'If we win today, for the rest of our lives we'll be blood brothers. Nobody can do it for us. We are the twenty-two players who can go out there and create history.' Stuart Duncan In 1999, Ulster - whose squad included builders, students and lorry drivers, as well as professional players - overcame the odds to become the first Irish champions of Europe. The Last Amateurs tells the story of how the team went, in just fourteen months, to a record-breaking 56-3 defeat to Wasps, to victories over French giants Toulouse and Stade Francais to secure their place in Irish history. Based on interviews with all the key members of the squad - including David Humphreys, Mark McCall, Simon Mason and Andy Ward - the book tells for the first time the remarkable story of the players and the team, and of the turbulent campaign that led to them being crowned kings of Europe.

Rugby has always been a sport with as much drama off the field as on it. For every thrilling last-minute Jonny Wilkinson drop-goal to win the World Cup or Jonah Lomu rampage down the touchline for a try, there has been a split, a feud or a controversy. The Oval World is the first full-length history of rugby on a world scale - from its origins in the village-based football games of medieval times up to the globalised sport of the twenty-first century, now played in over 100 countries. It tells the story of how a game played in an obscure English public school became the winter sport of the British Empire, spreading to France, Argentina, Japan and the rest of the world and commanding a global television audience of over four billion for the last World Cup final. It also explores how American football - and other games such as Australian, Canadian and Gaelic football - emerged from their English cousin. Featuring the great moments in the game's history and its legendary names - David Duckham, Serge Blanco, Billy Boston and David Campese, alongside Rupert Brooke, King George V, Boris Karloff, Charles de Gaulle and Nelson Mandela - The Oval World investigates just what it is about rugby that enables it to thrive in countries with very different traditions and cultures. This is the definitive world history of a truly global sport.

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.

When Errol Tobias was selected for the Springbok rugby team there was an immediate uproar. He became our first black Springbok in 1980 – in the middle of South Africa’s isolation from international sport and growing protest action against the government. In Errol Tobias: Pure Gold he talks openly about his sporting career: from childhood to the great moments in the green and gold. Here are the joys, the losses, and the controversy.

The truth behind legendary rugby matches is revealed, such as the South American tour where Tobias broke a world record, and the disastrous New Zealand tour that was overshadowed by protests against the Springboks. He writes about his close friendship with fellow Springbok legend Rob Louw, and the unwavering support of Danie ‘Doc’ Craven. Tobias also gives his opinion on the quota system of today.

Many others have talked about Errol Tobias and his effect on South African rugby. Here is his side of the story.

Errol Tobias se verkiesing tot Springbok was onmiddelik omstrede. In 1980 word hy ons eerste swart Springbok rugbyspeler – te midde van internasionale sport-isolasie en groeiende protes weens die regeringsbeleid. In Errol Tobias: Suiwer Goud vertel hy openhartig van sy sportloopbaan: vanaf kindsbeen tot met die groot oomblikke in die groen-en-goud, die vreugdes, die verlies, en die omstredenheid.

Die waarheid agter legendariese rugbywedstryde word onthul, soos die Suid-Amerikaanse toer waar Tobias ’n rekord gebreek het, en die rampspoedige Nieu-Seeland-toer waar protesaksie teen die Springbokspan oorweldigend geword het. Hy skryf oor sy hegte vriendskap met Springboklegende Rob Louw, en die onwrikbare ondersteuning van Danie ‘Dok’ Craven. Hier is ook Tobias se opinie oor vandag se kwotastelsels.

Baie ander mense het al hul opinie oor Errol Tobias en sy rol in Suid-Afrikaanse rugby gelewer. Hier is sý kant van die saak.

A collection of 125 activities, practices, and games designed to improve coaching sessions at all levels of the gameThe rugby drills presented here are organized into chapters according to a particular skill or phase of the game, from the warm up to handling, contact, lineout, scrum, kicking, and defense. Each chapter starts with a series of simple activities before progressing through to more complex ones, each broken down into step-by-step explanations and diagrams, as well as guidance on how to increase the level of difficulty. Tried and tested over a number of years, and proven to work in developing skills and teamwork with players of all abilities, many of the drills were created by the author, while some have been used by the most famous coaches in the world. All of them were designed for use without the need for specialist or expensive equipment.

