We've searched the web for rugby league history and can recommend the following web site links.
Inside
Sport magazine recently interviewed ARL
Team of the Century inductees Johnny
Raper and Graeme Langlands re the past
- St George Dragons and the Kangaroos - as well
asfooty today, and the Rugby League World Cup.
A
Few Drinks With Chook and Chang
Dennis
Tutty fought for against an unjust principle,
opening up the door for the big-dollar contracts
of the NRL and other football codes today, but
there are very few footballers who know his
story. Dennis
Tutty
The
National Museum of Australia has produced
a terrific website to coincide with their "League
of Legends" exhibition. League
of Legends
The
Centenary of Rugby League website includes
profiles on the Top 100 players and all 2008
events. Centenary
of Rugby League
Article
by Bernie Pramberg on Ken Booth,
stalwart clubman of Brisbane Easts
- a good example of the power of bush clubs
and "Sunday comps" of the 1950s. Ken
Booth - Brisbane Easts
The Balmain Tigers have launched their Centenary of Rugby League website with history and details for 2008 events: Tigers Centenary
With the assistance of RFL's historian, Tony Collins, the BBC takes a look the history of the silverware presented to the winners of the Challenge Cup. Also there are BBC pages listing the Cup Final results since 1897 and winners of the Lance Todd Trophy.
Extensive article and interview with Paul Charlton, universally known as "Charlo" and nicknamed "the road rocket", and the star fullback of the 1972 Rugby League World Cup winning Great Britain team. Paul Charlton
A terrific history web site is now on-line from Western Suburbs Magpies - a testament to the tireless research work being done by the
"Wests Archives Volunteers" group. See emblems, jerseys, photos of the museum, and more: Wests Archives
The QRL has begun adding a Queensland rugby league history section to its website: QRL history
Newspaper articles relating to the history of the American All-Stars rugby league team (see story) which visited Australia and New Zealand in 1953 can be found here: All Stars
Up and Under: The Rugby League Oral History Project.
"Our aim is to record the reminiscences of those who have been, and remain, part of the Rugby League community in West Yorkshire. This will not only enable their experiences to be preserved for posterity, but will also make them available to anyone with an interest in the social and cultural history of Rugby League and the places in which it is played." A tremendous initiative for the history of rugby league in England, and a web site (with numerous interviews with long-retired players) that we encourage all fans to visit:
Rugby League Oral History Project
If you've got a rugby league trivia question that you need answered, Sydney's Paul Carter is the man to answer it - questions can be asked via his website:
PaulKnowsSport.com
Article looking back at the history of Workington Town in the Challenge Cup.
Workington Town
The home ground of rugby league in Auckland reaches its end.
Farewell to Carlaw Park
New rugby league history section added to the "League Freak" web site, concentrating on award medals and trophies. Includes an investigation into the colourful - and sometimes bizarre - history of the various trophies used for the Rugby League World Cup.
League Freak's RL History Site
They survived the bombs of the German Luftwaffe, but not summer Super League and new fire safety standards - the last decade or so has seen the demise of many of England's famous rugby league grounds.
Yorkshire's Lost Grounds
The historic Maher Cup (NSW Group 9) has a legend all its own in bush football. The National LIbrary has the sheet music to a song about the cup.
The Maher Cup "March Song"
One of Great Britain's finest touring teams was the Lions of 1958 - they defeated the Kangaroos in Australia, including the famous "Battle of Brisbane". Extensive article about the tour and a new book.
The 1958 Great Britains Lions / also here
For 90 years, Hull's Jack Harrison was thought to be the only rugby league footballer to win the Victoria Cross during WW1 - the stories of two more men from English rugby league clubs have been found - Thomas Steele and Thomas Bryan..
For Valour – VC heroes game forgot
Ready for their 100th season, the Sydney Roosters (nee Eastern Suburbs) have launched a club history website: Roosters 1908-2007 [C'mon Souths, Wests, Norths, Newtown & Balmain - where is your history website?!]
A founding club of the Northern Union in 1895, the Hunslet RFC has a rich and proud history, celebrated in this website - "We've swept the seas before boys, and so we shall again!": Hunslet
Produced by the RFU's 'Museum of Rugby', this on-line exhibition explores the decades either side of the 1895 split and the birth of rugby league.
