As a Premiership, World Cup, and Grand Slam winner, no one better embodies the charisma and the color of English rugby's greatest era than Lawrence Dallaglio. He has some story to tell, not just of the formidable exploits on the field, but an extraordinary life off it. His only sister, Francesca, was the youngest to perish in the "Marchioness" disaster and her death at 19 remains the great sadness of his life. In addition to this and his much-talked about England exploits, he also led his club Wasps to the summit of European rugby, winning two Heineken Cups and three consecutive English Premiership titles. Full of drama, controversy, and great sadness, Lawrence Dallaglio's story--the last of the great World Cup heroes--is the one every rugby fan has been waiting to read.

New Zealand's wonderful victory over close rivals Australia in the Twickenham final brought to close a thrilling 2015 Rugby World Cup which saw southern hemisphere teams dominate and playing a style of rugby which left the northern teams wondering how they can compete in future. This 395 page book concentrates on the 2015 tournament, detailing each pool and knock-out phase match, full information on all the qualifying competitions, each country's squads with changes made, plus a 10 page section filled with records and statistics from both the latest tournament and for the history of the world cup. The book also has match details for every game played in the world cup since 1987.

Imagine a Springbok as a finished product coming off a factory assembly line. What are the components required? And what does it take for them to cohere into a successful team? Author Liz McGregor spent two years behind the scenes interviewing the players, coaches, wives and girlfriends, mothers and teachers. She also spoke to the Bok doctor and physio, the sponsors, brand managers and the logistics guy. And then there’s the boss, the South African Rugby Union.

What she discovered is as fascinating as it is complex: that parents play a crucial role, as do those early coaches and teachers who identify and nurture talent; that injury lurks behind every corner; that it takes incredible courage to go back onto the field to face another battering; and that the ‘business’ of the Springboks is one that is both well and poorly managed, depending where you look.

By the end of her journey, McGregor had developed a deep regard for the players and many of the people who work to put the best team South Africa can offer onto the field. Nelson Mandela showed how a Springbok team can unite a nation. But there are parts of the Springbok Factory that are in urgent need of repair or, indeed, replacement.

The bestselling autobiography of the greatest rugby player of our time: Brian O'Driscoll. Since 1999, when he made his international debut, there has been no greater player in world rugby than Brian O'Driscoll. In 2010 Rugby World magazine named him its world player of the decade - and since then the legend has only grown. Now, at the end of his amazing career - which culminated in fairy-tale fashion with Ireland's victory in the 2014 Six Nations championship - he tells his own story. Honest, gritty and thoughtful, Brian O'Driscoll's Autobiography is not just an essential sports book. It is an essential book about family, friends, hard work, courage and imagination. 'Honest, charming and revealing - a thoroughly good read' Rugby World 'A thoroughly enjoyable read ... After reading The Test I warmed even more to O'Driscoll as a player and a man. He stood for a new ethos in Irish sport that refused to accept mediocrity or glorious failure' Fergal Keane, Irish Times 'O'Driscoll's honesty ... takes the reader to a place they simply have not been before' Vincent Hogan, Irish Independent 'A must-read insight into the life and mind of Ireland's greatest rugby player' Irish Mail on Sunday 'There are fascinating insights into the lengths he was willing to go to perform at the highest level' Sunday Business Post

The story of a typical English rugby club set in its historical context linked to the tale of the rare survival of a multi-sport Victorian complex. This will be of interest and use to local people, sports enthusiasts and serious sports historians.

