The Progressive Rugby League Podcast
1) PRL BOOK CLUB - Roy Francis: Rugby's Forgotten Black Leader by Tony Collins
Roy Francis is one of the most significant figures in British Rugby League history. A Black British sporting legend, Roy followed up a distinguished playing career with a ground-breaking period as coa...Show More
PRL BOOK CLUB - Roy Francis: Rugby's Forgotten Black Leader by Tony Collins
50:31 | Dec 4th, 2025
2) Steve Mascord on the question of the French connection to Super League
Independent international Rugby League reporting raconteur, Steve Mascord, gives us the lowdown on which way the pendulum is currently swinging for French involvement in Super League. Who's on which s...Show More
3) Unlucky 13. The Rugby League ban in Vichy France with Melissa McMahon
The banning of Rugby League in Vichy France continues to intrigue and appal 85 years on. Melissa McMahon, author of Unlucky 13: Amateurism as a weapon of war in Vichy France, joins the pod to discuss ...Show More
4) PRL BOOK CLUB - Melanesia: Travels in Black Oceania by Hamish McDonald
It's a real treat to have the OG of Australian journalists with a penchant for foreign affairs named Hamish McDonald, Hamish McDonald on the pod to discuss his fascinating new book Melanesia: Travels ...Show More
5) PRL 31 March 2025 - The Art of Commentary with Quentin Hull
ABC commentary doyen, Quentin Hull, joins the pod to discuss the art of commentary. This curious artform is a soundtrack to so many of our lives. Let's get under the hood to better understand how good...Show More
6) PRL 19 November 2024 - Ray Ahn from the Hard Ons takes stock of 40-plus years of rock n roll n Rugby League
Hard Ons founding member, bassist, artist and staunch Parramatta Eels fan, Ray Ahn joins the pod to take stock of 40-plus years of the Hard Ons and the travails of being a Parramatta supporter through...Show More
7) PRL 6 November 2024 - State of the UK Rugby League Nation 2024 with Anthony Broxton and Gavin Willacy
It's time again to shove the thermometer where it needs to go to take the temperature of Rugby League in the Old Dart as we observe the State of the UK Rugby League Nation 2024.Joining us is a panel (...Show More
8) Reboot - PRL Book Club - Plum by Brendan Cowell
A reboot from 2022 of a great chat with Brendan Cowell about his novel Plum, which has just been turned into a beaut TV series. Plum is the tale about the turbulent post-footy life of Rugby League gre...Show More
9) PRL BOOK CLUB - Rugby League in New Zealand: A People's History by Ryan Bodman
Rugby League in New Zealand: A People's History is the definitive account of the people and the culture of the great game in Aotearoa. Author and historian, Ryan Bodman joins us to chat about Rugby Le...Show More
PRL BOOK CLUB - Rugby League in New Zealand: A People's History by Ryan Bodman
59:35 | Sep 3rd, 2024
10) PRL 15 August 2024 - Behind the Royal Blue curtain of the Newtown Jets, with CEO Stuart McCarthy
Newtown Jets CEO Stuart McCarthy joins the pod to give us a glimpse into what it's like running a Rugby League club away from the bright lights of the NRL. What are the spreadsheet tabs that matter? I...Show More