The Rugby History Project

@therugbyhistoryproject

The home of rugby history. Where every body means everybody. Personal: @clairesourfitz.bsky.social Read Here:

68 Folgt271 Follower332 Posts

YouTube YouTube YouTube YouTube YouTube YouTube YouTube Bluesky

Ist das dein Profil?Übernimm es — dann gehört dir therugbyhistoryproject.dirty.social.Profil übernehmen

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· 19d

WXV is nearly here, but an officially published and cohesive list of fixtures is not! Here’s the best I could do! Read more in this months Historian Tier Newsletter: therugbyhistoryproject.com/2026/07/26/w...

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· 21d

I just spent almost two hours scanning and cataloguing my rugby and sport books with a pink scan gun.

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· 24d

Before the likes of the Squidge Brothers, Huw Griffin, or even the aptly titled Rugby Nause, there was Arthur Conan Doyle. Read, watch, or listen to edition 20 of TRHP now! 📚 therugbyhistoryproject.com?p=171599896 ▶️ youtu.be/itHSwa3T5KE 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/0WZI...

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jul 8

It’s very funny to me that when you google “rugby nause definition” the AI Overview populates @huwgriffinrugby.bsky.social as the first reference* *it’s actually his interview with Rugby Nause

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jul 6

Birthday cheese content for you all

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jul 6

It’s Research Assistant Molly’s fourteenth birthday today, she’s always loved her bed

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jul 4

Women's rugby fans deserve better than dodgy streams and broken promises. World Rugby, USA Rugby and SA Rugby need to guarantee that next week's return fixture is available live across the globe.

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jul 3

I’m sure my YouTube audience will be pleased to learn that I’ve finally acquired curtains of an appropriate length and you’ll no longer have to look at my window ledge

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jul 3

Did you know The Rugby History Project Shop 2.0 is now live? To celebrate, I'm offering free delivery worldwide on all orders over £15 in July! Just enter code 'July15' at checkout! 🛍️ therugbyhistoryproject.com/shop/

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jun 30

Carwyn James' life was one of many, very separate, segments. From claims about what he kept in his car boot to meeting the Pope and beating the All Blacks with three separate teams, he's a man who truly fits the term enigma. Happy Pride! 🔗 therugbyhistoryproject.com/2026/06/30/i...

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jun 22

Your brain child only turns one once right?

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jun 22

More on www.therugbyhistoryproject.com

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jun 22

Happy 1st Birthday to The Rugby History Project! 🎉📚🏉 Somehow, it had been one whole year since I started TRHP? Looking back at the past year is a bit crazy, and it feels right to mark the occasion.

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jun 21

It's an early birthday present! The new TRHP shop is here! Stickers, tees, hats, mugs, and even a flag! Shop now at www.therugbyhistoryproject.com/shop/ 🛍️ Shop powered by Printful 🛍️ Shipping worldwide

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jun 9

Everything is football except football, which is soccer. Episode 18 of The Rugby History Project is now live ▶️ youtu.be/_lvFG-dBeyE 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/51FL...

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jun 9

With the FIFA Men's World Cup just around the corner, the debate on football v soccer is already heating up. This week's edition of The Rugby History Project attempts to settle one of the internet's hottest debates. 🔗 therugbyhistoryproject.com?p=171599464

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jun 8

Wee hint for this weeks article

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jun 7

I recommend an away day in Leicester even if it’s just for the food and the sheer volume of assistance dogs at Welford Road

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jun 4

I thought it was egg shaped?

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· Jun 2

"Rugby is for everybody", or is it? The Rugby History Project celebrates both differences and shared experiences. Every Body Means Everybody, Happy Pride. 🛍️ www.redbubble.com/.../Every-Bo...

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· May 29

Yesterday, it was announced that Jo Yapp would lead the first-ever Women's Lions tour. For some reason, the Telegraph and the Times decided to lead with that John Mitchell was 'snubbed' rather than celebrating the appointment of clear favourite Jo Yapp, the players coach.

