Monthly Archives: December 2017

Lest We Forget – William Victor Edwards (Ireland) 29/12/1917

Posted on December 29, 2017 by

The last of the five Irish rugby internationals who lost their lives in action during 1917 was William Victor Edwards. He was born at Strandtown, Belfast on 16th October 1887.  Educated at a number of schools, including the prominent rugby schools … Continue reading →

Posted in International Players, Ireland, Lest We Forget | Leave a comment

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the World Rugby Museum!

Posted on December 25, 2017 by

Did you know that on Christmas Day in 1872 a match was played in Calcutta with 20 players representing England and 20 representing Scotland, Ireland and Wales?  After a failed attempt at attracting members, the Calcutta Club folded and their … Continue reading →

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Women in Rugby Union: A Story Worth Telling

Posted on December 18, 2017 by

A new PhD project delving into the history of women in rugby union is being undertaken by Lydia Furse through the World Rugby Museum and De Montfort University.  Lydia is a 26-year-old rugby player from Devon with an academic background … Continue reading →

Posted in Women's Rugby | 5 Comments

Lest We Forget – Philip Dudley Waller (Wales) 14/12/1917

Posted on December 14, 2017 by

The practice of observing two minutes silence on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday was initiated following a suggestion made to the King by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick after the tragic death on the Western Front of his son, Major Percy Fitzpatrick … Continue reading →

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Lest We Forget – Stephen “Beak” Steyn (Scotland) 08/12/1917

Posted on December 8, 2017 by

Stephen Sebastian Lombard Steyn, known as “Beak” to all his friends, was one of the many rugby internationals before the 1st World War who won their caps for Scotland after coming to study in the United Kingdom. 

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Jason Leonard – England’s most decorated player

Posted on December 4, 2017 by

Early in Jason Leonard’s career he was asked to complete a survey by his club Saracens. He listed ‘tackling, scrummaging and strength’ as his strengths and the same three attributes as his areas for improvement.  Although he described packing down … Continue reading →

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Lest We Forget – John Argentine Campbell (Scotland) 02/12/1917

Posted on December 2, 2017 by

Much of the literature surrounding those sportsmen who lost their lives in the 1914-18 War refers to how many of these men died at such a young age.  And yet there were many cases in which men with distinguished sporting … Continue reading →

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