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Recording the History of Rugby Football

Carl Mullen signing a ball for a young boy

Welcome

The aim of this web site is to record the history of Rugby Union Football and make it available online for educational purposes, The web site has been featured by the BBC, Rugby World, The Guardian, US Public Radio's Rugby Hour and a variety of other newspapers and publications. The web site is growing all the time so check back regularly and see what's been added. By all means, send in your thoughts, questions and suggestions for how we can continue to improve the web site.

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A Scottish Rugby Hall Of Fame is to be launched in the autumn

Supporters will have the chance to select one of the first inductees. Hall of fame judges, from left, John Beattie, John Jeffrey, Ian McGeechan, Chris Rea and Norman Mair met at Murrayfield yesterday to discuss potential inductees. Supporters' involvement will begin by their going to the Scottish Rugby Union website, www.scottishrugby.org

Image
Hall of fame judges, from left, John Beattie, John Jeffrey, Ian McGeechan, Chris Rea and Norman Mair met at Murrayfield yesterday to discuss potential inductees. Picture: PA
Move and Redevelopment planned for The New Zealand Rugby Museum ahead of the 2011 RWC

The NZ Rugby Museum, which was established in 1969 and was the first national rugby museum in the world, is to be co-locating with Te Manawa and The Globe theatre, inside the Te Manawa Museum Complex, Main Street, Palmerston North.

The move will allow the Rugby Museum to revamp exhibitions from scratch, taking the good things that visitors enjoy and adding in many more exhibits and interactive displays to enhance the experience.

The gallery floor space will be tripled to 500m2 and will utilize best practice environmental, lighting, handling and storage standards required of a modern museum.
NZ Rugby Museum floor layout


The New Exhibition Experience – What Will it Look Like?
Exhibition development is well underway, with the planned experience to comprise four different zones - each designed to cater for the different interests and needs of varied target audiences:

  1. Kick-Off
    An exciting, welcoming and inspirational space that starts the experience and conveys some of the magic of the game.

  2. Trophies and Treasures
    A quiet, contemplative space that showcases the "crown jewels' of our rugby heritage collection, allowing the visitor to revel in rugby's great moments and follow the story of how the game evolved in New Zealand.

  3. Get Inside the Game
    A more interactive zone, where visitors can explore aspects of the game of most interest to them. Themes will include: The Fan Zone, Women's Rugby, Media Moments, A Rookie's Guide to How to Watch a Game, Putting Your Body on the Line, Footy Yarns, Footy Facts and more.

  4. Give it a Go!
    A 'seriously interactive' zone where visitors can represent their country and try out some rugby-themed, physically challenging exhibits that include a series of simple game-based ball and skills challenges, "size me up' comparison exhibits (see how you measure up to famous players through the ages!), video and educational games, and a full-on behind-the-scenes changing room experience!

A fifth limited-access zone - the Discovery Library, will be available to those with special rugby interests, providing an in-depth research and quiet discovery space. The museum has 37,000 items electronically cataloged. (note: researchers cannot be entertained until after the 2011 RWC).

So if you live in New Zealand or plan to visit in the coming years, make it an essential part of your itinerary to visit this wonderful resource.

Opening mid-2011, visit the official web-site for further information.

Webb-Ellis Rugby Museum Re-opens

The St Matthews Street museum in Rugby is famous for being the site of the first established rugby football workshop and the building with the longest continuous connection to the game in the world. The building is where William Gilbert began producing rugby footballs in 1842, beginning a tradition of rugby football manufacture on the site that is carried on by Webb Ellis Ltd. to this day.

Collections officer: Angie Irvine, Stitcher: John Bachelor and Martin Corry
(Photo courtesy of Rugby Art Gallery and Museum)
The official re-opening, Thursday 12th November when former England captain and World Cup Winner,
Martin Corry of Wooden Spoon, re-launched the museum.

Wooden Spoon, a children’s charity dedicated to helping underprivileged children and
young people all over the UK and Ireland to live happier, richer lives.
For more information about Wooden Spoon visit www.woodenspoon.com.

Established in the 1980s, the museum houses a rich collection of international rugby memorabilia and tells the story of the game, the ball and the building. Its prestige attracts fans of rugby from all over the world. The museum’s collection has been built up over the last hundred years. It is privately owned by Lawrence Webb of Webb Ellis Ltd but is currently on loan to Rugby Borough Council.

I had visited the museum a number of years ago (you can see an older picture of the Museum's frontage here). The Museum is a goldmine for those of us fascinated by the history of our beloved sport and I remember spending hours reading every notice and being fascinated by every exhibit. However, I do recall thinking at the time that the collection was in need of a bit of TLC and that is exactly what it's received. After many years of faithful service the Museum was in need of some renovation and it's just re-opened after a major re-fit of the building decor and exhibition cases (app. 4 months work) which will ensure that the collection will remain preserved for many years to come.

I visited the museum shortly before it was officially reopened by England International Martin Corry and was shown round by Angie Irvine, Collections officer for Rugby Art Gallery and Museum (including the famous Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum). What a difference! A lot of thought and care has been exercised in selecting and re-arranging the collection on display. Old favorites like the Gilbert Rugby ball, which was included in 'the great exhibition' of 1851, is still there and given pride of place but also a lot of new material has been added and it has all been arranged in themes which you can appreciate and enjoy as you pass through the museum.

