Springbokkaptein, predikant, filosoof, ambassadeur, kabinetsminister, wêreldreisiger, kunsliefhebber, gesinsman. Dit was en ís die wêreld van dr. Dawie de Villiers, een van Suid-Afrika se ikone wat sy land dekades lank op vele terreine met groot onderskeiding gedien het.

Hierdie boeiende lewensverhaal neem lesers op ’n merkwaardige lewenspad deur Suid-Afrika se sport- en politieke geskiedenis. De Villiers se jeugjare in ’n polities georiënteerde gesin, sy vinnige opgang vanuit sy geliefde Stellenbosch Rugbyklub tot in die Springbokspan, sy moeilike pad met sportbeserings en die soet en suur van Springbok-wees is maar enkele aspekte van dié lekkerlees-ervaring.

Hy vertel van sy betrokkenheid in die politiek as ’n ywerige waarnemer van onder andere die bekende filosoof, prof. Johan Degenaar; sy opwindende lewe as ambassadeur in Londen; as kabinetsminister onder P.W. Botha, F.W. de Klerk en Nelson Mandela; die Kodesa-onderhandelinge en die oorgang na demokrasie; en uiteindelik ’n reeks verrykende reise oor die wêreld as adjunk-sekretaris-generaal van die Verenigde Nasies se World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

My lewensreis is ’n belangrike bydrae om die rol te beskryf van Afrikanerleiers wat uit die rigiede denkskema van apartheid ontsnap het, wat vanweë morele oortuigings én hulle bevoegdhede ’n nuwe Suid-Afrika help skep het.

In 2003, England won the Rugby World Cup. Steve Thompson was there, in England's front row, at the heart of the match, and at the heart of the scrum - one of sport's most destructive, repetitive impacts. But the triumphs came at a cost. When rugby union turned professional, Steve was plunged into a game where raw power meant everything. Today, he remembers nothing about playing in that final. In his words, watching the tape back is like watching a ghost. The years of hurt in an era of professional meat shields, and the culture of sucking up punishment and coming back for more, have taken a terrible toll. Steve has been diagnosed with early onset dementia, and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy. He is in his early forties. There are days when he doesn't remember the names of his wife and four kids. Unforgettable is part sports memoir - with stories contributed by his world-cup winning teammates and his former manager, Sir Clive Woodward - and part raw human storytelling. In it, Steve will make memories for himself and for his children, and will relive the biggest battle of his life, with his toughest opponent - his own mind. Despite the constant reminders of what has been lost, and what is still to lose, Steve's powerful story is one of hope and courage. Unforgettable stands as testament to the ultimate strength of the human mind - and to a man no longer pushing himself to the limit for competition, but for his own place in the world.

'So powerful. This book might just change the way you think about sport forever' - Sir Clive Woodward 'As brave as they come' - Gareth Thomas 'I'm in my early forties. There are days when I don't remember the names of my wife and four kids . . .' In 2003, England won the Rugby World Cup. Steve Thompson was in England's front row, at the heart of the match, and at the heart of the scrum - one of sport's most violent battlegrounds. But triumph came at a cost. Today, he remembers nothing about playing in that final. In his words, watching the tape back is like watching a ghost. The years of hurt, and the culture of sucking up punishment and coming back for more, have taken a terrible toll. Steve has been diagnosed with early onset dementia, and serious progressive brain damage. Steve and his wife Steph had a happy family life planned, with decades ahead of them. Now he needs to capture these elusive memories for the sake of his children, before they disappear forever. With stories contributed by his world-cup winning teammates and his former manager, Sir Clive Woodward, Unforgettable is raw, powerful storytelling. This tale of hope and courage stands as testament to the ultimate strength of the human mind - and to a man no longer pushing himself to the limit for competition, but for his own place in the world.

Here are Scottish rugby's most legendary, celebratory and brilliant moments from the last 50 years.

100 Great Scottish Rugby Moments is a unique celebration of the sport’s most significant moments. Including:

• Andy Irvine's kick to beat England in 1974
• The 1984 Grand Slam
• David Sole, Tony Stanger and the 1990 Grand Slam
• Toony, Paris and that pass
• The great Bill McLaren’s final commentary• Doddie Weir's Big Entry
• The 2019 Calcutta Cup – a match like no other . . .

These epic moments feature exclusive interviews with Gregor Townsend, Jim Telfer, Ian Robertson, Ian McLauchlan, Andy Irvine, Alan Lawson, Iain Milne, Jim Calder, John Rutherford, Finlay Calder, Craig Chalmers, David Sole, Tony Stanger, Scott Hastings, Gavin Hastings, Doddie Weir, Rob Wainwright, Gary Armstrong, Kenny Logan, Bryan Redpath, Chris Paterson, Al Kellock, Sean Maitland and many others. Enjoy a host of brilliant anecdotes and remarkable insights into the controversies, epic matches, thrilling contests and pivotal events on and off the field which shaped these 100 GREAT SCOTTISH RUGBY MOMENTS.

