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<rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Birth of Professional Rugby League in Australia</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/birth-of-professional-rugby-league-in-australia--7167815</link><description><![CDATA[Explore the transformative journey of rugby in Australia as it evolves from amateur roots to a professional powerhouse, a theme encapsulated by the title. This podcast delves into the pivotal moments and key figures that shaped the birth of professional rugby league, highlighting the tensions between tradition and innovation, class struggles, and the burgeoning desire for commercial success. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that invites listeners to engage with diverse narratives surrounding this dynamic sport, from the fervent debates of early enthusiasts to the excitement of the first professional matches. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that illuminate the rich history and cultural impact of rugby league in Australia. Discover a new book with every episode, and immerse yourself in the tales that defined a sport and captured the hearts of a nation.<br /><br />This show includes AI-generated content.]]></description><atom:link href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/7167815/episodes/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><language>en</language><category>Books</category><copyright>Copyright Tragedy Genre</copyright><image><url>https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg</url><title>Birth of Professional Rugby League in Australia</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/birth-of-professional-rugby-league-in-australia--7167815</link></image><lastBuildDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:15:22 +0000</lastBuildDate><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Tragedy Genre</itunes:name><itunes:email>spreaker87@podcastlibrary.org</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:subtitle>Explore the transformative journey of rugby in Australia as it evolves from amateur roots to a professional powerhouse, a theme encapsulated by the title. This podcast delves into the pivotal moments and key figures that shaped the birth of...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Explore the transformative journey of rugby in Australia as it evolves from amateur roots to a professional powerhouse, a theme encapsulated by the title. This podcast delves into the pivotal moments and key figures that shaped the birth of professional rugby league, highlighting the tensions between tradition and innovation, class struggles, and the burgeoning desire for commercial success. Each episode features a new complete audiobook that invites listeners to engage with diverse narratives surrounding this dynamic sport, from the fervent debates of early enthusiasts to the excitement of the first professional matches. This is not a single story but a series of unique explorations that illuminate the rich history and cultural impact of rugby league in Australia. Discover a new book with every episode, and immerse yourself in the tales that defined a sport and captured the hearts of a nation.<br /><br />This show includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Arts"><itunes:category text="Books"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Fiction"/><itunes:category text="Fiction"><itunes:category text="Drama"/></itunes:category><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><podcast:guid>681e161e-d030-5db2-b416-2cd48fba747f</podcast:guid><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><item><title>America's Part-Henry J. Reilly</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/america-s-part-henry-j-reilly--74626389</link><description><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74626389</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:02:56 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74626389/america_s_part_henry_j_reilly.mp3" length="244488122" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>30531</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Consolation of Philosophy-Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/consolation-of-philosophy-anicius-manlius-severinus-boethius--74594646</link><description><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74594646</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:03:06 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74594646/consolation_of_philosophy_anicius_manlius_severinus_boethius.mp3" length="150594245" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>18805</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Faust II-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/faust-ii-johann-wolfgang-von-goethe--74563080</link><description><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74563080</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 09:02:39 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74563080/6137_faust_ii_johann_wolfgang_von_goethe.mp3" length="212109311" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>26486</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Wild and Romantic: Early Guides to the English Lake District-Brown, Cumberland, Dalton, Gray, Pennant, Walker, Young</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/wild-and-romantic-early-guides-to-the-english-lake-district-brown-cumberland-dalton-gray-pennant-walker-young--74531885</link><description><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74531885</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:09:08 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74531885/wild_and_romantic_early_guides_to_the_english_lake_district_brown_cumberland_dalton_gray_pennant_walker_young.mp3" length="64324160" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>8032</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Politics-Aristotle</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/politics-aristotle--74501129</link><description><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74501129</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:08:45 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74501129/politics_aristotle.mp3" length="266685330" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>33302</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Love's Labour's Lost (version 2)-William Shakespeare</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/love-s-labour-s-lost-version-2-william-shakespeare--74462335</link><description><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74462335</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 09:07:55 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74462335/love_s_labour_s_lost_version_2_william_shakespeare.mp3" length="80345453" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>10033</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Lady Frederick, a Comedy in Three Acts-W. Somerset Maugham</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/lady-frederick-a-comedy-in-three-acts-w-somerset-maugham--74430310</link><description><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74430310</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:08:41 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74430310/lady_frederick_a_comedy_in_three_acts_w_somerset_maugham.mp3" length="65567494" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>8188</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Gallipoli-John