WORLD RUGBY MUSEUM

Celebrating the history of Rugby Football

Welcome to the World Rugby Museum, an on-line look at the history of Rugby Football. We are in the early stages of developing the museum and at present our pages relate to the memorabilia in our collection. The museum will grow and it will encompass the facts, statistics, stories and images of the sport. It is an ever expanding encyclopaedia. 

You will be able to find information on players, teams, officials, administrators, supporters, equipment, stadia, anyone or anything associated with the sport of Rugby Football. We will eventually cover both codes but at present are concentrating on the larger of the two current codes, Rugby Union. 

The World Rugby Museum is not confined to the world wide web, we also have partners on the ground displaying our extensive collection of memorabilia. Please click on the links below for more information on the World Rugby Museum or scroll down to view our exhibits and the items in our collection. 

Please note that the museum is split between this website www.rugbyrelics.com  and the www.world-rugby-museum.com website.

Donations  -  Services & Info  -  Become a Partner or Supporter  -   Contact Details   -  Release programme

www.world-rugby-museum.com

A small collection of mainly Welsh international programmes from the 1960s and 1970s to included other interesting items such a Cardiff v NZ All Blacks programme from 1953 and an Italy v Russia 1980 programme and ticket

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WRM-1060-mmbd-twick-fob

Collection page = cardiff-arms-park

1931-32 SPRINGBOK TOUR of the UNITED KINGDOM PRE-TOUR BOOKLET & POSTER

Few men during rugby union’s amateur era provided a more shining example of how to give something back to the game than Stan Oswin. An Oxfordshire solicitor who started his life-long love affair with rugby union as an Oxfordshire schoolboy, he gave yeoman service as a flanker to his beloved Oxford club before dedicating much of his leisure time to the administration of the game at club, county and eventually national level once his playing days were over.......... MORE

The World Rugby Museum pays homage to Stan Oswin with a page dedicated to his administrative career and 3 Oxfordshire history competition pages. To view these pages, please click on the links below.

OXFORDSHIRE RFU COUNTY CUP  -  OXFORDSHIRE RFU SEVENS  -  OXFORDSHIRE RFU SCHOOLS SEVENS

STAN OSWIN APPRECIATION - CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE

AUSTRALIA 1966-67 INTERNATIONAL JERSEY - STEWART BOYCE - CLICK HERE

AUSTRALIA 1984 GRAND SLAM TOUR - MARK ELLA TEST JERSEY - CLICK HERE

AUSTRALIA 1995 RUGBY WORLD CUP - JOHN EALES v CANADA - CLICK HERE

AUSTRALIA - GEORGE SMITH v SOUTH AFRICA 2003 - CLICK HERE

FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CLICK HERE

WALES JERSEY v ENGLAND 1963 - CLIVE ROWLANDS FIRST CAP  - CLICK HERE

PETER JACKSON ENGLAND JERSEY v WALES 1963  - CLICK HERE

SCOTLAND JERSEY, No 9 - STAN COUGHTRIE v WALES 1963 - CLICK HERE

SYD MILLAR, IRELAND No 1 JERSEY, v WALES 1963 - CLICK HERE

FRANCE 1963 JERSEY - WHITE - PIERRE LACOIX No 9 - CLICK HERE

 FRANCE 1964 v WALES - CLAUDE LACAZE  No 15 JERSEY - CLICK HERE

FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CLICK HERE

We are absolutely thrilled to be able to add an original William Webb Ellis signature to the museum. The signature is on a letter dated 1826. The only other Webb Ellis signature we know of is on a similar letter at the Rugby School Museum, that one is dated 1827. So is this the oldest Webb Ellis signature that exists? if you know of any others we would be delighted to hear from you. 

CLICK HERE to view this item in the WORLD RUGBY MUSEUM

23/12/2013

Recently added England 1927 and Wales Schools Under 16 caps recently added to our gallery page. 

PLEASE.......

CLICK HERE

Jim Unwin 

Rosslyn Park, The Army, England & British Lions

click here

This page was last updated on 17/6/2008

Bob Porisse

Sale & Yorkshire

click here

This page was last updated on 14/7/2004

Wilf Wooller 

Rydal School, Sale, Cardiff & Wales

click here

This page was last updated on 14/1/2010

WOMEN'S RUGBY....

Who was the first woman rugby player ?

