The new Rugby Reloaded talks to Mike Meehall Wood about what Antonio Gramsci has to do with rugby league, why the game underplays its complexity and why Jonny Lomax and Todd Carney might be 'organic intellectuals'. Listen on: soundcloud.com/rugbyreloade...

Here’s my article exploring France’s expulsion from #rugbyunion 5 Nations in the 1930s and return in the 1940s. Big thanks to the excellent ‘Football(s)’ journal. (It’s in French but translation apps are available): journals.openedition.org/footballs/479

What Has The Spanish Civil War Got To Do With Hull Rugby League? Soaking-wet sports writer Tony Collins outlines the part a Hull lad played in both rugby and defeating fascism. Supplementals: tinyurl.com/3xzjdp58 @hulllibraries.bsky.social @collinstony.bsky.social @hullfcofficial.bsky.social

Terrible news that Sydney rugby league historian Terry Williams has died. A great bloke, a good friend, and a man who brought the history of the game to life. He was a huge help when I wrote my Roy Francis bio. He’s a massive loss for us all - the game is poorer for his passing.

Before Andy Gregory, before Alex Murphy, there was Jonty Parkin of @wtrinityrl.bsky.social the man who defined the rugby league scrum-half as a cocky, rebellious, trickster; and a leader. 'Rugby Reloaded' talks to Lee Robinson about his new biography 'Jonty': on.soundcloud.com/DThmiJkKEFiB...

Before Andy Gregory, before Alex Murphy, there was Jonty Parkin of @wtrinityrl.bsky.social the man who defined the rugby league scrum-half as a cocky, rebellious, trickster; and a leader. 'Rugby Reloaded' talks to Lee Robinson about his new biography 'Jonty': on.soundcloud.com/DThmiJkKEFiB...

Good article by @collinstony.bsky.social on the state of rugby league in the UK post-Ashes. "The strategy of the RFL has simply been to squeeze more revenue out of existing supporters." (Also an e.g. of UK rugby league discourse using the word "soccer".) www.rugbyleaguehub.com/what-the-hel...

What Does A Sweet Shop Have To Do With Hull City’s Greatest Ever Player? Sports writer Tony Collins heads to some waste ground on Anlaby Road to link goodies and a very good player. Supplementals: tinyurl.com/2txcwhy6 @hulllibraries.bsky.social @collinstony.bsky.social

Great episode from @collinstony.bsky.social putting into context arguments for Scotland having ‘invented’ football open.spotify.com/episode/4tvc...

The Scots revolutionised football, but did Scotland invent soccer? It's complicated... The new episode of 'Rugby Reloaded' unravels the tangled origins of the round-ball game north and south of the border: on.soundcloud.com/jfgUfdyTeFiE...

If you want to find out more about Roy Francis, race, and #RugbyLeague I'm talking about my new book on the Progressive Rugby League podcast, which you can listen to here: shows.acast.com/the-progress...

If you haven’t yet read “Roy Francis: Rugby’s Forgotten Black Leader” a certain major online retailer is offering the hardback for just £6.99 - it also makes a great Xmas gift (or so I’ve been told).

If you’re interested in the origins of American football - or any of the football codes - I’m discussing the birth of the gridiron game on the new ‘Who Invented This Sport?’ podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

The new 'Rugby Reloaded' asks 'what the hell is going on in British rugby league? Listen to a historian's view of the state of the game in Britain: on.soundcloud.com/wJ3BsqOt4TxI...

Our latest episode with @collinstony.bsky.social of @icshc.bsky.social & @lborouniversity.bsky.social discussing his book on rugby league legend Roy Francis earlier this year is now LIVE! Well worth a listen for lovers of rugby league and/or Black British history! shows.acast.com/sport-in-his...

The new episode of 'Rugby Reloaded' talks to Kevin Fitzpatrick about his new Oldham Rugby League Heritage Trust Hall of Fame documentary, and updates us on plans for the club's 150th anniversary next year. Listen now via: on.soundcloud.com/QXB7G78bsQNZ...

