Monthly Archives: August 2015
Twenty years of professional rugby union
On the 27th August 1895 22 clubs from the north of England ceded from the Rugby Football Union so that they might form a rival professional organisation. Rugby League was born and soon prospered. In spite of this Rugby Union … Continue reading
The Greater Game of War
A mixture of rain and snow accompanied the team on their journey north for their penultimate game of the 1914 5 Nations Championship. Their destination, Edinburgh, had experienced three weeks of solid rain but, against the odds, blue skies and … Continue reading
MATCH REPORT – France v England, 1906
France and England contest their 100th international test rugby match in August 2015. John Griffiths here describes the first: FRANCE v ENGLAND 1906 Played at Parc des Princes, Paris, 22 March 1906 England 35-8 France England won their first encounter … Continue reading
Durham rugby friends die at Gallipoli in August 1915
Two teammates and close friends from the rugby fields of Durham School, Rosslyn Park and Oxford died at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, just days and a few hundred yards apart in August 1915. Nowell Oxland, son of the vicar of Alston, … Continue reading
Lest We Forget – Albert ‘Doolan’ Downing (New Zealand) 08/08/1915
Sergeant Albert Downing was born in Napier on July 12, 1886. He was educated at the Marist Brothers’ School there, which he left in 1904, and was employed as a clerk successively by the Excelsior Dairy Co., Ltd., Barry Bros., … Continue reading
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. While East’s won that game 14-8 their opponents gained … Continue reading
