Rugby League History
Web Site Links

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We've searched the web for rugby league history and can recommend the following web site links.

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

The best on-line collection of Baines Football Cards (1880s to 1920s) - features many famous English rugby league clubs. The Baines Collection

Growing web site with plenty of photo and video highlights from the history of the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

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

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

A little "off-topic" but you may find this of interest! These are two articles covering the origins of American Football. Given that Rugby League and Gridiron both shared the same 19th century "rugby game" parent, the path the USA game took is worth examining:
USA "Rugby / football" before American Football
Walter Camp and the Birth of American Football

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