Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · 2d

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...

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

soundcloud.com

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · 18d

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:

Raf Nicholson @rafnicholson.bsky.social · 19d

Are you interested in the history of sport?

A classic text - Dick Holt's Sport & the British - has been reborn. Join Dick & a panel of historians to discuss the new edition (followed by a drinks reception!)

When: 29 September, 5.30pm
Where: Senate House, London (or via Zoom)

Register below:

Rewriting Sport and the British

www.history.ac.uk

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Sep 8

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!

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Sep 7

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...

Why Is Mersey Street So Important For The History Of Rugby League In Hull? – Curiosity Hull

curiosityhull.co.uk

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Sep 6

As we approach tomorrow’s massive East v West derby in Hull, I reveal the bone-chilling truth about Hull and Rovers!

Curiosity @curiosityhull.bsky.social · Sep 6

Why Is Mersey Street So Important For The History Of Rugby League In Hull?

Writer @collinstony.bsky.social explains why @hullfcofficial.bsky.social used to be the east Hull team and @hullkr.bsky.social were from the west of the city.

Supplementals: tinyurl.com/4j4jxrrs

@hulllibraries.bsky.social

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Sep 5

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...

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

www.theguardian.com

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Sep 3

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...

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

soundcloud.com

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Reposted by Tony Collins

Curiosity @curiosityhull.bsky.social · Aug 26

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

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Aug 25

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...

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.

soundcloud.com

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Aug 15

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?...

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

YouTube video by talkSPORT

youtu.be

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Aug 11

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

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028hdf

t.co

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Aug 10

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

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028hdf

t.co

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Reposted by Tony Collins

Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Aug 6

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.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Aug 6

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.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Jun 6

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

Ruby League legend Roy Francis book launch and signing with Tony Collins

An evening honouring Rugby League pioneer and trailblazer Roy Francis.

shorturl.at

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Jun 5

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

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · May 15

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

Ruby League legend Roy Francis book launch and signing with Tony Collins

An evening honouring Rugby League pioneer and trailblazer Roy Francis.

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · May 9

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 one man's struggle to overcome racism and revolutionise rugby coaching.In the 1950s and 1960s one man dominated rugby coaching like no o…

bit.ly

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Mar 11

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...

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…

www.bloomsbury.com

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Reposted by Tony Collins

Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Mar 10

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

on.soundcloud.com

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Mar 10

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

on.soundcloud.com

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Reposted by Tony Collins

Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Mar 3

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...

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.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Mar 3

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...

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.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Feb 27

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...

BBC Radio Wales - Roy Francis: Wales's Black Leader in a White World

The first black man to coach a professional league and cup-winning sports team in Britain.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Tony Collins @collinstony.bsky.social · Feb 25

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

BBC Radio Wales - Roy Francis: Wales's Black Leader in a White World

The first black man to coach a professional league and cup-winning sports team in Britain.

www.bbc.co.uk

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