From The Vaults

24 January 2015

Lest We Forget - Charles Gerald Taylor (Wales) 24/01/1915

If Charles Taylor hadn't decided to pursue a naval career he might never have become a rugby player. He was born in Ruabon, north Wales on 8 May 1863, the son of Reverend Alfred and Annie Taylor. His father was headmaster of Ruabon Grammar School, where Charles was educated.

Read More

Showing Players articles

Browse by

24 January 2015

Lest We Forget - Charles Gerald Taylor (Wales) 24/01/1915

If Charles Taylor hadn't decided to pursue a naval career he might never have become a rugby player. He was born in Ruabon, north Wales on 8 May 1863, the son of Reverend Alfred and Annie Taylor. His father was headmaster of Ruabon Grammar School, where Charles was educated.

Read More

06 January 2015

INTERVIEW - Colin Meads

Colin Meads was a true giant of the game, his hulking physical presence terrorising defences and dominating line-outs across three decades from 1957 to 1971.

Read More

16 December 2014

RUGBY DYNASTIES: The Gould and Bancroft Brothers

There have been many sets of brothers over the years that have played international rugby for their countries, but it was two particular sets of brothers who played pivotal parts in the rise of Welsh international rugby from 1881 to the end of the 19th century.

Read More

01 December 2014

Lest We Forget - Francis Eckley Oakeley (England) 01/12/1914

Francis Oakeley was the fifth son of the vicar of Holy Trinity, Hereford. His father James and his mother Frances had 11 children in all. He was educated at the Cathedral School in Hereford from where he went at the age of 13 to the Royal Naval College at Osborne on the Isle of Wight, before transferring two years later to Dartmouth to complete his training.

Read More

30 October 2014

INTERVIEW - Frik du Preez

Legendary South African forward Frik Du Preez was an archetypal player. He loved the game beyond all else. Not even the oppressive shadow of Apartheid, which darkened the game during his career, could snuff out the candle he held for the noble sport of rugby union.

Read More

15 October 2014

Lest We Forget - James Henry Digby Watson (England) 15/10/1914

James Henry Digby Watson was born in Southsea, Hampshire, and named after his father, who was a Royal Navy engineering officer. His mother Eliza was Canadian.

Read More

27 September 2014

PLAYER PROFILE - Richard Sharp

Richard Adrian William Sharp, a rugby player from Cornwall, played for his county 28 times, from 1957 to 1966, which then led him on to play for several other teams including the London Wasps, Bristol and not forgetting England of course.

Read More

23 September 2014

Jolly Jumbucks of the Home Nations!

Maybe Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, never really did say, "Being born in a stable does not make one a horse", but many Home Nations Rugby officials have also thought bloodlines trump place of birth.

Read More

17 September 2014

Lest We Forget - Charles Wilson (England) 17/09/1914

Charles Edward Wilson, who was born in Fermoy, Co Cork into a military family, was the first of 27 England rugby internationals to die in service during World War 1.

Read More

14 September 2014

Lest We Forget - Ronnie Simson (Scotland) 14/09/1914

On the 14th September 1914 Scotland's Ronald Francis Simson became the first home -nations international rugby player to be killed in action during the Great War.

Read More

05 September 2014

Lest We Forget - Alfred Mayssonnié (France) 06/09/1914

Alfred Mayssonnié was the first international rugby player to be killed during the Great War. Known to his teammates as 'Maysso' he was as an influential play-making half-back and one of Stade Toulouse's founder members.

Read More

27 August 2014

PLAYER PROFILE - Adrian Stoop

In 1909 Adrian Stoop led Harlequins out for Twickenham Stadium's first ever fixture. The following year he made history by becoming the first man to lead England out at their national stadium.

Read More