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...

Ends tomorrow! @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...

For this weekend only!Waterstones are offering 25% off my upcoming book ‘Roy Francis: Rugby’s Forgotten Black Leader’ - it’s out on 7 June but you can reserve yours today. To order, go to: www.waterstones.com/book/roy-fra...

Roy Francis, born on this day in 1919, the first black athlete to pay for Great Britain and the pioneer of modern rugby coaching. My biography of him 'Roy Francis: Rugby's Forgotten Black Leader' will be out on 5 June - for more info go to: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/roy-franc...

Free but booking required. Details 👇 kmflett.wordpress.com/2024/12/16/s....

Farewell to Leeds’ great Syd Hynes, a superlative player who was as hard as he was clever. He never flinched, went into every tackle with his eyes wide open. Another graduate of the Roy Francis school of classical rugby education.

Tough as teak and as polished as mahogany’. Fantastic tribute to a wonderful rugby league player, the great Brian Lockwood: www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/d...

My book on the history of the British left, ‘Raising the Red Flag’, is now on special offer with 40% off at @haymarketbooks - go to (and scroll down): mailchi.mp/haymarketboo...

Where Greek art meets working-class culture. Heather Perry's 1931 London Transport poster for the Rugby League Challenge Cup final at Wembley (Halifax beat York 22-8 if you were wondering). One for @workingclassicists.bsky.social ?

Where Greek art meets working-class culture. Heather Perry's 1931 London Transport poster for the Rugby League Challenge Cup final at Wembley (Halifax beat York 22-8 if you were wondering). One for @workingclassicists.bsky.social ?

Since it's that time of the year, this new book from Liam O’Callaghan is for me the sports' book of 2024. A social, cultural and political history of rugby in Ireland that is superbly researched and written.

Pleased to announce that my new (non-sport) book on labour history, 'Raising the Red Flag: Marxism, Labourism, and the Roots of British Communism, 1884–1921', is now out from @haymarketbooks.bsky.social More info at: www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2405-r...

As a taster for my upcoming biography of the great black Welsh rugby pioneer Roy Francis, here's my new article uncovering the amazing life of his father Lionel, who went from Welsh miner to prominent black politician in America. Read it here: journals.sagepub.com/share/BRJQ9B...