Rugby Reloaded podcast

Rugby Reloaded

The social history podcast which explores the history of rugby league, rugby union, and the other football codes around the world.

The social history podcast which explores the history of rugby league, rugby union, and the other football codes around the world.

 

#209

209. Did Scotland Invent Football?

This week's episode looks at how soccer emerged in Scotland in the mid-1800s. By the early... more

12 Dec 2025

10 MINS

10:17

12 Dec 2025


#208

208. 'Blood and Thunder' the history of rugby in Ireland with Liam O'Callaghan

This week we talk to Dr Liam O’Callaghan about the newly published paperback edition of hi... more

26 Nov 2025

35 MINS

35:17

26 Nov 2025


#207

207. What the hell is going on in British rugby league?

The new Rugby Reloaded looks at the current state of rugby league in Britain, asks 'What's... more

14 Nov 2025

09 MINS

09:47

14 Nov 2025


#206

206. Oldham Rugby League Hall of Fame

This week we sit down with Kevin Fitzpatrick, a member of the Oldham Rugby League Heritage... more

05 Nov 2025

32 MINS

32:58

05 Nov 2025


#205

205. The Global Spread of Football with Thomas Adam

This week we delve deep into the origins of the football codes across Britain, Europe and ... more

28 Oct 2025

26 MINS

26:39

28 Oct 2025


#204

204. A Cultural History of the Ashes (part two)

With rugby league's Ashes series imminent, part two of Rugby Reloaded's look at the cultur... more

15 Oct 2025

10 MINS

10:56

15 Oct 2025


#203

203. The Boston Game and the Origins of Football in America

Our new episode investigates the origin story of football in America, in conversation with... more

04 Oct 2025

55 MINS

55:53

04 Oct 2025


#202

202. A Cultural History of the RL Ashes (Part 1)

As the countdown for the Rugby League Ashes series begins, the new 'Rugby Reloaded' is the... more

24 Sep 2025

10 MINS

10:20

24 Sep 2025


#201

201. David Goldblatt on soccer in Injury Time

On this week's episode I talk to David Goldblatt about his new book 'Injury Time: Football... more

12 Sep 2025

32 MINS

32:06

12 Sep 2025


#200

200. Rugby Union and Concussion

Today's episode is an edited version of a talk about rugby union's concussion crisis which... more

03 Sep 2025

24 MINS

24:55

03 Sep 2025


#199

199. Nan Halafihi, the Tongan Trailblazer

This episode talks to Dr Nick Halafihi about the life and career of his father, Nanumi (Na... more

25 Aug 2025

35 MINS

35:04

25 Aug 2025


#198

198. France's Expulsion from the 5 Nations (part 2)

We travel back to the 1940s and 1950s to look at how France came back into the Five Nation... more

04 Aug 2025

11 MINS

11:24

04 Aug 2025


#197

197. Harry Jepson: A Life in League

In Richard Hoggart's classic book 'The Uses of Literacy', he describes the scenes in May 1... more

01 Mar 2025

1 HR 38 MINS

1:38:42

01 Mar 2025


#196

196. France's Expulsion from the 5 Nations.mp3

The Rugby Union World Cup has kicked off in France this week, so this episode of 'Rugby Re... more

11 Sep 2023

10 MINS

10:16

11 Sep 2023


#195

195. Rugby League in Thatcher's Britain with Anthony Broxton

Rugby Reloaded is back for a brand new series and we kick-off with a blockbuster interview... more

29 Aug 2023

50 MINS

50:43

29 Aug 2023


#194

194. Football in South America with Matthew Brown

The latest 'Rugby Reloaded' talks to Professor Matthew Brown about his new book 'Sports in... more

06 Feb 2023

29 MINS

29:13

06 Feb 2023


#193

193. Cricket & Class with Duncan Stone

Duncan Stone's new book 'Different Class: The Untold Story of English Cricket' is both a h... more

19 Dec 2022

36 MINS

36:54

19 Dec 2022


#192

192. Geoff Armstrong on the history of St George Dragons

This week's episode talks to Geoff Armstrong about his latest book, the second volume of '... more

28 Nov 2022

44 MINS

44:23

28 Nov 2022


#191

191. Huddersfield: A Town, A Club, and Rugby's Great Split

On 5 November I was invited to give a talk about Huddersfield and its role in rugby's spli... more

14 Nov 2022

37 MINS

37:34

14 Nov 2022


#190

190. Roy Francis, George Bennett, Race and Rugby League

On Friday, the 21 October 2022, I gave a talk at the Museum of Wigan Life titled 'Roy Fran... more

24 Oct 2022

35 MINS

35:32

24 Oct 2022


#189

189. The 'Roaring Red Front' of football clubs

The new Rugby Reloaded talks to Stewart McGill and Vince Raison about their fascinating ne... more

12 Sep 2022

39 MINS

39:07

12 Sep 2022


#188

188. Why is the rugby ball oval?

Rugby History 101: the shape of the ball. The latest 'Rugby Reloaded' investigates why the... more

13 Jun 2022

08 MINS

08:54

13 Jun 2022


#187

187. Farewell to Maurice Lindsay, administrator extraordinaire

The new 'Rugby Reloaded' looks at the career of Maurice Lindsay, who died last week. From ... more

23 May 2022

10 MINS

10:22

23 May 2022


#186

186. The History of South African Rugby Union with Jonty Winch

The latest 'Rugby Reloaded' talks with Jonty Winch about his new book 'World Champions: Th... more

25 Apr 2022

41 MINS

41:33

25 Apr 2022


#185

185. Rugby's Concussion Crisis: A Short History (part two)

In the second episode of our two-part special on the history of rugby union and concussion... more

21 Mar 2022

10 MINS

10:50

21 Mar 2022


#184

184. Rugby's Concussion Crisis: A Short History

This week's episode is the first of a two-part special looking at the history of rugby uni... more

14 Mar 2022

10 MINS

10:20

14 Mar 2022


#183

183. 1997: Rugby League's Year of Living Dangerously, with Steve Mascord

The new 'Rugby Reloaded' talks to former 'Sydney Morning Herald' rugby league journalist S... more

31 Jan 2022

34 MINS

34:46

31 Jan 2022


#182

182. The History of Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets may not have been the most successful rugby league team but they are an e... more

10 Jan 2022

42 MINS

42:31

10 Jan 2022


#181

181. The Obolensky Story, with Hugh Godwin

'Rugby Reloaded' talks to Hugh Godwin about his fascinating new biography of the England w... more

20 Dec 2021

34 MINS

34:20

20 Dec 2021