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 biggest single sports and television event in Canada marks its 100th championship in 2012. The Terrible Tripper of 1957, the 1962 Fog Bowl, Vic Washington's Fabulous Fumble in 1968, Tony Gabriel's Classic Catch in 1976, Henry "Gizmo" Williams's Wild Run in 1987, and Dave Ridgway's Magnificent Kick in 1989 are some of the legendary moments leading up to the 100th Grey Cup game in November 2012 in Toronto. You'll find all of them in Grey Cup Century and much more. Canadian football has had a long and storied history dating back to the 1860s. In 1909, Earl Grey, the governor general of Canada, donated a trophy to honour the best amateur rugby football club in the country. The first team to win a Grey Cup was the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. In 1954 the Canadian Football League, a professional organization, took over sole control of the Cup. Since then gridiron giants such as Sam Etcheverry, Norm Kwong, Jackie Parker, Russ Jackson, Ron Lancaster, Lui Passaglia, Doug Flutie, and Michael "Pinball" Clemons have dazzled fans in an annual championship that now attracts as many as six million television viewers.

'n Rugbylegende is volksbesit; iemand wat ver buite die grense van provinsialisme aanvaar en bewonder word. Noord-Transvaal en die Blou Bulle het van die wereld se grootste rugbylegendes opgelewer. Mens kan dadelik dink aan Frik du Preez, bekend vir die legendariese wedstryd waar hy sommer "gedrop, geplace en gescore" het. Herinneringe aan Naas Botha se taktiese skoppe, waar hy selfs kan spog met 'n doelskop van die kantlyn af in 'n amperse orkaan en stortreen. Joost van der Westhuizen met sy giftige breekslae van vaste fasette af en ook losskrums en losgemale sal menige rubgy-ondersteuners bybly. En Victor Matfield wat wereldrugby se lynstane oorheers het is maar enkeles wat in die merkwaardige boek voorkom. Hierdie boek bespreek die loopbane en prestasies van 75 van die legendariese spelers wat die afgelope 75 jaar vir Noord-Transvaal, die Blou Bulle en die Bulls gespeel het.

As the most capped Springbok ever, Victor Matfield is a national hero who transcends rugby provincialism and has fans across the world. His rugby exploits and achievements are numerous: he was an instrumental part of the team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup, he helped win two Tri Nations tournaments for the Boks, he has lifted the Super 14 trophy three times with the Bulls and he has enjoyed Currie Cup glory.

In his much-anticipated autobiography, he opens up about his life, from growing up as a shy boy in Pietersburg to moving to Pretoria, where he had to learn the hard way about dealing with the pleasures of life as a talented young rugby player. He talks frankly about his issues with coaches, including his mentor Heyneke Meyer and Jake White, who once tried to physically attack him. Victor also deals with Kamp Staaldraad and other controversies, the challenges rugby poses to his personal life and the sacrifices inherent in the life of a professional sportsman.

In this Rugby World Cup year, this is undoubtedly the one book every rugby fan will want to read.

Een Wêreldbeker, ’n reeks-oorwinning oor die Britse en Ierse Leeus, twee Drienasies-titels, drie Super Rugby-trofeë en drie Curriebekers… Dit is een man se buitengewone prestasies in ’n loopbaan wat oor 16 ongelooflike jare gestrek het. Sy naam is Victor Matfield, en hy is ’n internasionale en Suid-Afrikaanse sportlegende. Jy wíl sy storie lees…