Leagues Apart
Interesting UK initiative helping to share rugby league history:
Rugby League Heritage Project / Bradford Bulls Foundation.
The "Fabulous French" of the post-WW2 decades: Les treizistes français.
A wonderful initiative has been launched in Great Britain, with the arrival of The National Archive of Rugby League Interviews. The Archive records and releases (DVD) interviews with the great players of British rugby league - first offer is on Billy Boston: National Archive of RL Interviews.
Download video or view online frame by frame, footage of rugby league matches back to the 1920s from England, Australia and elsewhere at British Pathe. To make it easy for you, these links are already key-worded: rugby league or rugby australia - be aware some files of RL matches (particularly Test matches) do not have the word 'league' in their description - and 'rugby' is even used describe Australian Rules football.
An interesting article recounting some personal insights into the involvement of Queensland state premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen and the kick-starting of the representative rugby league career of Wayne Bennett.
Goulburn (NSW) is Australia's oldest inland city - rugby league arrived in 1914, beginning a long and proud history which is recounted in detail here: Goulburn rugby league
Yorkshire and Lancashire counties are famous as the home of English rugby league - yet the code also has a long and rich tradition in Cumberland county. Cumbria rugby league
The Australian War Memorial has an extensive on-line photo archive that includes rugby league images from WW2 onwards. Enter "rugby league" at in the search page at the AWM: Search
Papua New Guinea is the only country to have rugby league as the national game - this research paper is heavy-going, but if you want to understand what the code means to the people, tackle it... PNG
An extensive article by Tony Collins (RFL Archivist) that explores the century long 'rugby league' relationship between Australia and Great Britain. Highly recommended. Australian Nationalism and Working-Class Britishness: The Case of Rugby League Football
On the eve of the 2005 Grand Final, ABC's Sports Factor looks at the decade of progress made by the North Queensland Cowboys and rugby league in the far north. Cowboys
The George Hotel in Huddersfield is now home to The Rugby League Heritage Centre
Good summary of English rugby league milestones
Nice article on North Queensland rugby league and local Australian player Jim Paterson
ABC Radio's Sports Factor takes an extensive look at the resurgence in interest in rugby league, the new Gold Coast team, and Steve Renouf's biography book. The Sports Factor
The views and recollections of a North Sydney supporter makes for an interesting and thought-provoking piece: From Growl to Grizzle
The Oldham Rugby League Heritage Trust are doing some wonderful work to document the heritage of the game in their town: Oldham Heritage Trust
An analysis on the past and the future of the 'football' codes in Australia: The Battle of the Codes
Site dedicated to one of the Balmain Tiger's greatest:
The Gary Jack Tribute Stand
Believe it or not, the drop-kicked field goal is still a legal move in American Football. In the 1920s and '30s these kicks were as common place as they were in rugby league. The shape of the football changed though in America, and the last such kick seen in the NFL was in 1941. The Lost Art of Kicking. Also worth a read is how the idea of the legalised forward-pass came to be adopted in 1906.
Kelly's Kids is dedicated to the players who took the field for Western Suburbs Magpies between the years of 1966 to 1969 - not only first grade but also reserve and third grades. Noel Kelly coached Wests' first grade for these 4 years hence the name Kelly's Kids
If you have an interest in Rugby League statistics there are two web sites worth a visit: The Vault & rleague stats
An interesting look at the Manningham rugby club, one of the founding members of the Northern Union (Rugby League) at the George Hotel in 1895. After winning the championship in the 1895/96 season, within a decade Manningham had transferred their allegiance to soccer and became Bradford F.C. - Manningham rugby club
Ian Heads takes a look at the connection between Rugby League and Sydney's famous Bondi Icebergs Club: 'the home of winter swimming since 1929'. Bondi Icebergs
Interesting article on New Zealand's Robert Edwin Walker - a rugby union player who travelled to England in 1930 to play for the Huddersfield Rugby League club. Robert Edwin Walker
The Times and Star newspaper in Cumbria, England, has articles profiling some great rugby league players:
Douglas Clark| Gus Risman | Billy Ivison
The North Sydney Bears have begun work on a history section to their website -includes profiles of legendary players, jersey designs, photographs and more. Make sure to visit the 'Oval' page for a look at the great 1964 painting of action at North Sydney Oval, that currently hangs on the wall at the Norths Leagues Club.
