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 |
MOST RECENT UPDATES
THE COLLECTION OF JOHN NORTHEAST - CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION |
THE COLLECTION OF JOHN NORTHEAST
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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Three ties | 3 ties have been donated to the museum by Sean Cullen, a former publican at the George and Dragon and Duke of Wellington in London: | |
TWICKENHAM 1990S DEBENTURE LOUNGE FOB COLLECTION | A group of 27 Twickenham debenture lounge fobs dating between 1993 and 2000. | |
SARACENS MEMBERS NOTICE | A members notification of the Saracens FC buy out by Nigel Wray dated 24 October 1985 and newspaper clippings from that period. | |
Old Reigatians v Saracens John Player Cup 3rd Round programme and newspaper clippings. A glorious day for the Old Boys who toppled the Saracens 12-10 - Team Info | ||
BRADFORD NORTHERN v ST HELENS 1979 PROGRAMME - NEW FLOODLIGHTS at ODSAL | 27 November 1979 saw the new floodlights being used for the first time at Odsal Stadium, Bradford. St Helens were the visitors in a first division league match. CLICK HERE | |
WRM-1057-phwagr-arms.park-gp2 |
Two mounted 10x8 aerial photographs of Cardiff Arms Park
(circa 1990s) and the Millennium Stadium (circa
2000).
Collection page = cardiff-arms-park |
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1931-32 SPRINGBOK TOUR of the UNITED KINGDOM PRE-TOUR BOOKLET & POSTER 20230726S-WB-wrm1053 |
1931-32 Springbok Tour - National Souvenir of the Springbok Rugby Tour of the United Kingdom 1931-32 - published by International Advertising & Trading Co, 55 Hout Street, Cape Town . & a Castle Breweries poster for the tour complete with match venue info, itinerary and player info. Size 24.5" x 20" (51cm x 63cm) Compiled by Percy Ransome, and published by Globe Poulton Co, Johannesburg. Formerly part of the Miss MK Jeffreys extensive Africana collection. |
STANLEY OSWIN - OXFORDSHIRE RFU |
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 |
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AUSTRALIA - INTERNATIONAL RUGBY JERSEY COLLECTION |
The following Australian international rugby
jersey collection is available to purchase as part of our World Rugby Museum
Release programme:
AUSTRALIA 1959 v BRITISH LIONS - DES CONNOR JERSEY - 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 Ref: WRMR-clmmjyinas.gp5 |
NEW ZEALAND ALL BLACKS JERSEY COLLECTION |
The following New Zealand All Black international rugby
jersey collection is available to purchase as part of our World Rugby Museum
Release programme:
NEW ZEALAND 1905 ORIGINALS v WALES JERSEY EXCHANGED WITH CLIFF PRITCHARD - CLICK HERE NEW ZEALAND 1924 INVINCIBLES JERSEY - GUS HART LEADING TRY SCORER IN BRITAIN - CLICK HERE NEW ZEALAND 1953 v WALES - RON JARDEN No 2 JERSEY - CLICK HERE NEW ZEALAND 1963 v WALES - FIRST WIN IN CARDIFF - KEVIN BRISCOE JERSEY - CLICK HERE NEW ZEALAND - RICHIE McCAW No 7 - No 7 CAP JERSEY OF THE GREATEST No 7 - CLICK HERE Ref: WRMR-clmmjyinnz.gp5 |
CLIVE ROWLANDS - FIVE NATIONS JERSEY COLLECTION |
The following Five Nations rugby
jersey collection is available to purchase as part of our World Rugby Museum
Release programme. The six jerseys, including two French are part of the Clive
Rowlands collection and were played in or exchanged post match. Clive Rowlands
captained Wales in each of his 14 international matches and went on to coach
Wales in the early part of the 1970s golden era.
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 Ref: WRMR-clmmjyin-five.nations.gp6 |
WILLIAM WEBB ELLIS
SIGNATURE
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. |
23/12/2013 Recently added England 1927 and Wales Schools Under 16 caps recently added to our gallery page. PLEASE....... |
14/1/2010 - Information on the 1934 Cambridge University tour of the USA has been added to the Wilf Wooller page.
WOMEN'S RUGBY.... Who was the first woman rugby player ?
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THE BILL CLEMENT COLLECTION |
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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:
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for more information please....... 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......
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THE 1906-07 SPRINGBOKS
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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
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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..... |
WALES v NEW ZEALAND Historic encounters from 1905 to present day
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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. 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 ........ Page still under construction |
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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
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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" |
WALES TO SOUTH AFRICA 1964 The first tour by a full international Welsh XV |
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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. |
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. 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. This page was last updated on 11/8/02 |
ANY SPARE TICKETS |
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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 |
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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 |
Recommended Rugby
Reading - "Rugby
- On This Day" by Adrian Hill
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 |
WORLD RUGBY MUSEUM SERVICES
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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Contributions
of information & articles - We welcome contributions of articles and
images relating to rugby football. We will credit individuals or
organisations that submit articles to the World-Rugby-Museum. - 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
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Can you help ? we are looking for volunteers to help out with the recording of rugby history. Please email us at info@world-rugby-museum.com if you can help. Below is an example of the type of voluntary work we need.
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
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The World Rugby Museum are the proud sponsors the Rugby Memorabilia Society. CLICK HERE for more information on the society. |
SPONSORED LINKS........ |
The World-Rugby-Museum is hosted by Rugby Relics Ltd |