Red Roses Captain, Lions Head Coach
On the 28th May 2026, the inaugural Women’s Lions Head Coach was announced. Often referred to as ‘the players coach’ for her ability to connect with her players and reignite their love for a sport which often overlooks and takes advantage of female players, Jo Yapp was an obvious choice. After coaching Worcester Warriors, and helping players find other teams following the clubs demise, Yapp was overlooked to take over the Red Roses in 2023, perhaps due to strange scheduling of the takeover. Yapp instead went down under and took Australia to the 2025 Rugby World Cup. In 2026 she took up a role at the RFU as the head of the Women’s Pathway. Despite her impressive resume, which includes stints as the BaaBaas Head Coach, and incredible reputation within Women’s Rugby. The Times and The Telegraph decided to lead with how male coach John Mitchell was ‘overlooked’ for the role.

Trailblazer
Along with Giselle Mather and Susie Appleby, Jo Yapp was one of the first former Red Roses to make waves as a high level coach in the semi-professional era. After her first Red Roses call up at just 18, she would play in 70 test matches at Scrum-Half between 1997 and 2009, scoring 90 points. She captained the side at the 2006 World Cup and even represented England in Sevens too. Yapp spent the majority of her senior club playing career at Worcester, aside from a sabbactical in the late nineties when she played in New Zealand. After retirement she took up a coaching role with the University of Exeter, before moving back to Worcester. A beloved coach, she is known for treating her team as people first and rugby players second.

“You always get the feeling that she cares deeply. She doesn't talk about it, she doesn't go on and on about how she feels but you never feel like you are unseen or like you don't matter. She doesn’t bullshit you. She doesn’t bring her ego to work. She always has time. It might not be a bunch of time, she knows how to maintain and model healthy boundaries, but she'll say, ‘I've got three minutes, let's go’, that kind of thing. I don't know what that says about our wider community, for all of that to stand out the way that it does, but it really does and it really works. She gets the best out of people by treating them like people first, players second.“

-Stef Evans in Alice Soper’s article “Jo Yapp, The Player’s Coach”

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· May 28

I’m not saying I’ve won the vinted jackpot but I’ve come pretty bloody close

Vintage cotton rugby jersey. Dark green with a yellow collar, springbok motif. Made by cotton traders.

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· May 19

He's my second favourite labrador so obviously I had to make him a few stickers. Taine Plumtree Stickers now up in the shop! www.redbubble.com/people/theru...

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· May 15

Scottish Rugby has officially announced that this Sunday, Scotland and Ireland will compete for the first-ever (official) Siobhan Cattigan Trophy. Whilst the idea of the Cattigan Cup has rattled around for several years, and last year's potential debut, it is great to finally see Siobhan be honoured

Remembering Siobhan
Siobhan Cattigan was a dynamic number 8 who played for Stirling County and Scotland, having previously captained the University of Stirling. She debuted in the Six Nations in 2018 against Wales, and got her first win against Ireland in that same year. She won nineteen caps in total.

Siobhan passed away in 2021 after battling mental health and concussion issues. The last five years have been a difficult period for her loved ones, but her family and teammates have fought to keep her legacy going whilst also ensuring policies are put in place to prevent another player from experiencing the same conditions.

The Siobhan Cattigan Trophy will be awarded for the first time on Sunday 17th May 2026. The game honours the personal connection between Scotland, the nation which Siobhan represented, and Ireland, the nation which Siobhan had family ties to and the nation she had her first win against. It is the second rivalry trophy in the Women’s Six Nations.

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· May 14

This Sunday, France will fight to regain the @raeburnshield.bsky.social's sister title, the Utrecht Shield. This is the tale of how women's international rugby began. Read Here: therugbyhistoryproject.com/2026/05/14/h...

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· May 6

Just say NO! to dainty lady rugby balls! World Rugby's size 4.5 ball stinks and I've made a new sticker in protest. I'm not sure how long the 'classic' style will stay up in the shop as a certain ball manufacturer are a bit funny! redbubble.com/people/theru...

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· May 6

This week is about learning and uplifting trans+ voices, and thus I wanted to share a snippet of Koubek's story, as well as share some of my favourite trans+ sport-related books.