Rugby Football was the first volume in the successful nine-part series on Sports and Pastimes that was written for the Isthmian Library between 1896 and 1901. It was also one of the first rugby books to be written after members of the Rugby Football Union became bitterly divided over a proposal to pay match expenses to players. During 1896, the R.F.U. split and two new rugby codes were born; the strictly amateur code of Rugby Union and the more professionally inclined code of Rugby League. Bertram Fletcher Robinson was a supporter of amateurism in sport and he felt that the time was ripe to chart the birth of Rugby Union as a distinct branch of Rugby Football. During the 1890s, The Times newspaper described Fletcher Robinson as a household name within rugby circles . Robinson played as a Forward alongside many international players for both the Cambridge University Rugby Football Club 1st XV and the Combined Oxford & Cambridge University Rugby Football Club XV. According to his obituary in the Daily Express newspaper, he would have been capped for England but for an accident. Hence he was well qualified to write an anecdotal account of the origin of Rugby Union. Rugby Football details the laws, training techniques and tactics that were specific to Rugby Union during its nascent period. It also reviews the development of Rugby Union in British educational institutions and as a global international sport. Rugby Football includes contributions from several other historical rugby figures: Frank Mitchell (Cambridge University & England), Richard Henry Burdon Cattell (Oxford University, Blackheath, Moseley, Barbarians, Midland Counties & England), Charles James Nicol Fleming (Oxford University & Scotland), Gregor MacGregor (Cambridge University, Barbarians & Scotland) and Henry Barrington Tristram (Oxford University & England).

Determined, dedicated, and dogmatic, Martyn Williams is the inspiring number seven lynchpin who has steered club and country to victory in inimitable style. In his action-packed autobiography, he writes about his love for the sport he has made his own. Starting out with hometown team Pontypridd, he made his Wales debut at just 20 and won the Welsh league title with Pontypridd the following year, repeating the feat in his first season after joining Cardiff, whom he went on to captain for three years. Twice a British Lion, his finest hour came as the award-winning role in Wales' Six Nations championship Grand Slam of 2005. But there is far more to Martyn than his seemingly smooth career path from valleys rugby to international stardom. He speaks candidly about the double personal tragedies of losing both his mother and brother to cancer and of the challenges of combining his sports commitments with being a husband and father to his two children. Full of surprises, he also reveals his passion for both American football and soccer. A diehard Liverpool fan, he was a talented center-half himself in his teenage years. He speaks about the controversial departure of Mike Ruddock as coach of the national team, the drinking culture in Welsh rugby in the early years of professionalism, the infamous Battle of Brive, and why he turned down the chance to captain Wales at the 2003 World Cup. He also gives his views on the influx of southern hemisphere coaches like Graham Henry and Steve Hansen, plus the lowdown on how he prepares and trains and what really goes on in the dressing room. With coverage of 2008 RBS Six Nations and revealing portraits of his teammates and opponents, this honest, witty, informative, and entertaining autobiography is a must for fans and any sports lover.

As France's oldest team sport, rugby football has throughout its 125-year history reflected major changes in French society. This book analyzes for the first time the complex variety of motives that have led the French to adopt and remake this rather unlikely British sport in their own image. A major site for the construction of masculine, class-based regional and national identities, France's tradition of 'Champagne rugby' continues to be as subject to dramatic upheavals as the society that produced it. The game's precocious professionalism and endemic violence have not infrequently caused the French to be cast as international pariahs. Such isolation, exacerbated by internal politics, has led the French not only to encourage the extension of the sport beyond its British imperial base (into Italy and Romania, for instance), but also to engage in some uncomfortable tactical alliances, most obviously with apartheid South Africa.
Taking his analysis both on and off the field, the author tackles these issues and much more: the relationship of sport and the state (including particularly the Vichy period and the period under de Gaulle); professionalization; the persistence of colonial and postcolonial structures (including the role of ethnic minorities); and gender issues - especially masculine identities. At the same time he links the evolution of the sport to the broader context of French socio-economic, political and cultural history.
This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the cultural analysis of sport or French popular culture.

