About

RUGBEIA evokes rugby history and spirit. We are dedicated to remembering and celebrating with you the rich history and traditions of the game.

Sean Fagan

RUGBEIA is developed and authored by Sean Fagan, based in Sydney, Australia.

“Fagan probably knows more about…the early history of rugby union than just about anyone alive.”
Spiro Zavos – rugby journalist and author.

A bit about Sean Fagan and rugby…

“I played school and club rugby in Sydney in the late 1970s and through the 1980s.

Bereft of any real fleetness of foot, I found my home in the forwards, starting out at hooker in my late teens, before a belated increase in height consigned me to the less “creative” positions of the pack. I never played prop though – they’re a breed apart!

Sean Fagan - Smithfield 'Warthogs' c.1983

They were fun days playing for the (now sadly extinct) Smithfield Warthogs – not turning up to training did nothing to harm your chances of selection for the coming Saturday afternoon, and if I arrived early enough on game day, I often got to play two games as there were invariably never enough players in the lower grades.

At Smithfield we had the pleasure of visiting the home grounds of Sydney University, Easts, Northern Suburbs, Drummoyne, Mosman, Hornsby and all other points east of Concord Oval. We also got flogged just about every week too.

I appreciated nothing of the game’s history at the time, and gave little thought to the theory and purpose behind rugby’s amateur ideal, but looking back I am glad I got to play against many of Sydney’s famous clubs, learn and apply some of the “dark arts” of forward play, lose some skin on North Sydney Oval (the surface was as hard as they all say!), be knocked senseless by a clandestine “Dirty Red” on Drummoyne Oval, and play the game within the University walls, where rugby has been played since the mid-1860s.

A life-changing meeting in 1998 with Wallaby representative Len Smith (of the ill-fated 1939 UK tour) set me on a new course. Len encouraged me to write about and revive the stories of past generations of rugby, so that fans today could connect with the game’s history, famous and interesting players, and the culture that underpins the sport’s ethos.

Since that time I have written on early rugby history for major magazines and newspapers in Australia (for example “How Rugby Reigned over Aussie Rules” for Inside Sport magazine), been interviewed for radio, television and documentaries in Australia and New Zealand (including “Beneath the Māori Moon”), and authored books “The Rugby Rebellion” and “The Master – The Life and Times of Dally Messenger”.

Over the past few years I have particularly concentrated my efforts on looking at rugby in the 1800s and early 20th century – not merely to revive milestone matches and legendary players, but to better understand how the game was played, and the role of its companion ideals (on and off the field) of amateurism, manliness and honour.

This has culminated in the launching of www.JottingsOnRugby.com and www.RugbyAustralis.com (Australian rugby history), and the establishment of RUGBEIA – dedicated to remembering and celebrating the rich history and traditions of rugby.

At RUGBEIA we’re keen to network with others who are passionate about rugby and are interested in assisting us in the creation and advancement of future RUGBEIA projects via their expertise in business development and mentoring, sports marketing, merchandising and/or other forms of support.

I hope you enjoy our websites and inter-act with us via facebook, twitter or email – feedback and suggestions always welcome!”

cheers
Sean Fagan
Rugbeia

Contact:

Send an email to Sean Fagan : sf@rugbeia.com

Phone: 0431 925 832 (within Australia)

Mail:
Rugbeia
PO Box 168
Kellyville NSW 2155
Australia