From The Vaults

29 November 2021

The Evolution of the England Pack

In 150 years of English rugby, the pack has often been the source of English success. This article examines the evolution of the English pack and key partnerships since forward positions first began to develop into their recognisable modern form in the early 1920s.

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29 November 2021

The Evolution of the England Pack

In 150 years of English rugby, the pack has often been the source of English success. This article examines the evolution of the English pack and key partnerships since forward positions first began to develop into their recognisable modern form in the early 1920s.

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21 June 2021

The Evolution of the English Back Row

The major achievements of the England rugby team since 1910 have been invariably linked to the selection of back row combinations of the highest quality.

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30 March 2020

Famous English International Tries in the Amateur Era

Almost 800 tries have been scored by England at Twickenham in more than 320 full international matches over the last one hundred and ten years. Most of these tries have passed into the rugby history books but a special few are still recalled as defining moments in their eras...

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04 March 2020

Reunited At Last

England and Wales meet at Twickenham for the 55th time on Saturday. 110 years ago the two sides helped kick off the Twickenham era when Ben Gronow did the honours in the first of his four caps for Wales...

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24 March 2018

Lest We Forget - Harold Hodges (England) 24/03/1918

...Hodges attempted to fight his way back out of the building with a handgun...

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19 February 2018

The Man Who Wore the World’s Oldest International Rugby Jersey

John Henry Clayton only played one international match of rugby in his life, but it was a match to be remembered...

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29 January 2018

I remember when...

Twickenham Stadium Tour Guide Phil Mead recalls his first trip to Twickenham back in 1953…

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31 July 2017

Lest We Forget - Edgar Roberts Mobbs (England), 31/07/1917

Edgar Roberts Mobbs was born in Northampton. Although a promising sportsman, his early departure from school meant that he did not feature there in the 1st XV. He was soon playing rugby at club level though, first with Olney and then 234 times for Northampton, for whom he was captain from the 1907/08 season until 1913.

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31 July 2017

Lest We Forget - Arthur James Wilson (England), 31/07/1917

From 1900 he spent four years at Glenalmond College in Perthshire, where he became a prefect and was a regular member of the rugby XV and of the cricket XI in his final two years.

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28 July 2017

Passchendaele and the last moments of Edgar Mobbs, 31st July 1917

By capturing the village of Passchendaele, the British hoped to progress in the direction of the Belgian coast where the Allies might curtail the threat of the German U-boat. After long deliberation Prime Minister Lloyd George agreed Field Marshal Haig's plan and zero-hour was set for 3.50 am on the morning of the 31st July, after a fifteen-day four million shell bombardment.

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03 July 2017

Remembering Drewy Stoddart - ‘the most famous sportsman in Queen Victoria’s empire’

The man dubbed 'the most famous sportsman in Queen Victoria's empire' was born in County Durham in 1860. His sporting proficiency was quickly recognised and he became only the second man in history to captain England at both cricket and rugby.

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17 June 2017

Lest We Forget – George Eric Burroughs Dobbs (England) 17/06/1917

George Eric Burroughs Dobbs was born in Co Kilkenny, near Castlecomer where his father Joseph owned a coal mine. Joseph had married Mary Augusta Harte in Dublin in 1878 and they had seven children, George being the 2nd of four boys.

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