As France's oldest team sport, rugby football has throughout its 125-year history reflected major changes in French society. This book analyzes for the first time the complex variety of motives that have led the French to adopt and remake this rather unlikely British sport in their own image. A major site for the construction of masculine, class-based regional and national identities, France's tradition of 'Champagne rugby' continues to be as subject to dramatic upheavals as the society that produced it. The game's precocious professionalism and endemic violence have not infrequently caused the French to be cast as international pariahs. Such isolation, exacerbated by internal politics, has led the French not only to encourage the extension of the sport beyond its British imperial base (into Italy and Romania, for instance), but also to engage in some uncomfortable tactical alliances, most obviously with apartheid South Africa.Taking his analysis both on and off the field, the author tackles these issues and much more: the relationship of sport and the state (including particularly the Vichy period and the period under de Gaulle); professionalization; the persistence of colonial and postcolonial structures (including the role of ethnic minorities); and gender issues - especially masculine identities. At the same time he links the evolution of the sport to the broader context of French socio-economic, political and cultural history.This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the cultural analysis of sport or French popular culture.

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

The first biography of the enigmatic coach who has completely transformed the England rugby team. After Eddie Jones began coaching England's rugby team, they won 22 of their next 23 matches. The side that limped out of the 2015 World Cup was thoroughly revitalised. But who was the unconventional figure responsible for this change of fortune? And, given recent setbacks, will Eddie be able to inspire England to bring their best to the 2019 World Cup? From his school days playing alongside the legendary Ella brothers to his masterminding of Japan's jaw-dropping World Cup victory over South Africa, Eddie Jones has always been a polarising figure, known for his punishing work ethic. Constantly controversial, never complacent, Jones has truly shaken up English rugby. Drawing on over a hundred interviews with former teammates, players, administrators, coaching colleagues and Jones himself, veteran rugby writer Mike Colman brings a rare level of insight to his biography of this singular man.

In RUGBY TALES, Lawrence Dallaglio recalls with affection and razor-sharp humour, the behind-the-scenes stories that have previously only been shared within the world of international rugby, together with some classics from his rugby-playing colleagues and mates. There's the one about the 2003 World Cup winner who curtseyed to the queen and another featuring the rugby legend who was affronted by the suggestion that he had been out on the town until 3 a.m. days before a crucial match. 'Don't you look at me,' he cried indignantly, 'I got in at six.' Featuring big games, bigger personalities, quick-fire banter and the odd pint or two, these are the best of the best from the legends of the dressing room, pitch and pub.

The South African rugby annual 2016 is the official record of an historic and memorable season in South African rugby and is widely considered to be the finest rugby yearbook in the world. The unrivalled ‘bible’ of the game continues to definitively chronicle the unfolding history of South African rugby and this 45th edition, at 704 pages, which includes a 32-page full-colour section of Springbok team and action photos, is the biggest to date – crammed with more records, amazing facts, milestones and memorable moments than ever before. Which Springbok has played more Rugby World Cup matches than anyone else? Which team went unbeaten in 2015 and lifted the most prized trophy in South African rugby? And just who were the tallest, shortest, heaviest & lightest players to take the field in a first-class match? With its unrivalled mix of rugby trivia, cutting-edge research and every record imaginable, the South African rugby annual 2016 will continue to settle arguments at braais across the land.

A sport popular in over 100 countries around the world, rugby is said to have originated when William Webb Ellis 'with fine disregard for the rules of football as played in his time at Rugby school, first took the ball in his arms and ran with it, thus originating the distinctive feature of the Rugby game'. While the popular story of the schoolboy William Webb Ellis going rogue is an amusing anecdote, it is unlikely that the development of the game was sourced from one youngster's actions. Written in 1922, The Classic Guide to Rugby looks at the shape of the game after the First World War. A firmly established and popular sport at the time of writing, D. R. Gent, an ex-England international, tackles differing types of play, the qualities of a good captain, the temperament required to be a patient and fair referee, the spirit of the game and rugby's position in future society.

