From The Vaults

29 August 2023

Juan Arzuaga: an Iberian sporting legend

Sporting and Social historian Keith Gregson delves into the story of Juan Arzuaga, the Spanish football star who cut his teeth on the rugby fields of North-East England...

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29 August 2023

Juan Arzuaga: an Iberian sporting legend

Sporting and Social historian Keith Gregson delves into the story of Juan Arzuaga, the Spanish football star who cut his teeth on the rugby fields of North-East England...

07 August 2023

Joe Brunton – a great rugby stalwart of the north

English Rugby throughout the amateur era always relied on charismatic loyal figures who gave great service to their clubs and rugby in their counties and regions long after their playing careers had ended...

13 February 2023

Edward Turkington – a unique distinction

The American Edward Lawrence Turkington was sent off in an international against Romania during the Olympic Games in Paris in May 1924. At that point in rugby history a player had never been sent off in a rugby international involving a member country of the International Rugby Board...

27 January 2023

Remembering Allan Muhr

Remembering France international rugby player, Allan Muhr...

31 October 2022

Irish Warrior: The Paddy Mayne Story

To coincide with the new BBC drama, SAS Rogue Heroes, we're looking at the story of Blair "Paddy" Mayne, the Ireland International rugby player who went on to be recruited into the Special Air Service...

01 October 2022

ONLINE EXHIBITION: The Jimmy Peters Story

James ‘Jimmy’ Peters was the first black man to play rugby union for England. He had a difficult start in life but, showing great strength of character, he overcame hardships, setbacks and intolerance to represent his country with distinction.

05 September 2022

The Story of Jimmy Peters

Jimmy Peters was a fast, elusive English half-back who rose to prominence firstly with Bristol and then Plymouth and Devon in the opening decade of the 20th Century. Abandoned as a child Peters was raised firstly at Fegan's Orphanage, Southwalk Street London and then the 'Little Wanderers' Orphanage in Greenwich.

13 June 2022

Phil Bennett - the complete fly half

In memory of the great Phil Bennett, shown here introducing the Prince Of Wales to his 1977 Lions team, here is an interview he gave to the World Rugby Museum about his fond memories of playing at Twickenham…

30 May 2022

The unluckiest All Black?

A biography of Alexander 'Nugget' Pringle has recently been published, written by his nephew Robert Greig Pringle. The following is an adapted extract...

18 April 2022

PLAYER PROFILE: Lewis Moody

Ahead of our next Legends Tours of Twickenham Stadium with Lewis Moody on Saturday 23rd April 2022, we're taking a look back at his rugby career...

28 February 2022

Springbok kickers through the ages

The Springboks have been renowned for hard and athletic ruggedness since joining the international fold against the British Isles in 1891...

13 December 2021

The Flying Prince

Sports journalist Hugh Godwin tells us about his new book, ‘The Flying Prince: Alexander Obolensky’…