It's been 5 years since we started this blog (you can read the
very first post here) and over that time we've
covered all sorts of topics, from ghostly paintingsand the
Twickenham streaker, to the
"First Lady" of rugby and
international rugby's most decorated
player. Not forgetting our extra-terrestrial jersey!
Here's a round up of our top 10 most read posts over the last 5
years...
10 - Women in Rugby Union: A Story Worth
Telling
A PhD project exploring the history of women in rugby union is
being undertaken by Lydia Furse through the World Rugby Museum and
De Montfort University. Here's a Q&A session with Lydia from
2017 when she was just beginning her research.
9 - Passchendaele and the last moments
of Edgar Mobbs, 31st July 1917
Edgar Mobbs
World Rugby Museum Curator Phil McGowan focuses on the last
moments of Lieutenant Colonel Mobbs during the Battle of
Passchendaele in this extract from his book 'Doing their Duty:
How England's Rugby Players Helped Win the First World
War'.
8 - PLAYER PROFILE- Jimmy Peters
Back in 2015 Nadine Fletcher profiled the relatively unknown
figure of Jimmy Peters, the first Black England International Rugby
player, who made his debut in 1906.
7 - Red Rose Stories: Ted
Woodward
When Ted Woodward first played rugby, he hated it. So how did he
become an England International? Joe Hall met him to find out.
6 - Tolkien's Battle of the Eastern
Field
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien is best known for his epic Lord of the
Rings novels. However, this article sees Jayne Linaker delving into
a lesser known aspect of his personal history, his involvement in
rugby union.
5 - England and Wales stars of the
future line up in 1989
In 1989 England Colts took on Wales Youth in a fiercely
contested match in front of a lively crowd in Torquay. Several
stars of the future took part and here we share a clip showing the
two sides singing their respective anthems.
François-Xavier Dutour
4 - Dutour de France: A French debut at
Twickenham
In 1911 England and France met at Twickenham for the first time.
With the team was French debut and full back, François-Xavier
Dutour. Only 2 years later Dutour played his last international
rugby match, with the arrival of the First World War in 1914
halting his international rugby career.
3 - William Webb Ellis and the Origins
of Rugby - a new perspective
Did William Webb Ellis really pick up the ball and run in 1823?
If so, did this act originate the game of rugby football? Phil
McGowan discusses a new perspective on the origins of rugby.
2 - Alf Wright and the England
Rose
Who exactly was Alf Wright and why is he fondly remembered by
all at the World Rugby Museum? This article is an extract from Phil
McGowan's book 'Twickenham: Home of England Rugby'. And
finally,
1 - In 1877 the RFU were sent a
letter…
The Calcutta Football Club was formed in January 1873, but 4
years later it folded and the RFU were sent a letter by the club.
This post tells the Calcutta Cup origin story.
A huge thank you to all staff (past and present) and external
contributors who have written articles for the blog. If you're
interested in submitting a piece, please get in touch!
