FEATURE ARTICLES

Early Wallaby Tours
Australian teams undertook four
overseas tours in the colonial era.

The Day the Waratahs drew 52,000
Over a century ago, the NSW side drew an astounding number of fans to a match at the SCG.

The Football Deeds of Victor Trumper
One of Australian cricket's greatest sons
was also a talented rugby player.

The First Football in Australia
The earliest report of football
was in 1829 in Sydney.

N.S.Wales & Queensland Jersey Colours
It was not until 1895 that the jersey colours synonymous with NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds were adopted.

Wallabies History - Test Jersey Colours
The Wallabies history goes back to when Australia first wore combinations of blue and maroon jerseys.

Dally Messenger
Australian rugby's first superstar.

Dally Messenger & His Magic Leap
Playing for NSW against the All Blacks in 1907,
Dally M delivered a spectacular move.

The 1905 All Blacks
Their legacy impacted upon the growth
of Australian rules and rugby league.

Vintage Playing Kits
A look at the changing styles of rugby
gear in the colonial era.

Fred Campbell
The story of his pioneering role in the
first rugby games in Australia in the 1860s.

AUSTRALIAN RUGBY HISTORY

Rugby in the Colony of NSW

Rugby in the Colony of Queensland

Rugby in the Colony of Victoria

Rugby in the Colony of Western Aust.

Rugby in the Colony of South Australia

Rugby in the Colony of Tasmania

RUGBY HISTORY

The Game From Rugby School
Tom Brown's Schooldays, William Webb Ellis,
how the game of rugby spread.

The Evolution of the Rugby Ball
The history of the rugby football
and the adoption of the 'egg' shape ball.

Origin of Rugby H-Style Posts
The crossbar was introduced to rugby posts long
before soccer, while Australian rules has none.

William Webb Ellis - 1823
Even the myth about rugby's birth
has been distorted.

What did Webb Ellis do next?
How did his innovation of running with
the ball change the rugby game.

Here's to Jem Mackie
Webb Ellis has the legend, but
perhaps it belongs to Mackie.

RUGBY & AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL (AFL)

Melbourne's Lost Rugby History
Rugby was played in Victoria before
Australian rules was born.

Tom Wills of Rugby
The father of Australian rules
was a student at Rugby School in the 1850s.

1800s Football War
Since the 1880s, Australian rules has
predicted rugby's imminent doom.

Aussie Rules Almost Held Sydney
Australian football challenged rugby's hold.

"Kick to Kick' vs "Punt-about"
The informal football game at Rugby School

"Have A Game of Our Own"
Attributed to Tom Wills - but did he really
shun rugby in favour of a new code?