Tony Collins

142. Once Were Kangaroos - Mark Flanagan on the 1986 tour In the wake of the BBC's excellent 'Once Were Lions' documentary, we look back on the 1986 Kangaroo tour of Britain with Mark Flanagan, author of 'The Invincibles: The Inside Story of the 1982 Kangaro

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...

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 the Americas with Thomas Adam, author of the new book The Global Spread of football from the 1860s to the 1880

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...

It’s been called the Ashes ever since the first test match between the two countries in 1908. For the Aussies, it was their winter equivalent of summer’s cricket Ashes.

YouTube video by ITV News In Full The Untold Story of Rugby Codebreakers | ITV Border

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?...

127. The 1946 Indomitables' rugby league tour Less than a year after the end of World War 2 rugby league’s Lions toured Australia and New Zealand - a tour made possible thanks to an aircraft carrier, a military train & the President of the Genera

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...

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 cultural history of Anglo-Australian rugby league moves onto the post-World War 2 period. It was an era when the b

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...

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 cultural history of Anglo-Australian rugby league moves onto the post-World War 2 period. It was an era when the b

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.

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 Mike Cronin and Kevin Marston, authors of 'Inventing the Boston Game: Football, Soccer, and the Origins of a

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!

Roy Francis: the black rugby league coach who triumphed in a white world The Welshman was a brilliant, original coach who had to fight against a culture that was prejudiced against him

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...

200. Rugby Union and Concussion Today's episode is an edited version of a talk about rugby union's concussion crisis which I gave to the North of England Medico-Legal Society in Newcastle in April 2025, for which I'd like to thank A

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

199. Nan Halafihi, the Tongan Trailblazer This episode talks to Dr Nick Halafihi about the life and career of his father, Nanumi (Nan) Halafihi, the first Tongan to play at Wembley and the first-ever Tongan to play professional rugby league.

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...

YouTube video by talkSPORT Rugby pioneer Roy Francis: From slavery to sporting legend, how he revolutionised rugby coaching

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

BBC Radio Wales - Roy Francis: Wales' Black Leader in a White World The first black man to coach a professional league and cup-winning sports team in Britain.

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...

BBC Radio Wales - Roy Francis: Wales' Black Leader in a White World The first black man to coach a professional league and cup-winning sports team in Britain.

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

Roy Francis The remarkable story of one man's struggle to overcome racism and revolutionise rugby coaching.In the 1950s and 1960s one man dominated rugby coaching like no o…

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

Roy Francis The remarkable story of a man who eclipsed his own greatness to revolutionise rugby coaching.In the 1950s and 1960s one man dominated rugby coaching like no oth…

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...

197. Harry Jepson: A Life in League In Richard Hoggart's classic book 'The Uses of Literacy', he describes the scenes in May 1934 when Hunslet returned triumphantly with the Rugby League Challenge Cup followed by thousands of young boys

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...

197. Harry Jepson: A Life in League In Richard Hoggart's classic book 'The Uses of Literacy', he describes the scenes in May 1934 when Hunslet returned triumphantly with the Rugby League Challenge Cup followed by thousands of young boys

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...