From The Vaults

06 August 2015

From Middle Park to Gallipoli

On Saturday 8 August, 1914, only four days after Australia had entered the war, East Melbourne played South Melbourne on the Middle Park ground in the final game of the season...

Showing all articles

Browse by

06 August 2015

From Middle Park to Gallipoli

On Saturday 8 August, 1914, only four days after Australia had entered the war, East Melbourne played South Melbourne on the Middle Park ground in the final game of the season...

31 July 2015

Lest We Forget - Billy Geen (Wales) 31/07/1915

At his best, Billy Geen was a dazzlingly entertaining three-quarter, with a bewildering side-step. At times, he reminded supporters of some of the greatest exponents of Welsh back play, like Arthur Gould and Rhys Gabe.

23 July 2015

The 1956 Arctic Rugby Football Championship

The World Rugby Museum was recently contacted by a man who, in the 1950s, helped to implement the DEW Line system in northern Canada.

17 July 2015

Lest We Forget - Frank Tarr (England) 18/07/1915

Francis Nathaniel Tarr, known as Frank, was born at Ironville near Belper, Derbyshire, the only son of Frederick Tarr and his wife Emma. Francis had an older sister, Mabel.

14 July 2015

Rugby from the front, 1914-1918

Rugby led the rush to war in 1914. As a famous recruiting poster trumpeted in December, 'Rugby Union Footballers Doing their Duty - over 90% have enlisted'.

08 July 2015

MATCH REPORT - Harlequins v Richmond, 1909

Harlequin Football Club (Harlequins F.C) had a gentleman's agreement with the RFU to use their new football ground even before it was built in 1909. The first game at Twickenham was contested between Harlequins and Richmond, two local rivals, on the 2nd October 1909.

01 July 2015

Radio Pioneers

1927 witnessed a curious new addition to the rear of the Twickenham South Terrace. A little known company called the British Broadcasting Corporation was granted permission to construct what looked like a bird-hive on top of the fence at the back.

26 June 2015

PLAYER PROFILE - JHP Strang

The museum recently received an enquiry from a Mr Strang who had in his possession an 1888 England cap that had belonged to his Grandfather. 1888 was an interesting year for English rugby. A dispute between England and Scotland meant that England would not contest any of the fixtures that normally constituted the Home Nations Championship.

15 June 2015

Sir Gareth Edwards first match at Twickenham, 1968

Keith Jarrett had sunk England at Cardiff in 1967; curiously it was his failure to place goals which contributed to their demise on this occasion. Twice his long kicks at goal were knocked-on by English fielders and Wales capitalised on these errors to score two tries and gain eight points.

08 June 2015

INTERVIEW - Lawrence Dallaglio

Lawrence Dallaglio, despite his Italian father, was brought up in England, and with his mother Eileen being half English and half Irish the former Wasps back row forward had a further choice to make. He made his England debut against South Africa as a replacement in 1995.

04 June 2015

Lest We Forget - William Moore Bell Nanson (England) 04/06/1915

William Moore Bell Nanson was born in Carlisle. He was one of seven children of Charles James Nanson and his wife Elizabeth. His father was a slater and slate merchant and, after attending the local Lowther Street School, William followed in his footsteps.

18 May 2015

Historic Rugby Mascots

To the very best of our knowledge, HD Freakes is the only person to have taken a doll to his debut as an international rugby player. Quite why England full-back Freakes is clutching a ceramic doll before the loss to Wales in 1938 is anyone's guess. An early merchandising ploy?

1 2

…

39 40

41

42 43

…

45