North Sydney Bears
Growing web site with plenty of photo and video highlights from the history of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
The Foley Shield is played amongst teams of North Queensland. There have been many fierce battles involving both famous and lesser known names in its 50 years plus history. Teams include Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, Mt. Isa, Innisfail and Herbert River. Foley Shield
Queenslander! The State Library of Qld has an online tribute gallery to eight of their state's most famous Rugby League sons including Lewis, Beetson, Tom Gorman & Herb Steinohrt: Maroons
Finally someone in England has put together a tribute to the English Rugby League 'Hall of Fame' - the site includes player profiles and other historical accounts and information: RLHallofFame
Some very interesting words and photos on the origins of Rugby League in the Manly district in the 1930s and 40s can be viewed at
Soaring Sea Eagles
Famous England rugby league player and coach Maurice Bamford is the subject of this informative and entertaining interview. Bamford: "I'm 68 in April, but I need involvement in the game like I need oxygen to breath!" A recommended read for all thanks to PrestonToday.net
It wasn't so long ago that rugby league was a game that produced many fiery on-field clashes amongst the hard men. Relive the memories of club and international rugby league's most famous tough guys and their dust-ups at The Era Of The Biff
The English RFL web site is now well worth a visit. You can see a tribute to the inductees of the Hall of Fame, along with a short history of rugby league in England. http://www.rfl.uk.com
Came across a page dedicated to rugby league on postage stamps & covers from the UK, Australia and New Zealand http://www.footystamps.com
The famous Headingley Ground hosted many Test matches between Australia and Great Britain, the first being in 1921 when a crowd of 31,700 saw the Kangaroos beaten 6-5. Still home to the Leeds Rhinos - where many Aussies played - thanks to the BBC you can now see a 360 degree image of the ground as it is today. Well worth a visit, quick to load, has an automatic pan and a close-up option - no skill required! http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/360/headingley_rugby_ground.shtml
The Former Origin Greats (Queensland) group has their own website. Membership of FOGS is restricted to players who have worn the maroon of Queensland in Origin football. The FOGS group plays an important role in the community through its fundraising activities, with all money raised going towards important and vital charities. Their website has profiles on each Qld Origin player, series results and stats, as well as links to memorabilia & merchandise. http://www.fogs.com.au/
Ray French is one of English rugby league's best-known and best-loved personalities. After a playing career that included representing Great Britain, Ray took over the BBC TV commentary in the late 1970s and continues to head BBC's coverage of the Challenge Cup. On the BBC web site he now has an informative history section where he selects the most memorable tries he has seen, greatest upsets, best union converts, greatest players and the hardest players. There is even a "Ray's cliché game" to play (not that I could work out what was going on!). A well put together site that includes video and photos. Well worth a visit! http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/ray_french/default.stm
SportsAustralia is an interesting site for fans of NRL, AFL and/or Aussie cricket. Worth a visit. Also includes an archive of recent NRL seasons. http://sportsaustralia.com/nrl/archive.html
Manly-Warringah Leagues Club site has an informative history section, including photos of their new Hall of Fame: Sea Eagles.
The Sports Factor is heard on ABC's Radio National. One of the most heated debates in Australia during the First World War was whether sporting events should continue. Rugby League kept running its competitions, while the Union game did not. The reasons for these decisions were recently discussed on the show: you can listen to the audio or view a written transcript here.
Get the low-down on the history of Rugby League in Papua New Guinea, which stretches back to World War 2. PNG is the only country in the world that has rugby league as its national sport. The web site includes much more information, particularly on the Kumul players and what they are up to in other parts of the world. http://www.kumuls.cjb.net/
The Balmain Tigers RLFC official web site is still alive and well - it presents quite a good history section which includes a brief look back at every season for the black and golds since 1908 plus player profiles and a huge photo gallery. http://www.tigers.org.au
The first "Northern Union" (Rugby League) international was played between New Zealand and Wales on January 1 1908. This was during the period when the Welsh had clubs in the NU, and one of them - Ebbw Vale Rugby Club (during 1907-12) - reflects on the Wales international games of that time and the players involved.
http://www.ebbwvalerfc.co.uk/bookextract2.htm