"All the key moments from the last 50 years of Scottish rugby are captured . . . 100 Great Scottish Rugby Moments will definitely bring back some truly great memories for you."
GARY ARMSTRONG OBE

Total Rugby and Think Rugby are rugby classics - two of the most important and influential books ever written on the game of rugby. Thousands of players and coaches around the globe have benefited from the concepts and methods in these books, equipping them with the coaching skills and strategy to play the very best in fifteen-a-side rugby. Total rugby is the antithesis of play-safe rugby - an open, ebullient game in which every player is encouraged to show what he can do as an attacker, defender and supporting player. Total Rugby has become one of the game's most seminal coaching manuals - it highlights inspirational rugby coach Jim Greenwood's radical examination of every facet of the game and his ability to clearly convey the wealth of knowledge he accumulated over many years in the sport.

As the scorer of the only try in Englands historic World Cup victory in 2003, Jason Robinsons career has scaled the peaks. Yet while his career has been statistically impressive -- with 37 tries in 102 starts for Sale, 22 tries in his 35 England appearances and a remarkable 11 tries in 10 Lions appearances -- it is perhaps for his character and personal achievements that Jason is best loved. As Englands first black Rugby Union captain. Jason has given what has in the past been regarded as a stuffy, public school game a much wider profile. Away from the pitch, Jasons conversion from bad lad to religious family man has made him a role model and, while this part of his career has been well-chronicled little is known about the man behind the achievements -- his sense of fun, love of practical jokes and fast food in equal measure. Author Dave Swanton delves behind the public persona of Billy Whizz, a nickname he acquired at Wigan in his Rugby League days. Swanton first saw Jason Robinson play for Wigan in 1992 while working for Warrington Wolves. When Dave later joined Wigan as PR man in 1998 their careers became inextricably linked. Their paths continued to be intertwined when Jason moved across to Rugby Union with Sale Sharks in 2000, shortly after Swanny became Media and PR Manager. For the last eight years Jason Robinson has called him his right hand man. Together Swanny and Robbo have fuelled the rise of Sale from suburban Rugby Union club to a Premiership team challenging for European honours. When they joined, Sale were still adjusting to the demands of the newly professionalised game, playing before crowds of 3,000 at the quiet bonhomie of their Heywood Road home. 5 years on, the club groundshare with Stockport County, have seen their average gate rise to nearly 10,000 and regularly challenge for the top European and domestic honours. Jasons subsequent disappointments with the England and Lions teams are also documented and only serve to throw into sharp relief his previous achievements. Yet Jason remains most famous for the dazzling side-steps that form the basis of his elusive running style. As Neil Squires of the Daily Express discovered when invited to tackle a rampant Robbo in training, One moment a rapidly approaching Jason Robinson is filling my vision, the next he is nowhere to be seen. There is no hole in the ground, no scorched grass, not even a sound as he vanishes. Its like tackling a gust of wind. Robinsons step, Rugbys most watchable magic trick, is even more jaw dropping from the pitch than the stands. The balance and acceleration belong to one of the most highly tuned sports cars, the change of direction to a zigzag.

Crafted in his signature flair-for-detail and humorous writing style, veteran sports journalist Liam Del Carme takes rugby fans and Springbok supporters on the ride of a lifetime in this behind-the-scenes account, Winging It: On tour with the Boks. With more than 25 years’ experience as an insightful sports writer, Del Carme has travelled to six of the seven continents as part of the press corps who follow and write about the national rugby team in all its iterations at international level. His anecdotes will have you wide-eyed with wonderment and chuckling appreciatively at his talent for telling a funny story.

Winging It: On Tour With The Boks is an insider’s view of life on tour from one of South Africa’s most enduring sports writers, Liam Del Carme, while he follows the much-cherished national rugby team, the Springboks.

Del Carme takes the reader across continents and time zones as he shares the helter-skelter atmosphere of meeting looming writing deadlines while finding ways to maintain his sanity. The book explores the ebb and flow of touring with one of rugby’s iconic teams since 1996, including three Rugby World Cups, various Tri-Nations and Rugby Championships, as well as end-of-year tours, in destinations all over the world. He explores the characters, destinations and his travel companions while sharing his highs and lows of covering great rugby moments.

In the book, the reader gets to see the personal side of prominent sports personalities, including Nick Mallett, Harry Viljoen, Gcobani Bobo, Jake White, Eddie Jones, Joost van der Westhuizen, Clive Woodward, Peter de Villiers, Graham Henry, Jean de Villiers, Naas Botha, John Hart, Owen Nkumane, Chester Williams, Allister Coetzee, Heyneke Meyer, Rudolf Straeuli, Os du Randt and Dick Muir.