Book Recs
The Other Olympians: Fascism, Queerness and the Making of Modern Sports
Michael Waters (he/him)
The Other Olympians tells the story of early trans+ athletes and the Olympic pencil pushers who fought for exclusion, lighting the flame for the modern exclusionary movement. Zdeněk Koubek’s life story features heavily in the book.
*trans+ subject matter

Book Recs
Hail Mary: The Rise and Fall of the National Women’s Football League
Frankie de la Cretaz (they/them) and Lyndsey D’Arcangelo (she/her)
A history of the NWFL with a focus on intersectional feminism and queerness
*trans+ author

Fair Play: How Sports Shape the Gender Debates
Katie Barnes (they/them)
An interdisciplinary look at trans+ people in athletics.
*trans+ author and subject matter

Book Recs
Let Us Play: Winning the Battle for Gender Diverse Athletes
Harrison Browne (he/him) and Rachel Browne (she/her)
A holistic look at the battle to play written by a former professional athlete.
*trans+ author and subject matter

Sporting Gender: The History, Science, and Stories of Transgender and Intersex Athletes
Joanna Harper (she/her)
An interdisciplinary academic text written by the leading expert in trans participation in sport.
*trans+ author and subject matter

What is Trans+ History Week?
Trans+ History Week, run by Trans+ History Week CIC, is a week long reflective period to celebrate and learn about trans+ history. Exploring the long history of transgender, non-binary, gender-diverse and Intersex people; trans+ history week is running between the 4th and 10th May 2026. It is anchored by Trans+ History Day on 6th May, the anniversary of the 1933 Nazi raid on the world’s first trans+ health clinic in Berlin, Germany.

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· May 6

I recently read Michael Waters' excellent The Other Olympians and was fascinated to learn about Zdeněk Koubek, who is the earliest record of a gender diverse rugby player I have found thus far.

World Champion
In 1934, Koubek took part in the National Championships once again, this time winning the 100m, 200m and 800m as well as the high and long jumps. In the same year he set the Women’s World Record for the 800m with a time of 2:16.4, a time he would beat at the Women’s World Games in that same year.

In 1935, many of Koubek’s competitors were training for the upcoming 1936 Olympics, which were due to take place in Nazi Germany. Koubek on the other hand underwent a far greater personal challenge. After years of difficult feelings, Koubek made the announcement he would be retiring from track and field, undergoing surgery and living as a man.

“an individual of predominantly male characteristics”
Zdeněk Koubek was diagnosed by his doctor, referred to as Professor H., as being “an individual of predominantly male characteristics”. Koubek was recommended to undergo medical treatment and prepare to live publically as a man.

Historical gender-diverse identities are complex and do not neatly fit into modern definitions. However, historian Michael Waters notes that some of Koubek’s experiences mirror those of modern transgender people, whilst also acknowledging that he may have had some intersex characteristics. More detailed information can be found in Waters’ excellent book ‘The Other Olympians’.

Koubek’s story became a global phenomenon, partially due to the growing calls of ‘cheating’ in the women’s division due to the presence of ‘masculine women’.
Koubek’s world records would be removed from the books, and he was unable to continue competing in track and field. His infamy allowed for him to take part in cabaret shows in New York and Paris, where he appeared on stage with Josephine Baker.

He returned to Czechoslovakia in 1938, married a woman in 1940 and in 1944, took up rugby union with the club RC Říčany.

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· May 6

This week is Trans+ History Week! Celebrating trans+ identities is something the modern world struggles to do, reflecting on historical trans+ identities even less so.

Trans+ History Week
4th-10th May 2026
*Plus Book Recs!

Zdeněk Koubek was a Czech track athlete who fought for his right to run. He travelled the globe and performed on stage with the likes of Josephine Baker. Post retirement he turned to rugby union. He was also happened to be a trans man.

Zdeněk Koubek
Zdeněk Koubek was born on the 13th December 1913. He was raised in a working class family with his seven siblings in Brno, Czechia (then Austria-Hungary), he was assigned female at birth. At the age of 13 he was working in a haberdashery when a local medical student asked his colleague to attend a track and field meet. Koubek tagged along and was mesmerised by the races. He began training with a small women’s athletics club before gaining the attention of a university programme. In 1932, aged 18, he came second in the 800m and high jump at the National Championships.

The Rugby History Project@therugbyhistoryproject· May 5

Following their 2014 Rugby World Cup win, the Red Roses recorded their worst-ever result in the Six Nations. This is the tale of how the World discovered the Red Roses were not perennials. Edition 16 of TRHP is available now in all the places 🏉📚 📖 therugbyhistoryproject.com?p=171598704