The Rugby History Project Podcast

Butter statues, Reverends, and Andy Burnham: The Story Behind Rugby's Worst Break-UpIn 1895, class, geography, and politics split a footballing code in half. Over a century later, the war still wages between the two codes. This is why (some) Northerners play rugby league.

References can be found here: https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/2026/08/27/why-some-northerners-play-rugby-league/

Support the project here: https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/historian-tier/

Who was really on the receiving end of the first red card? Are the sin bin and a yellow card the same thing?? Did the Springboks really invent the sin bin??

Episode 21 of The Rugby History Project unpacks the weird and complicated world of rugby union send offs, sin bins and cards.

References can be found here: https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/2026/07/30/send-offs-and-the-sin-bin/

Support the project here: https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/my-articles-your-inbox-%f0%9f%8f%89/

Before the likes of the Squidge Brothers, Huw Griffin, or even the aptly titled Rugby Nause, there was Arthur Conan Doyle. In 2026, nauses are able to share their opinions and thoughts with other nauses on various social media platforms, or even their own website or podcast; however, at the turn of the twentieth century, the creator of Sherlock Holmes was able to use his fiction writing as an outlet for his own nause tendencies.

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https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/my-articles-your-inbox-%f0%9f%8f%89/

Carwyn James' life was one of many segments. Remembered primarily for his achievements with the British and Irish Lions, his personal life and navy career are discussed at length too. A life cut short at just fifty-three, today we look back at his complex, and often secretive, life.

References can be found here: https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/

Shop can be found here: https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/shop/

With the FIFA Men's World Cup just around the corner, the debate on football v soccer is already heating up. But which is the correct term? Is there a correct term? This episode of The Rugby History Project aims to answer those questions.

*Apologies for Molly making an impromptu vocal performance. She is very passionate about WoSo.

References and Footnotes: https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/

Support the project: https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/my-articles-your-inbox-%f0%9f%8f%89/

Birthday giveaway info: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZCpACdAmq-/?img_index=1

My tee is from my friend Why is Mummy so Muddy, you can find it here: https://whyismummysomuddy.com/products/bunch-of-nations-tee

On the 13th June 1982, the Netherlands and France took part in the first-ever women's international test match. Whilst the Netherlands lost at home, France became the first-ever lineal world title holders, a title they will fight to regain this Sunday against England in the final game of the 2026 Women's Six Nations.

On the 13th June 1982, the Netherlands and France took part in the first ever women's international test match. Whilst the Netherlands lost at home, France became the first-ever lineal world title holders, a title they will fight to regain this Sunday against England in the final game of the 2026 Women's Six Nations.

Find out more here: https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/

The Utrecht Shield: https://www.raeburnandutrechtshields.com/

Dainty Lady Ball Stickers: https://www.redbubble.com/people/therugbyhistory/shop?artistUserName=therugbyhistory&asc=u&collections=4509990&iaCode=all-departments&sortOrder=top%20selling

Following their 2014 Rugby World Cup win, the Red Roses recorded their worst-ever result in the Six Nations. This is the tale of how the World discovered the Red Roses were not perennials.I blooming love the Women's Six Nations, and this is the second of three posts I hope to do this season. If you would like to check out the others, you can find them on my channel. They all contain significantly fewer flower puns.

A written version of this post is also available on my website https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/, which is where you can find all my references and footnotes.

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Founded in 1996 as the Women’s Home Nations Championship, the tournament has grown significantly over the last thirty years. This is the tale of the seven nations that have made up the Six Nations.

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How a counter-culture movement and a landmark civil rights case created the first World Cup winners.In the Autumn of 1972, two groups of Colorado university students unwittingly started a movement. Providing queer and straight women a safe space to play a full-contact sport, this was a direct response to a vulgar display of misogyny they had witnessed over a year previously and buoyed by a landmark civil rights case. This is the tale of the women who refused to go away.

Check out more information: https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/

Just a few years after the first official Home Nations tournament, the then very small rugby world would be torn apart by one man and his house.

Check out more information at https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/"Arthur Gould- Rugby's First Superstar" is available here https://welsh-academic-press.shopfactory.com/contents/en-uk/p131.html