In order to maximise their performance in training and in matches, rugby players need to understand the importance of energy and nutrients and their role in the working of the body. It is also vitally important that they make appropriate food choices and that they eat and drink those foods in the correct quantities. This informative book clearly explains which foods and fluids, when consumed in the right amounts at the correct times, will help players perform to the best of their ability.

The world of the international rugby referee has always been a closely guarded secret... until now.

As a Durban schoolboy, Jonathan Kaplan watched rugby at Kings Park every Saturday, dreaming of the day he would represent his country. Now, three decades later and at the age of 47, he reflects on the career highs and lows that saw him retire as the most capped international, Super Rugby and Currie Cup referee of all time.

But records and milestones are just a part of an intriguing memoir that affords the reader a rare glimpse into the world of international refereeing... and what lies behind that enigmatic, penetrating glare that is as typical of Jonathan Kaplan as his silver-grey patch of hair.

In Call It Like It Is, Kaplan describes exactly what it takes to be an international rugby referee: his gradual climb to the top, the sacrifices he had to make in his personal life, his struggle with injuries and rugby management, the toll an itinerant lifestyle exacted upon him, and much, much more. But this is not only an autobiography: Kaplan also offers his opinion on the role of technology in rugby, dissects his own successes and failures, debates the selection and assessment of referees, and, yes, gives his take on the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the Bryce Lawrence affair.

Containing all the guts and glory you’d expect from an epic rugby tale, this is also the frank and forthright account of a man who, both in life and on the pitch, would only ever call it like it is.

A Miscellany of Rugby's World Cup (Facts, History, Statistics and Trivia 1987-2019) will transport you directly into the thrilling history of the greatest event in global rugby union. Here's a treasure trove of insider facts, fantastic feats, firsts and lasts, records and stats - covering every nation and every star player to have made their mark in a tournament now watched by 120 million fans worldwide. John White leads you through all the highs and lows and unforgettable moments from Rugby World Cup's 1995 inception, ushering in the sport's professional era, right through to Japan 2019 and the competition's ninth edition. Relive the greatest games and the finest individual performances. Compile your own Rugby World Cup Fantasy XV. Recall the captains, the record try scorers, the youngest and oldest, the longest drop goals and the strangest conversions. And every time you discover an elusive nugget and say to yourself, 'I never knew that,' rest assured John will soon enlighten you with a follow-up to leave you even more amazed. To the victor go the spoils!

A thoroughly researched and comprehensive guide to the 2019 Rugby World Cup, to be held in Japan in September. This is the sporting highlight of the year, with teams from England, South Africa, New Zealand, Wales and Ireland all competing for the coveted William Webb Ellis trophy.

The book will provide the reader with all the information and insight needed to understand and enjoy the competition. Written by sports journalist Graeme Copas, the book covers the history and build up to qualification, the tournament schedule and venues for this Rugby Union showcase, while also providing talking points, an in-depth analysis of each team and insightful interviews with players and rugby experts from a variety of countries Also included is a thoroughly researched survey of the host country, Japan, and the growing popularity of rugby there, telling how they won the right the host the first Rugby World Cup in Asia.

All 20 national teams involved are analysed and assessed on their chances of success, the star players are featured and each coach`s basic strategies outlined and explained. With this book, the reader will have a handy, competent source of information on hand both before the start and especially whilst the tournament proceeds to its thrilling conclusion.

Ray Gravell was undoubtedly one of Wales and rugby's greatest characters. He touched the hearts of all who met him, and his sincere interest in everyone made you feel better after being in his company. This volume brings together touching and humorous anecdotes about him by friends and acquaintances. -- Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru

It was the year 1891, and the first rugby football team from the British Isles was about to embark on a tour of South Africa; any doubts about the financial sustainability of the venture were removed when mining magnate Cecil John Rhodes thumped the table and declared, 'Let them come. I shall stand security for any shortfall.' And so, a tradition began that survived the financial insecurities of the pioneer years, two World Wars, sports boycotts, and the birth of the professional era. This book covers these tours from when matches were played on dusty fields and rugby players were transported in carts over poor roads in the Karoo, in coaches that broke down and on slow trains that, on occasion, caught fire. Crowds were also small in number until 2009 when feted players enjoyed every luxury as they played in some of the finest rugby stadiums in the world in front of enormous crowds. This carefully researched book is the first ever published to focus on all the matches played by the Lions in the 130 years of contests in southern Africa and recounts famous victories, agonizing defeats and nail-biting draws! A welcome addition to any rugby fan's bookshelf.

The Rugby World Cup is the pinnacle tournament for players, coaches and fans alike.

Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has analysed and debated rugby for over 30 years. Known for his brilliant and often forthright commentary, gathered here is a collection of his ideas and opinions and anecdotes for the coming world cup:

• The Magic of the World Cup
• The Springbok Machine
• The Springboks in 2023
• Competition Stronger Than Ever
• Playing in France
• The Rassie Factor
• Matches that will decide the RWC
• Key Players
• The Referees
• The Coaches and Captains – leadership is key
• Handling the pressure – the mental challenge
• Nick’s predictions

'I, Steven Paul Fenwick, have a revelation to make that may surprise many readers. My first international representative rugby union honours were playing for England. There I was, in the line-up up for the English national anthem, in full regalia and the red rose on my chest representing England. I know this may come as a shock and it still feels as odd now as it did all those years ago, but bear with me, don't judge me quite yet!' An icon of Welsh rugby and one of the stars of the great Wales team of the 1970s, Steve Fenwick won three Triple Crowns, two Grand Slams and played in all four Tests of the 1977 Lions tour to New Zealand. He is also one of the very few members of that illustrious team to not have told his story, until now. Witty and engaging with a very dry sense of humour, Steve Fenwick's autobiography tells the story of the schoolboy from Nantgarw who became one of the most celebrated players in the rugby world, and his hilarious anecdotes and recollections of a glittering career during a golden age of Welsh rugby will delight and enthral readers in Wales and beyond.

Heyneke Meyer was still at primary school when he told a teacher that he would one day become the Springbok head coach. Rather than encouraging the youngster, he was told this was a pipedream.This discouragement continued at university, but against advice to the contrary, he studied sports management, education, and, “just about everything I believed was necessary for me to realise my ultimate goal of coaching my country. When my time came, and it would, I had to be ready. But few people believed in me.”
Unknowingly, his coaching career would evolve along seven key principles of leadership, and these would only become apparent to him after experiencing the ebbs and flows of what is an extremely uncertain career choice.
In 1999, in his first “major” coaching job, he led the minnow SWD Eagles-side to their first Currie Cup Play-offs. In the same year, Nick Mallet appointed him as the Springboks’ forwards coach. He was 32 years old, and his dream was taking shape.
But by the time he turned 34, Meyer had twice been fired as the head coach of a Super Rugby side. However, with the support of only a handful of rugby administrators, he would not only go on the turn the struggling Blue Bulls around, winning four Currie Cups in five years, but he also became the first coach to lead a South African Super Rugby side victory in 2007; the first of three titles in four years. In Pretoria, Meyer built a dynasty, making the Bulls the envy of just about every other major rugby club and franchise in the world. As it has done for me, 7 – My Notes on Leadership and Life, will serve as a map and compass for anyone seeking hope, direction and fulfilment in roles of leadership, be they corporate executives

In 1891 the first rugby football team from the British Isles embarked on a tour of South Africa. This tour began a tradition that survived the financial insecurities of the pioneer years, two World Wars, sports boycotts, and the birth of the professional era.
This book covers the tours from when matches were played on dusty fields and rugby players were transported in carts over poor roads in the Karoo, in coaches that broke down and on slow trains that, on occasion, caught fire. Tours between the World Wars when South Africa dominated the rugby landscape across the world. It follows the famous clashes of 1955 when, for the first time, a crowd in excess of 90 000 attended a rugby match. It deals with the all-conquering 1974 Lions led by the legendary Willie John McBride. Finally, it focuses on the two Lions tours that have visited these shores in 1997 and 2009 following the advent of full democracy and re-admittance to world rugby.
To be a Lion is to reach the pinnacle of rugby achievement in the British Isles. To tour South Africa, where rugby tours originated, is the crowning glory of one's career. To face the Lions has always been, and will always remain, one of the greatest honours for any player who dons the green and gold of the Springboks.
This carefully researched book is the first ever published to focus on all the matches played by the Lions in the 130 years of contests in southern Africa and recounts famous victories, agonizing defeats and nail-biting draws! A welcome addition to any rugby fan's bookshelf.

This book critically examines how rugby union has developed in recent years, in nations on the periphery of the sport. Focusing on people and places on the fringes, it examines contemporary issues and challenges within the global game. Such a collection is timely, as the sport's governing body seeks to expand influence and participation beyond the eight core nations, with the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan being the first time that that tournament has taken place outside of the core. Presenting case studies from Europe, Africa, North and South America, Asia and the Middle East, this collection offers an interdisciplinary account of a sport that is undergoing a period of significant change. Through examination of topics such as the development of rugby sevens and the growth of women's rugby, it considers what the future may hold for the sport. Rugby in Global Perspective is important reading for students of sport in society, the globalisation of sport, sports studies, sport development and associated fields. It is also a valuable resource for academic researchers working in rugby union or sport in the peripheral rugby nations, as well as those with an interest in cultural geography, sociology, development studies, events studies, event management and sport management.