Masefield</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/gallipoli-john-masefield--74388560</link><description><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74388560</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:57:43 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74388560/gallipoli_john_masefield.mp3" length="131745074" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>16452</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Birthplace-Henry James</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/birthplace-henry-james--74347583</link><description><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74347583</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 23:49:48 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74347583/birthplace_henry_james.mp3" length="40499315" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>5057</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Journal of John Woolman-John Woolman</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/journal-of-john-woolman-john-woolman--74207103</link><description><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74207103</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:08:58 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74207103/journal_of_john_woolman_john_woolman.mp3" length="190068447" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>23735</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Footnote to History Eight Years of Trouble in Samoa-Robert Louis Stevenson</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/footnote-to-history-eight-years-of-trouble-in-samoa-robert-louis-stevenson--74161517</link><description><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74161517</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 09:09:07 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74161517/footnote_to_history_eight_years_of_trouble_in_samoa_robert_louis_stevenson.mp3" length="204355125" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>25518</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Baseball Joe in the Central League-Lester Chadwick</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/baseball-joe-in-the-central-league-lester-chadwick--74117718</link><description><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74117718</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 11:13:22 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74117718/baseball_joe_in_the_central_league_lester_chadwick.mp3" length="149302451" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>18644</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>With Swag and Billy A Guide to Walking Trips in Tourist Districts of New South Wales-Henry J. Tompkins</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/with-swag-and-billy-a-guide-to-walking-trips-in-tourist-districts-of-new-south-wales-henry-j-tompkins--73424127</link><description><![CDATA[With Swag and Billy is a captivating guide that invites listeners to explore the scenic walking trips through the tourist districts of New South Wales, crafted by Henry J. Tompkins. This audiobook serves as a perfect companion for those seeking to immerse themselves in the rich landscapes and cultural experiences that the region has to offer. The themes of adventure and exploration resonate deeply, encouraging a sense of wanderlust and appreciation for the natural beauty surrounding us. As listeners traverse these walking routes, they will discover not only the charm of New South Wales but also the enduring spirit of travel that connects us all, making this guide a timeless resource for both locals and tourists alike.<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73424127</guid><pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:01:24 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/73424127/with_swag_and_billy_a_guide_to_walking_trips_in_tourist_districts_of_new_south_wales_henry_j_tompkins.mp3" length="104381181" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>With Swag and Billy is a captivating guide that invites listeners to explore the scenic walking trips through the tourist districts of New South Wales, crafted by Henry J. Tompkins. This audiobook serves as a perfect companion for those seeking to...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[With Swag and Billy is a captivating guide that invites listeners to explore the scenic walking trips through the tourist districts of New South Wales, crafted by Henry J. Tompkins. This audiobook serves as a perfect companion for those seeking to immerse themselves in the rich landscapes and cultural experiences that the region has to offer. The themes of adventure and exploration resonate deeply, encouraging a sense of wanderlust and appreciation for the natural beauty surrounding us. As listeners traverse these walking routes, they will discover not only the charm of New South Wales but also the enduring spirit of travel that connects us all, making this guide a timeless resource for both locals and tourists alike.<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>13034</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title>Birth of Professional Rugby League in Australia A selection from the Sydney Morning Herald 1907-08 - Sydney Morning Herald</title><link>https://www.spreaker.com/episode/birth-of-professional-rugby-league-in-australia-a-selection-from-the-sydney-morning-herald-1907-08-sydney-morning-herald--72921766</link><description><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72921766</guid><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:12:43 +0000</pubDate><enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72921766/birth_of_professional_rugby_league_in_australia_a_selection_from_the_sydney_morning_herald_1907_08_sydney_morning_herald.mp3" length="130537467" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:txt purpose="ai-content">true</podcast:txt><itunes:author>Sydney Morning Herald</itunes:author><itunes:subtitle>In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The...</itunes:subtitle><itunes:summary><![CDATA[In early 1907 the world of Australian rugby was rocked by the news that a professional New Zealand All Blacks team was set to tour the northern counties of Engliand, where professional rugby had been a reality for more than a decade. The professionalization of Australian rugby was unthinkable, but within a few months the unthinkable had come to pass. The professional All Blacks had played a hastily formed New South Wales team, the great Dally Messenger had joined the New Zealand tour of England, and by 1908 a professional league was formed in Sydney, with several of the teams that play in the NRL today. This selection from the Sydney Morning Herald's coverage of the fierce debate that ensued, shows how concerns for the welfare of the game and players were mingled with class-interest, colonial ideologies and greed for profit. - Summary by Phil Benson<br /><br />This episode includes AI-generated content.]]></itunes:summary><itunes:duration>16318</itunes:duration><itunes:keywords>australia,birth,herald,league,morning,professional,recreation,rugby,selection,sydney</itunes:keywords><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/51991e9f9963e09dd688f559f7bab204.jpg"/><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>
