Australian sports publishing heavyweight, Geoff Armstrong, joins this very special PRL Book Club to share tales from his favourite all-time Rugby League books.

As author, publisher, editor and more, Geoff has shepherded book releases that together have sold in the millions. So who better to ask about books from Rugby League's storied history that simply cannot be ignored.

As most of our PRL Book Clubs have had an international bent, we've asked Geoff to focus on Australian Rugby League books. But never fear, British fans, Geoff also finds time to shout out a few of his UK faves - that's just the kind of guy he is.

In and around talk of these immense tomes, we also chat about the tricks of the sports-writing trade, the trajectory of sports publishing and the Rugby League stories we want to read in the future.

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Rugby League largely splutters where it exists around the world. But it's a different story in New South Wales and Queensland. What is it that has made Australia's 'northern states' unique, and their capitals - Olympic cities no less - the only 'global cities' on the planet where Rugby League sits atop the sporting summit?

This (draft) essay muses on this question and ponders how it all came to be.

Contact the pod via progressiverugbyleague@gmail.com

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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 coach, where he pioneered methods decades ahead of their time.

What is less known is the impact the game in Australia had on this storied personality.

Professor Tony Collins joins the pod to take us through the remarkable times of Roy Francis, Rugby's Forgotten Black Leader, including how a stint with the North Sydney Bears went sour and changed Roy's life.

If you want to get in touch, you can do so at progressiverugbyleague@gmail.com

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