Wakefield Museums and Castles

A vintage photograph of a rugby league game

Rugby League

Rugby League is born and bred in West Yorkshire. It's an important part of our local identity today.

From the birth of the game to the Super League, our collections cover 130 years of blood, sweat and tears. They reveal the glory and the despair of our three proud clubs: Castleford Tigers, Featherstone Rovers and Wakefield Trinity. 

Discover some of our star rugby objects.  

Find out more

A long-sleeved navy and red striped button-up rugby jersey

Rugby shirt, Wakefield Trinity, 1880s

Wakefield Trinity star Harper Oliver Hamshaw wore this woollen kit in the 1880s. He played during the earliest days of Rugby League.
A worn leather rugby ball with 'The mightiest kick on record, successful pace goal kick from 75 yards distance, by Arthur Atkinson (Castleford) against St Helens' handpainted on it

Rugby ball, ‘The mightiest kick on record’, 1929

Castleford legend, Arthur Atkinson, used this ball to make Rugby League history.
A vintage copy of This Sporting Life by David Storey with an orange cover and black and white photo of a rugby tackle

'This Sporting Life', David Storey, 1960

This classic novel and film about a Rugby League player was inspired by the author’s home city of Wakefield.
A handmade blue rosette with white ribbon, the words 'Wembley - Featherstone R Rugby Cup Final, 1974' on and a silver trophy in the centre

Rosette, Featherstone Rovers, 1974

Learn more about this treasured memento from a trip to the famous Wembley Stadium.
A Castleford Tigers 'Raw' matchday programme with photo of a player mid run on the front

Matchday programme, Castleford Tigers, 1999

Explore this souvenir from the early years of the Super League era.
A car flag for Featherstone Rovers with a blue background and repeating pattern of the team's coat of arms logo

Car flag, Featherstone Rovers, 2006

Proud Fev Rovers fans have always flown the flag for their club through thick and thin.

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