FEATURE ARTICLES

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

Rugby in Melbourne - 1858
AFL celebrates 150 years of Australian football
in 2008 - but it was really a rugby game.

Did Webb Ellis Pick Up the Ball in 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.

The English Origins of Aussie Rules
The original rules of Rugby School
found their way into Australian football.

The "Punt-About" of Rugby School
From 1850s in England to
"kick-to-kick" in Australian football.

Swapping Countries
It was far from uncommon for footballers to appear for a country other than their own.

Rucks and Mauls
The transformation of rugby - from endless
scrums to more modern methods.

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

Scoring Points in Rugby
The evolvement of points-scoring methods in
rugby football since the 1830s.

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

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 War-Cry!
How the All Blacks, Maoris, Wallabies, Springboks, and others came to adopt a war-cry.

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.

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

The Game of Football
Some football history:
soccer does not "own" football.

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

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

A book about Dally Messenger,
Australian rugby's first superstar:
The Master.

AUSTRALIAN RUGBY HISTORY

Rugby in the Colony of New South Wales

Rugby in the Colony of Queensland

Rugby in the Colony of Western Australia

Rugby in the Colony of Victoria

Rugby in the Colony of South Australia