Peter Winterbottom
The blond hair earned him the moniker ‘Straw Man’, but Peter Winterbottom was anything but. Built of farming stock, strengthened by seasons in New Zealand and South Africa, he became one of England’s legendary opensides. But when he made his international debut, few, including the man himself, thanks to one individual, could remember he was even on the pitch.
Sadia Kabeya
The birthplace of colour television, Sid Vicious, and Gary Oldman, the London borough of Lewisham isn’t short of claims to fame, but even in a crowded arena, World Cup winner Sadia Kabeya stands out as one of their very best.
Fran Cotton
The president needed the shirt to be in South Africa for the final, and it had to be the same number as the captain, it was important. It was more than a shirt, it was a symbol, for a country, for its future. Fran Cotton has done many things in rugby, but getting a shirt shipped to the Rainbow Nation for the 1995 World Cup final, might just top the lot.
Bryn Meredith
Bryn Meredith was a hooker unlike any other. He could dummy, jink, sidestep, and score breathtaking tries, he was among the best ever seen. Never quite retired. Even now, aged 94, the oldest living Lion would still, if asked, lace up his boots one more time.
Jonathan ‘Fox’ Davies
He’d won a Grand Slam, should’ve won a World Cup, and was considered among the best in the world, but to some fans he just wasn’t Brian O’Driscoll. So much so, they needed to find Jonathan ‘Fox’ Davies and break his legs.
Orrell RUFC
Rugby union’s answer to Icarus, Orrell soared through the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s with famed teams and players, only to crash down to where we find them today, level nine of the rugby pyramid. But with an unlikely former England star now at the helm, brighter days could be just around the corner for the storied Lancashire club.
Linlithgow RFC
Being outclassed by the Welsh on the pitch was one thing, but being out-sung in the clubhouse after matches proved a step too far for the members of Linlithgow RFC. And, so, 35 years ago, they finally found their voice.
Highland RFC
In the midst of the breathtaking Highlands, in the shadow of the epic Cairngorms, you’ll find Inverness. As beautiful as it is, there are times when it can be a tough place to call home, but community is all, especially at Highland RFC.
RFU Knockout Cups
The cup final was the biggest of days: towns and cities would empty, Twickenham was full and winning could create legacies for clubs and players that lasted far beyond the final whistle. But then, having started almost a hundred years too late, the national knockout cup was gone, and its demise wasn’t pretty.
Rugby Photographer of the Year 2026 winners revealed
In front of a packed World Rugby Museum audience at Allianz Stadium, the winners of the 2026 Rugby Photographer of the Year were announced last night.
Shortlist revealed for Rugby Photographer of the Year
The world’s biggest rugby photography competition has revealed its shortlist for the 2026 competition, with all finalists appearing in an exhibition at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
Richmondshire RFC
Two years is a long time in rugby, especially if you don’t win a match. But a club like Richmondshire RFC, built by a bear of a man called Alf, are made of sterner stuff and somehow found a way to find positives in defeat and even notch the occasional win.
Jamie George
Captaincy, a century of England caps and his daughter Lydia all arrived soon after the passing of his beloved mum, but when Jamie George returns to his hometown club of Hertford, the echoes of her vociferous support still resonate.
London Welsh
Picking up glass from the park pitch before his first training session, Cai Griffiths knew this wasn’t the London Welsh he’d helped to the Premiership three years before. It literally wasn’t, it was the amateurs at level 9 who’d just finished mid-table, and he was tasked with returning this iconic rugby name back to the national leagues. Five promotions, no salaries, easy.
Alex Matthews
Even with a professional contract being offered, Alex Matthews didn’t want to sign it. She was questioning herself, her mindset, even her ability to pass and catch a rugby ball. But, she loved rugby. Really loved rugby. She just had to rediscover that love, then who knew what might happen next.
Worcester Warriors
It’s been more than one thousand days since Sixways last hosted its beloved Worcester Warriors. But, amid the wreckage of a terrible era in Premiership history that saw three clubs disappear from view, Worcester have risen again. And Sixways has never known a night like it.
Dan Carter
Christchurch High School was famed for producing All Blacks, and when Dan Carter arrived as a teenager he was overwhelmed by what he saw. So much so, he lost his love for the game, opting to avoid senior rugby and instead play with his mates. It could have meant the end of his rugby dreams, but instead it was the beginning.
Zoe Stratford
She’s been world player of the year, a three-time domestic champion, seven-time Six Nations winner, and captained both club and country. But, without a World Cup win later this year, Zoe Stratford knows something will still be missing.
Kent Bray
A mercurial fly-half who faced the Lions in 1989, played The Varsity Match when it mattered, and was part of Harlequins in the star-studded Carling era, Kent Bray had an enviable rugby life. But off the field, as a trader, his cocaine addiction would spiral to thirty grams a week, leaving him on the edge of the abyss.