With just two days before the decisive second Ashes Test at Everton, relive the excitement of the 1986 Kangaroo tour with author Mark Flanagan in this classic 'Rugby Reloaded' episode: soundcloud.com/rugbyreloade...

Could Germany have become a rugby-playing nation? Or could the US have been a bastion of soccer? Join me and Thomas Adam on the new 'Rugby Reloaded' as we discuss his new book 'The Global Spread of Football from the 1860s to the 1880s': on.soundcloud.com/jxKxLGPf5sgU...

Before rugby league’s Ashes series kicks off this afternoon, watch the brand new documentary from @lucy_itv about Scotland’s rugby codebreakers and the struggles they suffered: youtu.be/S9jcj5k2pIA?...

The Countdown to the rugby league Ashes begins - and to kick it off here's a 'Rugby Reloaded' classic episode charting the incredible story of the 1946 'Indomitables' and the first post-war Ashes series: on.soundcloud.com/EMF3GoRrQUuD...

With the rugby league Ashes' series almost here, 'Rugby Reloaded' resumes its look at the cultural and social history of Anglo-Australian league, exploring how Australia turned the tables on England to become the game's dominant world power. Listen now via: on.soundcloud.com/qkAQwcAbifus...

With the rugby league Ashes' series almost here, 'Rugby Reloaded' resumes its look at the cultural and social history of Anglo-Australian league, exploring how Australia turned the tables on England to become the game's dominant world power. Listen now via: on.soundcloud.com/qkAQwcAbifus...

Who Was Britain’s First Black Professional Sports Coach? Sports writer @collinstony.bsky.social visits Airlie Street to discuss a Hull legend who revolutionised rugby. Supplementals: tinyurl.com/3yrpeazn @hulllibraries.bsky.social @hullfcofficial.bsky.social @hullkr.bsky.social

And massive thanks to you @collinstony.bsky.social for a great book that does full justice to the brilliant Roy Francis. Buy it, people.

Why have American football and American soccer shared the same origin story from the 1860s? Find out more about the Boston Game and its curious afterlife with me, Mike Cronin and Kevin Tallec Marston on the new 'Rugby Reloaded': on.soundcloud.com/eZysXDAFx0x2...

If you’re able to get to London on Monday 29 Sept, come to the launch of the new edition of one of the foundational texts of the history of sport in Britain (and I’m very chuffed to be invited as a panellist) - details below:

Heads Up! You can now listen to ‘Rugby Reloaded’ and its back catalogue via YouTube. Just search ‘Rugby Reloaded’ and every episode is available conveniently at your fingertips!

Ahead of today’s Hull rugby league derby, find out about the sliding doors moment that could have turned this afternoon’s match inside out! curiosityhull.co.uk/why-is-merse...

As we approach tomorrow’s massive East v West derby in Hull, I reveal the bone-chilling truth about Hull and Rovers!

Massive thanks to Gavin Willacy for this review of ‘Roy Francis: Rugby’s Forgotten Black Leader’ in @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/sport/no-hel...

The new ‘Rugby Reloaded’ takes a long look at the history of concussion in men’s rugby union. Can the concussion crisis be solved simply by changing the rules of the game, or is it more deeply rooted in the traditional culture of the sport. Listen now at: on.soundcloud.com/znn4SnROyaaH...

What Does A Hull Office Supply Company Have To Do With The Birth Of Modern Football? Sports writer Tony Collins visits the street corner where history was (sort of) made. Supplementals: tinyurl.com/2s3h6vp6 @hulllibraries.bsky.social @collinstony.bsky.social

The new 'Rugby Reloaded' looks at the life of Tonga's first-ever professional rugby player, Nan Halafihi, who played for Hull FC in the 1960 Rugby League Challenge Cup at Wembley. His son Nick talks about his incredible trailblazing father: on.soundcloud.com/wUT5LV2Nro3Y...

I had a great time talking about the life and times of black rugby pioneer Roy Francis on the William Hill Sports Book podcast - watch it on YouTube here: youtu.be/zcljJVKGFK0?...