Councilor Neil Campbell, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for Culture, said: “This project is an excellent illustration of what the Council can do in partnership with people to benefit the town and Borough. I really would encourage all residents of Rugby and fans of the game to visit the museum.”

I would fully concur, if you've been before, go back, you will not be disappointed. If you've never been then your in for a real treat. Visit the Museum (it's free), see Webb-Ellis' statue adjacent to the museum, Go and see Rugby School Close where it all started (by appointment) and enjoy a walk around a nice English town with plenty of good pubs and restaurants. A great day out for the Rugby enthusiast!

See the interior of the Webb-Ellis Rugby Football Museum

Rugby back in the Olympics!

The global Rugby family are celebrating the announcement that Rugby Sevens will be included at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

An overwhelming vote in favour of inclusion by the International Olympic Committee members at the 121st Session in Copenhagen - Rugby Sevens received 81 'yes' votes to only eight 'no' votes - means that the world's top men's and women's Rugby players will have the opportunity to compete for an Olympic Gold medal, the pinnacle of sporting achievement.

Bernard Lapasset, President of the International Rugby Board, said: "This is a historic moment for our sport and for the global Rugby community, who were united in support of our campaign."

"We are excited and honoured to be joining the Olympic Games and I would like to thank the IOC members for believing in our Olympic vision and our values and recognising that Rugby Sevens is a perfect fit for the Olympic Games."

"The Olympic Games will be the pinnacle of the sport for all our athletes and the Rugby family. The best men's and women's players in the world are excited to be able to showcase their talent on the world's greatest sporting stage."

"We are now looking forward to working in partnership with the IOC to develop and implement a Rugby Sevens tournament in Rio that will reach out to new audiences and inspire a new generation of sports fans around the world," added Lapasset.

In 1886 Pierre de Coubertin made a visit to Rugby School – the place where William Webb-Ellis was first inspired to pick up a ball and run. De Coubertin gained part of his inspiration from the school’s educational ethos – a philosophy reflected in the sport to which it gave its name. A sport with a unique spirit. That spirit still lives on in the sport of Rugby and in the International Olympic Committee: the body de Coubertin helped to establish in 1894. Six years later, de Coubertin personally oversaw Rugby’s introduction to the Paris Games of 1900. Under de Coubertin’s guidance the sport featured again in 1908, 1920 and 1924.

Now its back!

Congratulations to Manchester RFC on 150 years!

The 2009/10 season represents the 150th anniversary for Manchester Rugby Club (UK). There are a variety of sponsorship opportunities available, and they would be delighted to forward the portfolio to any interested parties that might seek to consider such as part of their marketing/PR tactics. Good value - and much commitment to give ROI. Simply email: sponsorship@acrobatonline.com

Manchester RFC

Book Review

Title:
Kings of Rugby - The 1959 Lions' Tour & Series and the Lives Beyond.
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 0-9582387-6-6
Publisher: Hill-Verdon Publishing Ltd.
Author: Paul Verdon

Paul Verdon's intent was to create a commemorative tribute to the 1959 Lions' tour & series, fifty years on. It is obvious that immense care and thought has been exercised with the content and production of this book. When you consider the meticulous research, the extensive interviewing of the surviving players, the inclusion of their signatures, their profiles, the multitude of photographs, the detailed game by game match reports and the fine presentation of the material this is surely a labour of love with a value well beyond its price tag.


The author's style is relaxed and engaging throughout, making this book appealing to both the serious Rugby Historian and the casual reader interested in the feats of International rugby players past. Excellent book to read ahead of this years Lions tour. Read the full review

Preserving the past - Use it or Lose it !

Many rugby club houses around the world are decorated with old team photos from bygone days.

If the negatives have long since been lost, why not take them down, scan them into your PC (with as higher definition setting as possible). Not only will you be able to make your web site more interesting by adding to your clubs history online, but you can then re-print new copies of the photos for the clubhouse should the originals get damaged or faded and you will be helping preserve the history of the great sport of Rugby.

For advice on how to preserve documents and garments from the past, pop along to your local museum and they would be very glad to give you advice.

Wanted!

Pre-1950 - "RFU Bye laws, Laws of the game" & "RFU Handbooks". Best prices paid.

Other interesting old Rugby books also considered.

Contact us for a quote

Educational Enquiries

I get hundreds of emails each year from students all over the world, whilst I make every attempt to answer all of them, please be patient. Also check the web site carefully as sometimes the answer you are looking for is already detailed on the site.

Check FAQ section as well

Old School Football Song (modified)

"Forty years on, when afar and asunder
Parted are those who are reading today,
When you look back, and forgetfully wonder
What you were like in your work and your play,
Visions of boyhood shall float them before you,
Echoes of dreamland shall bear them along,
How we rejoiced as we struggled and panted,
Hardly believable, forty years on!

Forty years on, growing older and older,
Shorter in wind, as in memory long,
Feeble of foot, and rheumatic of shoulder,
What will it help you that once you were strong?
Never the battle raged hottest, but in it,
Neither the last nor the faintest, were we!
Fights for the fearless, and goals for the eager,
Twenty, and thirty, and forty years on! "
.

Listen to the Harrow School rendition

Carl Mullen signs rugby ball for small boyCredits |Contact Us | ©2009 www.rugbyfootballhistory.com