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

THE BILL CLEMENT COLLECTION

Bill Clement earned his first cap for Wales in 1937, hailing from Llanelli he received a further 5 caps and toured with the 1938 Lions to South Africa before injury ended his career. In 1956 he became the secretary of the Welsh Rugby Union and  for 25 years his was the printed signature on every ticket and programme for matches played at home by Wales. We have several hundred items from the Bill Clement collection for sale. These include:

• Welsh international programmes  

• over 300 ties 

• several presentation items

• signed books and publications

• cufflinks & badges 

•  various other items of memorabilia 

for more information please.......     CLICK HERE

THE JBG THOMAS COLLECTION - NOW LIVE

REGISTER AN INTEREST IN THE JBG COLLECTION

We have several items from the JBG Thomas collection coming up for sale. These include

• 1955 British Lions programmes  

• 1974  British Lions programmes 

• Welsh international programmes from 1908 onwards

• Irish Provincial & Club programmes

• Books and Annuals including a previously unknown book of 'Rugger Rhymes'

•  Signed programmes & autograph books

• Barbarians & Irish Wolfhounds programmes

• Team Photographs & Tickets

for more information...................... 

CLICK HERE

COMMITTEE RIBBONS

Were these the origin of the enamel badge ?

One of my favourite items of rugby memorabilia is the committee ribbon. It's an unusual item to collect, they weren't produced by every nation and even nations that issued them did so intermittently. But they do look good. I've a feeling that they may have been the predecessor to the enamel badge/pin. Certainly they were the forerunners of the NZ button badges with ribbon attached that were produced from the 1930s to 1970s......... more......

CLICK HERE 

1956 SPRINGBOK TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND

The South African tour of New Zealand in 1956 saw the tide of Springbok supremacy turn and ebb towards the shores of the land of the long white cloud. The green and gold machine had never been defeated in a test series anywhere in the world since 1896. In the two previous tours by the Springboks to New Zealand they had drawn one series (1921 - 1 win, 1 loss, 1 draw) and won the other (1937 SA 2 wins, NZ 1 win). In the previous test series held in South Africa during 1949, the Boks thrashed the Blacks 4 - 0. But the Springbok was wavering under pressure, the 1955 Lions had come close to victory, winning 2 tests out of four.............  

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

THE 1906-07 SPRINGBOKS

Over 100 years ago the 1906 Springboks were touring in the UK, they were strong and fast and soon rattled up the points against the opposition. Click on the photo to see how they fared in this, their first trip outside South Africa or CLICK HERE

NEATH RUGBY 125 EXHIBITION

An exhibition to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Welsh Rugby Union which was founded in Neath

An exhibition that traces the development of rugby in Neath and Wales and highlights some of the wonderful moments in the 125 year history of the Welsh Rugby Union. The  exhibition was sited at the Neath Museum on 1st March 2006. To view this exhibition please click on the photo to the left or..... 

CLICK HERE

WALES v NEW ZEALAND

Historic encounters from 1905 to present day

They were the winners in the first ever unofficial 'world championship'. The 1905 Welsh team defeated the All Blacks 3 - 0. For information on this historic encounter click on the photo above or  CLICK HERE

Neath, a town in industrial South West Wales with a population of approximately 30,000, bordering on Port Talbot (Aberafan) in the east and Swansea in the west. If there was one town or city in Wales that could lay claim to being a 'Rugby Town' it is Neath

Consider the facts.................... Neath is home to the oldest club in Wales. The Welsh Rugby Union was founded here at the Castle Hotel in 1881. The first Welsh Trial was held here in 1882. The Welsh Rugby Union was run by Walter Rees from his home in Neath for over 50 years. When Walter Rees retired Eric Evans, another Neath man took over the reins at the Welsh Rugby Union. Programmes & tickets for Welsh International rugby matches were printed in Neath for over 50 years. In 1972 Neath RFC were the first winners of the WRU Challenge Cup. In 1991 Neath won the inauguaral League competition in Wales, the Heineken League. The most capped Welsh player, Gareth Llewellyn won the majority of his caps while a player at Neath. The referee to send off the first international player was from Neath, and the second.......... The first player to be sent off in the Rugby World Cup, you've guessed it....................from Neath. 

Neath is home to the world's largest supplier of Rugby Memorabilia.......... Rugby Relics. 

click here to visit

RUGBY IN THE TOWN OF NEATH....NEATH....NEATH....NEATH....NEATH....NEATH

This page was last updated on 20/10/2011 

It's 1927 and New Zealand's premier competition "The Ranfurly Shield" is top of the agenda. Waiarapa travel to Napier and win the Shield from Hawke's Bay who have held the Shield for 5 years, allegations of brutality followed after the game. So in five time weeks time the re-match at the Solway Showground's in Masterton is a bubble ready to burst. This match must go down as one of the most controversial matches in the history of rugby union. To find out why ........

click here to visit

THE BATTLE OF SOLWAY   

Page still under construction

THUMB O GRAPHS

As a lad in the 1970s I used to collect autographs, waiting outside the changing rooms at Cardiff Arms Park was always the highlight of an international day in the capital. Rubbing shoulders with the greats, Edwards, Bennett, Kirkpatrick, Ripley, McBride as they took the time out to sign my autograph book. The Victorians started the craze of collecting things, including autographs, cast your mind back 100 years to this era............