Tonight at 6.30! ‘Roy Francis: Wales’ Black Leader in a White World’ - the story of the pioneer of rugby coaching - available on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Sounds #RugbyLeague #BlackHistory #Wales t.co/7GzPOw94Kl

Lend me your ears! The documentary 'Roy Francis: Wales' Black Leader in a White World' is on BBC Radio Wales tomorrow (Monday) at 6.30pm. t.co/7GzPOw94Kl

Radio alert! If you missed it the first time around, 'Roy Francis: Wales' Black Leader in a White World' - my BBC radio documentary - will be broadcast again on BBC Radio Wales next Monday at 6.30pm. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Radio alert! If you missed it the first time around, 'Roy Francis: Wales' Black Leader in a White World' - my BBC radio documentary - will be broadcast again on BBC Radio Wales next Monday at 6.30pm. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

If you're in or around Wigan, on Wed 11 June at 7pm I’ll be at Wigan Museum talking about #RugbyLeague pioneer Roy Francis to celebrate the publication of my new biography, 'Roy Francis: Rugby’s Forgotten Black Leader'. Free tickets here: shorturl.at/gKVFf

Published today! 'Roy Francis: Rugby’s Forgotten Black Leader' from @BloomsburySport Join me next Wednesday, 11 June at 7pm at @WiganMuseum for a talk and Q&A about Roy - free tickets here: shorturl.at/gKVFf . #RugbyLeague #BlackHistory

People of #Wigan! I'll be talking about and signing copies of my new book 'Roy Francis: Rugby's Forgotten Black Leader' at the Wigan Museum of Life on Wednesday, 11 June at 7pm. More details below: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ruby-leagu... #RugbyLeague

Coming on 5 June, 'Roy Francis: Rugby's Forgotten Black Leader' - the amazing story of how the illegitimate son of a mixed-race couple became a #RugbyLeague great, the father of modern rugby coaching, and a black leader in a white world. Order now from: bit.ly/3SjJsn9 #BlackHistory

Breaking News! Bloomsbury Australia have announced they will be publishing 'Roy Francis: Rugby's Forgotten Black Leader' down under on 30 September. Roy coached North Sydney Bears from 1968 to 1971. To pre-order with a 10% discount, go to: www.bloomsbury.com/au/roy-franc...

Listen Up! For a Super Deluxe Edition of 'Rugby Reloaded' I've uploaded my 2009 in-depth interview with Harry Jepson of Hunslet RLFC Leeds Rhinos and the RFL From life in the back streets of Hunslet in the 1920s to the birth of Super League, listen here: on.soundcloud.com/AJKPEGGz4XhT...

Listen Up! For a Super Deluxe Edition of 'Rugby Reloaded' I've uploaded my 2009 in-depth interview with Harry Jepson of Hunslet RLFC Leeds Rhinos and the RFL From life in the back streets of Hunslet in the 1920s to the birth of Super League, listen here: on.soundcloud.com/AJKPEGGz4XhT...

Tonight at 6.30pm @BBCRadioWales will broadcast 'Roy Francis: Wales's Black Leader in a White World', the story of the father of modern rugby coaching, and his times at @hullfcofficial @leedsrhinos and @NthSydneyBears - for full details go to: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Tonight at 6.30pm @BBCRadioWales will broadcast 'Roy Francis: Wales's Black Leader in a White World', the story of the father of modern rugby coaching, and his times at @hullfcofficial @leedsrhinos and @NthSydneyBears - for full details go to: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Stand By! On Monday at 6.30pm @BBCRadioWales will broadcast 'Roy Francis: Wales's Black Leader in a White World', the story of the father of modern rugby coaching, and his times at @hullfcofficial @leedsrhinos and @NthSydneyBears - for details go to: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Mark the date! The revealing new documentary, 'Roy Francis: Wales's Black Leader in a White World', will be broadcast by BBC Radio Wales next Monday 6.30pm. For more info go to: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... #rugbyleague #blackhistorymonth

Final Day! @Waterstones are offering 25% off my upcoming book ‘Roy Francis: Rugby’s Forgotten Black Leader’ - it’s out on 5 June but you can reserve yours today. To order, go to: www.waterstones.com/book/roy-fra...