June 2025, Billy Boston was honoured with a knighthood, becoming the first rugby league player to receive the nod.…
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The cases of Sione Tuipulotu and Alfred Clunies-Ross: a brief look at the relationship between rugby and the diaspora
Sione Tuipulotu’s inclusion within the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia has ruffled feathers. This article looks at Alfred Clunies-Ross, Scotland’s first diaspora player. The inclusion of current Scotland Men’s Captain Sione Tuipulotu in the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad has created an incredible amount of vitriol on social media. In recent…
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