The date is 1st of October 1905, a young girl, Elsie Bradford of Swansea who received on this date a little book from her dad, a book called "Thumb O Graphs".  The book had a little inkpad attached and each person who Elsie rubbed shoulders with had two squares in her book to fill in, one for an autograph, one for their thumb print. On her travels Elsie met up with the 1905 All Blacks on the day they played Glamorgan. She also met the 1906 Springboks and attended the Wales v Scotland match in 1906. The thumb prints and autographs of these players together with biographies and related exhibits are there for all to see in this wonderful book. "Thumb O Graphs"

Click here to visit  Thumb O Graphs

JACK JONES

"THE PRINCE OF CENTRES" 

He was Pontypool's first rugby superstar, long before the Pontypool Front Row, Jack Jones was powering his way over the try lines of New Zealand and South Africa with the 1908 & 1910 British Lions. He was one three brothers to have pulled on the red shirt of Wales and one of seven internationals to have played either side of the first world war. To learn more about "The Prince of Centres" 

CLICK HERE

WALES TO SOUTH AFRICA 1964

The first tour by a full international Welsh XV

In 1964 Wales ventured outside of Europe for the first time ever. A team led by Clive Rowlands bristling with talent, the likes of David Watkins, Alan Pask, Dewi Bebb & Brian Price took on the Springboks in their own back yard. Wales had never beaten South Africa, how did the Welsh team get on, view the tour history and memorabilia related to this tour.   

Click here to visit Wales to South Africa 1964

IRELAND v WALES 1950

Wales travelled to Dublin to attempting to win their first triple crown for 39 years. They succeeded but a great victory was overshadowed by the tragic loss of 80 Welsh rugby fans when a Tudor V aircraft crashed at Llandow Airport near Cardiff on the return journey. 

click here

This page was last updated on 28/7/2019

ENGLAND / WALES v SCOTLAND / IRELAND 1923  

A match to celebrate 100 years of Webb Ellis picking up the ball and running was played at Rugby School. 

click here

This page was last updated on 11/8/02

ANY SPARE TICKETS

A look at Rugby Tickets through the ages, see how the tickets have evolved over the years. From 1880 to present day.

Click here to visit our exhibition of Tickets

This page was last updated on 12/2/2018

A MERRY RUGBY CHRISTMAS

A collection of Rugby Christmas cards from around the world. 

Click here to visit "Merry Christmas"

This page was last updated on 1/11/2002

The author has picked two stories from each day in the sport of rugby. From the bizarre to the downright inspiring, a great read with something for every day and if you've a shocking memory like me you'll have forgotten everything you read 365 days so this book could just go on and on as the most thumbed in the library, please see the sample pages illustrated below................. 

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK on www.rugbyrelics.com 

 MUSEUM GALLERY

Items waiting to be added to Museum pages. 

To visit this page - CLICK HERE

WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? HOW? WHY? WHICH ?

Rugby is a massive sport and there are many clubs, regional sides and special teams. We have several items which we know are rugby related but do not know which team they belong to, can you help identify these ?

To visit this page - CLICK HERE

Memorabilia Donations & Purchases - We are looking to increase the memorabilia collection of the museum, If you have a suitable item or collection, we welcome donations. We also have a limited budget available to purchase items of interest of us. - To contact World-Rugby-Museum, CLICK HERE 

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Exhibitions & Displays - We can plan and/or organise displays and exhibitions relating to the history of Rugby Football. The memorabilia currently displayed in our on-line Museum is only a fraction of our collection. We can arrange exhibitions relating to a particular country, club, area or theme. To see an example of one of our exhibitions - CLICK HERE - For further information please contact us. - CLICK HERE

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CONTACT DETAILS

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL THE WORLD RUGBY MUSEUM    -    Telephone (+44) 01639 729000

VOLUNTEERS

RUGBY HEROES
Amongst the World Rugby Museum collection is a signed postcard of the combined East Midlands and Midland team that toured France in 1913. The card is autographed to the reverse by 13 of the tour party including Captain Edgar Mobbs and one of rugby's greatest adventurers, Tom Richards, the only man ever to play for the both the British Lions and Australia. We'd like to find out more information about this tour and the other players in this team and to identify those hard to read signatures. Local newspapers for Northampton, Coventry, Leicester and surrounding districts etc may contain tour reports and information relating to these players. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ITEM

PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS

At the World Rugby Museum we are working together with 'Partners' and 'Supporters' to celebrate the amazing history of Rugby Football. We have 'Partners' who display our memorabilia on the ground and 'Supporters' who help us maintain our presence on the world wide web. 

For further information on how to become a PARTNER or  SUPPORTER - CLICK HERE 

The World-Rugby-Museum is hosted by Rugby Relics Ltd

www.rugbyrelics.com