Celebrating Rugby League’s Roots at Dunedin Writers Festival

The Dunedin Writers Festival will feature Ryan Bodman in an engaging conversation focused on the rich history of rugby league in New Zealand. Scheduled for October 19, 2023, the discussion, titled “Mud, Sweat and Social Revolution: Telling Aotearoa’s Hidden History,” aims to spotlight the sport’s significance to ordinary people and their struggles.

Bodman, inspired by the resilience of rugby league players and fans, aims to illustrate how the sport reflects the spirit of community and self-advocacy. He draws a personal connection to Dunedin, noting that it is where much of his wife’s family settled during the latter half of the 19th century. Bodman remembers his late great-aunt, Mary Anne Philps, who was a long-time resident of the city, saying, “Rest in peace, Aunty Mary.”

A Personal Connection to Rugby League

For Bodman, rugby league has been a lifelong passion, ignited by watching the Winfield Cup as a child. He became particularly enthusiastic about the Warriors when they joined the competition in 1995. “My perfect Saturday is spent outdoors with family and friends,” he shares, highlighting the importance of community in both his life and the sport.

His writing process is as methodical as his approach to rugby league history. He dedicates the morning to writing, tackling the research one step at a time, which helps him manage the overwhelming task of chronicling nearly a century of the sport’s history in New Zealand. “The key is to be patient with myself,” he explains, noting that outdoor activities like walking or biking help clear his mind when he encounters writer’s block.

Rugby League’s Hidden History

One of the lesser-known aspects of rugby league is its long-standing involvement of women in the sport, with formal participation in New Zealand dating back nearly a century. Bodman aims to shed light on this history, emphasizing the need to recognize the contributions of women to rugby league.

As for his literary preferences, Bodman cites Ursula Le Guin’s translation of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching and the Gospels as his ideal reading material on a deserted island. He expresses enthusiasm for meeting rugby league icons, specifically mentioning Jonathan Thurston, a legend of the Cowboys and Queensland.

Attendees can catch Bodman in conversation with host Matiu Workman at the Dunedin Centre Conference Room 1 at 09:30 on October 19. Tickets for this insightful session are available through dunedinwritersfestival.co.nz.