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James Stafford

@jpstafford.bsky.social

Author of 'The Sorrowful Putto of Prague', 'Unbelievable Underdogs', the 'Illustrated History of Rugby' series, 'How Wales Beat the Mighty All Blacks', 'Ragby' (Czech), editor of the East Terrace (theeastterrace.com). #booksky Prague based. Welsh born.

1,829 Followers  |  521 Following  |  2,536 Posts  |  Joined: 19.09.2023
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Posts by James Stafford (@jpstafford.bsky.social)

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Here's how the official #sixnations website covered the accidental destruction of its trophy.

Why are official rugby websites so scared of having a non positive headline? So odd.

03.03.2026 20:34 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Here's how the official #sixnations website covered the accidental destruction of its trophy.

Why are official rugby websites so scars of having a non positive headline? So odd.

03.03.2026 20:33 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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TOM THUMBSCREW (1975): Appearing in brilliant kiddie horror comic Monster Fun, this must count as one of the most cheerfully dark concepts for a children's humour strip ever. Tom is the King's torturer, but even though he sides with the prisoners, there are branding irons and iron maidens aplenty!

03.03.2026 19:34 β€” πŸ‘ 33    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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My daughter had no idea why I asked her to do this...

03.03.2026 19:38 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Yes!! Late goal from HughesovΓ‘! ;)

Wales earn a late point against the Czech Republic! πŸ‡¨πŸ‡ΏπŸ΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ

03.03.2026 19:37 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

100 times better than Frankenstein. Saw it twice in the cinema and even got to meet the director at a Q&A showing.

03.03.2026 16:28 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I enjoyed Sinners.

Whereas I thought Frankenstein looked like a cheap, rushed, clumsy Netflix movie. I was astounded afterwards to see the reviews it had received.

03.03.2026 16:13 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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I love Guillermo del Toro, love old Frankenstein movies, and I love the original book.

But this is one of the worst movie takes I've seen in years. #film

03.03.2026 14:32 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm definitely open to that date being wrong. A lot of these archive photos are mislabelled.

03.03.2026 14:26 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Yes...that's all I could get from a translator. Hope we can find a native speaker to solve it.

03.03.2026 13:56 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Come on @thewelshrugbyunion.bsky.social, let's switch suppliers and bring back the classic Adidas tracksuit.

It shouldn't just be the football teams having all the fun with proper old school Adidas. πŸ‰βš½οΈ

03.03.2026 10:46 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Really frustrating and injury (!) has meant I can't make this game today.

Best of luck @Cymru against @ceskarepre_cz.

Wales do toho! Wales do toho!

03.03.2026 10:39 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Also, the break from Shane Williams here and the fingertip pick up from Gavin Henson moments later...sigh.

What golden days. Brief, but golden.

youtu.be/OxrOHeLEsrY?...

03.03.2026 10:23 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Wales: Five minutes of magic in Paris | 2005 | Guinness Six Nations
YouTube video by Guinness Men's Six Nations Wales: Five minutes of magic in Paris | 2005 | Guinness Six Nations

In light of how hyped modern day commentators get over the smallest of things in the most insignificant games of rugby these days, has there ever been a more underwhelming moment of commentary than the one of this Stephen Jones break? #sixnations

youtu.be/OxrOHeLEsrY?...

03.03.2026 10:18 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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An image from the Library of Congress.

The only details are it's a group portrait of a Hong Kong rugby team from 1890.

One of the best rugby kits I've ever seen though. Have tried a translation app to read the text, but failed.

Anyone able to help? #rugbyhistory

03.03.2026 10:14 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Trying to imagine any other democratic head of state putting this "oh well, fend for yourselves" message out there, nevermind one which started it.

03.03.2026 08:54 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

It's ok, it's got three arms. So it should win any boxing match.

02.03.2026 20:37 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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🚨 It looks like the UK government is gearing up to upend copyright law in favour of AI companies, legalising the theft of their work.

This is despite creatives' huge protests, and despite previous proposals being roundly rejected by the public.

Please spread the word.

🧡 1/4

02.03.2026 15:43 β€” πŸ‘ 2816    πŸ” 2367    πŸ’¬ 90    πŸ“Œ 458
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Weirdly, France got the trophy first in 1993, but I can't find an image of it.

1994 was also the first time the title was decided by points difference...a new concept for the tournament. So many also felt that tarnished the title.

