From The Vaults

14 March 2019

William Webb Ellis, Are You Mad?

In the late 1960s the Rugby Football Union began making plans to celebrate its 1971 centenary year. As part of the programme of events a film was commissioned that would tell the story of rugby union, from its origins to the present...

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14 March 2019

William Webb Ellis, Are You Mad?

In the late 1960s the Rugby Football Union began making plans to celebrate its 1971 centenary year. As part of the programme of events a film was commissioned that would tell the story of rugby union, from its origins to the present...

11 March 2019

What Constitutes a National Treasure?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a ‘national treasure’ as something that is emblematic of a nation’s cultural identity. The World Rugby Museum has at least one of these on its register in the shape of the world’s oldest international football trophy, otherwise known as the Calcutta Cup.

01 March 2019

The RAF - and "Taffy" - shot down on St David's Day...

In the ‘King’s Cup’ opening encounter the fledgling Royal Air Force outfit, with the last- minute addition of an amazing Air Force character, met a strong New Zealand Services XV at a windblown Swansea on St David’s Day 1919...

25 February 2019

Edmund Blunden - the War Poet who went to Japan

Edmund Charles Blunden CBE MC is remembered as a well-travelled poet and war hero but fewer people are aware of his impact on the early development of rugby in Japan.

18 February 2019

Flying Lions: Louis Greig

Flying Lions: Louis Greig Continuing our series of biographies by David Smith, covering some of the British & Irish Lions who served with the RAF.

21 January 2019

Up for the Cup, 1919...

A century ago: January 1919 and with the Versailles negotiations to formally end WW1 still ongoing, five Services sides from amongst the victorious Allies’ ranks were being prepared for what became The King’s Cup: Rugby’s First ‘World Cup’…

14 January 2019

England Students to Japan, 1982

In 1982 an England Students side travelled to Japan to play a match against Japan at the Hanazono Stadium in Osaka...

07 January 2019

The Longest Kick in Rugby Football

Some kicks seem to have been destined for immortality be they penalty goals, drop goals or the now long forgotten scoring device called goals from a mark...

24 December 2018

Merry Christmas from the World Rugby Museum!

This Christmas Card was made in Bavaria, Germany and is believed to date from the late 19th Century.

17 December 2018

The Rugby Club that Volunteered

Keith Gregson, Sunderland RFC’s archivist and historian has, through a combination of knowledge, effort and luck, pieced together the wartime records of all 45 rugby players who were selected to play for Sunderland RFC 1st, 2nd and 3rd XVs on 17 January 1914 – just over 6 months before the outbreak of the First World War. This is an abridged introduction to the full work, which is available to purchase.

10 December 2018

Charlie Pritchard - "I have done my bit"

The Pritchard Collection gives us a unique insight into rugby history, but also connects us to that pre-1914 world through the story of an iconic character who perished in that dreadful conflict.

01 December 2018

Lest We Forget - Fred Leonard Perrett (Wales) 01/12/1918

By the end of October 1918, Fred Perrett had been on active service on the Western Front for three years and, having already been twice wounded, he may well have felt that he had done his bit...

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