From The Vaults

06 January 2025

Irish Warrior: The Paddy Mayne Story

As BBC drama SAS Rogue Heroes returns for a second series, 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...

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06 January 2025

Irish Warrior: The Paddy Mayne Story

As BBC drama SAS Rogue Heroes returns for a second series, 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...

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28 October 2024

Jock Richardson – an All Black great

Johnstone 'Jock' Richardson was a leading back row forward for the All Blacks, representing them 42 times between 1921 and 1925. In this article, World Rugby Museum researcher Richard Steele delves into his life and career...

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07 October 2024

Legal Giants of Rugby

Richard Steele looks at two rugby-playing legal giants of the 1920s, Rowe Harding and Carl Aarvold...

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15 July 2024

Lest We Forget – Albert Chatau (France) 15/07/1924

Between 2014 and 2018, the World Rugby Museum paid individual tribute to each of the 129 Test international rugby players to lose their lives during the Great War. The last name on that list, Frenchman Albert Chatau, died from his wounds in July 1924. Here we conclude our period of commemoration with a tribute to Albert by Frédéric Humbert on the centenary of his death. Lest We Forget.

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27 March 2024

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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27 February 2024

Snowy Svenson – the unsung try-scoring wing

It is almost 100 years since the great All Black ‘Invincibles’ cut a swathe through the rugby teams of the United Kingdom, Ireland and France to record 30 straight victories. The unsung hero of the tour was the left winger, 'Snowy' Svenson...

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15 January 2024

“The father of All Blacks rugby” and his connection to London Irish by Paddy Lennon

The following article is an exclusive from Paddy Lennon, author of ‘London Irish –125 years of passion in exile’...

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11 January 2024

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.

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13 November 2023

PLAYER PROFILE: Ugo Monye

On 26 November 2023, Ugo Monye will be making his Legends Tour of Twickenham Stadium debut, so we're taking a look back at his playing career...

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06 November 2023

Who Was Jack King?

Earlier this year, we were able to show for the first time what we believe to be the oldest footage of an international rugby test-match in existence...

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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...

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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...

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