After the terrible losses of The Great War, twenty years later the Second World War resulted in the death of some of the finest sporting icons. This book honours the ninety international rugby players who lost their lives. Fifteen were Scottish, fourteen English, eleven Welsh and eight Irish. Australia and New Zealand suffered with ten and two internationals killed respectively and France eight. Germany topped the list with nineteen. In the same way that the Authors best-selling Into Touch remembered the 130 Internationals lost in the First World War, Final Scrum gives an individual biography of each of the ninety with their international and club playing record as well as their backgrounds, details of their military careers and circumstances of their death. We learn where they are buried or commemorated together with at least one photograph of each player. Rugby enthusiasts will find this book a fascinating and moving record of the sacrifice of the finest young men of their generation who fought in the second worldwide conflict of the 20th Century.

To be a complete rugby player, you must master both the physical and mental skills of the game. You must be prepared, committed and determined to succeed. You must be focused-Focused for Rugby. Authors Dr. Adam Nicholls and Jon Callard, former England International player and professional coach, pool their years of experience and offer a mental training programme designed to maximise performance on the rugby field. You'll learn instantly applicable strategies for coping with stress, building confidence, managing emotions, and leading a team. You'll even go inside the zone so you can be at your best in even the most pressure-filled situations. Focused for Rugby is more than a psychology text; it is a training programme that will sharpen mental skills and unleash your full potential. Expert advice and step-by-step techniques will transfer directly to your game. Focused for Rugby is your complete guide to becoming a complete player.

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.

Fourteen years since his autobiography, Size Doesn't Matter, English rugby's most decorated flanker, Neil Back, returns with a tale of triumphs, heartaches and broken promises. From his anti-hero role as 'The Hand of Back' in Leicester Tigers' European Cup triumph over Munster, to Grand Slam glory and the 2003 World Cup with England, Neil is never far from the story. The Death of Rugby dissects the Lions' disastrous 2005 tour of New Zealand, the ousting of his mentor Dean Richards from Leicester Tigers, and Neil's three years in charge of Leeds, before being recruited by The Rugby Football Club, and why Neil and his colleagues had to walk away, despite an unbeaten season, and league and cup double. Neil deals with the adjustment from professional sportsman into family and regular working life, despite a critical illness in 2013, which has shaped his perspective on life.

Argentina made history at Rugby World Cup 2007 by finishing third in the world. The South American nation finished the World Cup ahead of traditional powers including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales and hosts France - all have previously hosted matches in multiple World Cup tournaments. In finishing third in 2007, Argentina became the only Rugby World Cup semi finalist who has not yet hosted a Rugby World Cup.Since then rugby has undergone significant changes to at last adjust to professionalism. Now a part of The Rugby Championship Argentina is a rugby nation in rapid transition and Argentina has officially been accepted as an elite team backed by a responsible union. With England hosting in 2015 and Japan in 2019, it will be time for a Southern Hemisphere country to host in 2023. By 2023 Oceania would have hosted three World Cup's, Africa one, Asia one and Europe four and the Americas zero. Rich in tradition and packed with talent Argentina 2023 is certain to be a roaring success.

A comprehensive history of the oldest surviving rugby club in Bristol. Founded in 1872 by Masters and former pupils of Clifton College, its roots go back to Rugby School itself. This all started with www.cliftonrfchistory.co.uk which has now become the largest rugby club history website in the world.

In Animated by Uncertainty, Joshua D. Rubin analyzes South African rugby through the lens of aesthetic politics. Building on 17 months of ethnographic research with rugby coaches, players, and administrators, the author argues that rugby is a form of performance and further that the qualities that define rugby shape the political ends to which the sport can be put. In this respect, Animated by Uncertainty demonstrates that theories of sporting politics cannot afford to overlook the qualities of the sports themselves, and it provides a theoretical approach to illustrate how these qualities can be studied. The book also analyzes the ways that apartheid and colonialism inhere in South African institutions and practices. Drawing inspiration from the observation that South Africans could always abandon rugby if they chose to do so, Rubin highlights how the continuing significance of rugby as a form of performance brings traces of South Africa's apartheid and colonial past into the country's contemporary political moment.