Tag: Rugby History
-
How It All Began: The first-ever Women’s International Rugby Test Match and the legacy of the Utrecht Shield
On the 13th June 1982, the Netherlands and France took part in the first ever women’s international test match. Whilst the Netherlands lost at home, France became the first-ever lineal world title holders, a title they will fight to regain this Sunday against England in the final game of the 2026 Women’s Six Nations.
Written by
·
-
When The Roses Wilted
Following their 2014 Rugby World Cup win, the Red Roses recorded their worst-ever result in the Six Nations. This is the tale of how the World discovered the Red Roses were not perennials.
Written by
·
-
‘There has always been something special about a print newspaper.’
One aspect of my research process is to check newspaper archives. In the process, I’ve found some gems that haven’t made it into articles for various reasons. In this month’s Historian Tier post, I’m sharing some of my favourites.
Written by
·
-
A Very Brief History of the Women’s Six Nations
Founded in 1996 as the Women’s Home Nations Championship, the tournament has grown significantly over the last thirty years. This is the tale of the seven nations that have made up the Six Nations.
Written by
·
-
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.
Written by
·
-
The Even Weirder World of the Men’s Six Nations
Last week I posted A Brief History of the Weird World of the Men’s Six Nations, however, there were lots of extra weird bits that didn’t make it into the final draft. Here’s the even weirder world of the Men’s Six Nations for February’s Historian Tier Newsletter!
Written by
·
-
A Brief History of the Weird World of the Men’s Six Nations
The world’s oldest international rugby tournament is full of quirks. With the 2026 edition underway, this article looks at the weird world of the Men’s Six Nations.
Written by
·
-
When Wales Lost a Region: The Tale of the Celtic Warriors
After months of speculation, on the 24th October 2025, the Welsh Rugby Union announced that they would be cutting the number of men’s professional teams from four to three. Let’s look back at the last time the Welsh Rugby Union cut a region.
Written by
·
-
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?
Written by
·
-
Meet the Valentines
The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of the Irish Women’s National Rugby Team
Written by
·