I still don't like points difference! :-D

02.03.2026 18:58 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Lets's bring back tradition and just not even have a trophy for the tournament (like how it was from 1883 to 1993).

Let's go proper old school and have a pitch invasion and players players being carried off on fans' shoulders. #sixnations

02.03.2026 18:04 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 1

Nigel Farage lied multiple times at his press conference today - including saying no-one who voted Green in Gorton and Denton has a job and he's "certain" Reform won most British born voters in the by-election, based on zero evidence, and yet not a single journalist there pushed back on them

02.03.2026 12:33 β€” πŸ‘ 3142    πŸ” 1106    πŸ’¬ 191    πŸ“Œ 95
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A Boy Looking through a Casement c.1600-10, Flemish School.

This was in the collection of Anne of Denmark in 1616. She died 2 Mar 1619.

(Royal Collection Trust, HM CIII)

02.03.2026 13:40 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
The physical media landscape in 2025 and beyond With new labels emerging, the future’s looking bright for DVD and Blu-ray. We talk to some of the companies involved in a disc renaissance…

With new labels emerging, the future’s looking bright for DVD and Blu-ray. We talk to some of the companies involved in a disc renaissance…
filmstories.co.uk/news/the-phy...

02.03.2026 13:02 β€” πŸ‘ 107    πŸ” 30    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 3
The Deep Dark Woods - The Banks Of The Leopold Canal (Bing Lounge)
YouTube video by 101.9 KINK.FM The Deep Dark Woods - The Banks Of The Leopold Canal (Bing Lounge)

A stunning song from Deep Dark Woods about 4th Canadian Armoured Division's horrific struggle to cross the Leopold Canal in Belgium on October 6, 1944.

youtu.be/Bkd453rIzMo?...

02.03.2026 13:40 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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On St David's Day, a reminder to Americans to not take this gun-happy travel agent's advice to visit the Druid's Glen in Wales. It will end badly.

A 1953 story from 'Baffling Mysteries', art by Charles Nicholas. #comics #horror

01.03.2026 14:40 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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On St David's Day, a reminder to Americans to not take this gun-happy travel agent's advice to visit the Druid's Glen in Wales. It will end badly.

A 1953 story from 'Baffling Mysteries', art by Charles Nicholas. #comics #horror

01.03.2026 14:40 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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It's St David's Day.

Why not support a Welsh writer and grab a book that will inspire young Welsh children* to read and (hopefully) get out there and play some sport? πŸ“š

Learn more here: jpstafford.com/non-fiction/

*The Welsh rugby history book is sutiable for ages 8-80 though! #booksky

01.03.2026 09:50 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 8    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Just a reminder, as some question religious influence in UK politics. There are only two major countries in the world that guarantee clergy to hold seats in parliament. The United Kingdom and Iran. The UK automatically seats 26 Bishops in the House Of Lords.

01.03.2026 11:02 β€” πŸ‘ 663    πŸ” 226    πŸ’¬ 24    πŸ“Œ 4
Superted, Spottyman and Blotch walking on a pavement in Cardiff. There is a distinctive wall to the left with a turret motif and a road to the right.

Superted, Spottyman and Blotch walking on a pavement in Cardiff. There is a distinctive wall to the left with a turret motif and a road to the right.

Google Maps screenshot of Cardiff. The wall of Cardiff castle is on the left , then there is a road and the Angel Hotel on the right. It matches the previous image.

Google Maps screenshot of Cardiff. The wall of Cardiff castle is on the left , then there is a road and the Angel Hotel on the right. It matches the previous image.

Superted, Spottyman and Blotch on a pavement, seen from the side. There is a wall with a stone animal in front of them and a castle behind them. Superted's rocket is parked in the castle grounds.

Superted, Spottyman and Blotch on a pavement, seen from the side. There is a wall with a stone animal in front of them and a castle behind them. Superted's rocket is parked in the castle grounds.

The same image taken from Google Maps in November 2022 but without the rocket.

The same image taken from Google Maps in November 2022 but without the rocket.

Kicked off St David's Day watching Superted's 1980s road safety videos and matching them to their actual locations in Cardiff.

01.03.2026 08:43 β€” πŸ‘ 196    πŸ” 44    πŸ’¬ 7    πŸ“Œ 4

Disappointed you aren't in them cosplaying.

01.03.2026 11:46 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0