Vanaf sy grootwordjare toe hy ’n skaam, sport-mal seuntjie in Pietersburg was totdat hy die kruin van sy sukses in sy rugbyloopbaan bereik het, het Victor as ’n professionele sportman op die harde manier geleer van die plesier wat die lewe bied sowel as die pynlike druk wat daarmee saam gaan. In hierdie outobiografie waarna daar met groot afwagting uitgesien is, vertel hy openhartig van sy verhoudings met sy afrigters, insluitend Heyneke Meyer, Jake White en Peter de Villiers, die sterk bande wat hy met sy spanmaats gesmee het by die Bulle en in die nasionale span, en sy diepgaande liefde en respek vir die Springbok-trui. Hy bespreek die strydige kwessies wat die Suid-Afrikaanse rugbytoneel geteister het in die tydgleuf waarbinne sy loopbaan geval het, die opgang in Blou Bul-rugby en hul tekortkominge ten opsigte van topvorm-kondisie tydens sy laaste rugbyseisoen, die Bokke se kontroversiële kwarteindstryd wat die einde van hul mededinging om die Rugbywêreldbeker in 2011 beteken het, sy uittrede uit rugby en veel, veel meer.

Victor: My Reis is ongetwyfeld die een boek wat elke rugbyliefhebber sál wil lees.

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.

Suid-Afrikaners is dol oor rugby en hulle hou daarvan om lekker te lag. Hier kommie Bokke! kombineer twee van Suid-Afrika se gunsteling-tydverdrywe in een skreeusnaakse boek wat gewaarborg is om die lagspiere te prikkel. Daar is gevatte kwinkslae, klassieke segoed van toeka se dae en die heel jongste Super 15-grappe. Daar is geen heilige koeie in Hier Kommie Bokke! nie, en almal – van die voorry en agterlyn tot rugby-poppies, skeidsregters, ondersteuners en afrigters – loop deur. Gewaarborg om lesers te laat skaterlag.

An inspirational full-colour book that features entries on the world’s greatest and most exciting clubs and stadiums. From Scotland to New Zealand, Argentina to South Africa, this is the ultimate guide to the best international rugby clubs and their home nations.

Gesonde belangstelling of totale verslawing? Wat maak dat soveel Afrikaanse mans (en vroue) heeltemal rugbymal is? In die titel verduidelik oud-Springbokke, rugbyjoernaliste en gewone ondersteuners waarom hulle so versot is op die spel. Sommige vertel van waardevolle lewenslesse wat hulle op en van die veld af geleer het, terwyl ander nostalgies raak oor onvergeetlike momente in Springbok-rugby. Alles word gedek: van raserige ma's langs hoerskoolrugbyvelde tot die uitwerking op 'n man se selfbeeld as sy span alweer verloor. Van die skrywers sluit in: Wynand Claassen, (vrou van Springbok-kaptein Corne Krige), deur Louis de Villiers (Rapport-rugbyjoernalis), Gert van der Westhuizen (Sportredakteur van Beeld), Leon-Ben Lamprecht (Weg-joernalis).

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).

Of jy nou vir Bitterfontein, die Blou Bulle of die Bokke speel, rugby bly ’n spel met baie snaakse situasies, op en van die veld. Daar's nie nog 'n sport waaruit soveel stories uit die skrum van die lewe gehaak word nie. Boots en brannewyn is 'n lekker ontspanboek wat o.a. vertel van Morrie Zimerman se gatvol raak vir hoekskoppies; Ferdie Bergh se helderblou Springbok-kouse; die ref wat die Bokke teregwys dat 'die Engelse julle darem nou lekker donner'; 'n boerbok wat 'n Villagers-man buite aksie stel; en Bob Skinstad se 'noodgebed' voor 'n wedstryd. Daar is ook heelwat staaltjies oor legendes soos Oom Boy Louw, Dok Craven, Oubaas Mark en Colin Meads, oor breiers en refs en die manewales van die Kiwis, Aussies en die Ses Nasies-manne. 'n Lekker-lag boek vir rugby-liefhebbers.

Suid-Afrika het sy eerste toets in 1891 in Port Elizabeth teen die Britse Eilande gespeel en met 0-4 verloor. Percy Montgomery was die eerste en enigste Springbok wat in 100 toetse gespeel het. Hy het in 2008 uitgetree, na 'n rekord van 102 toetse en 893 punte in die Springboktrui. Tien stelle pa's en seuns het vir Suid-Afrika gespeel, waarvan Hennie en Andries Bekker die jongste is. Twaalf Springbokke se vroue het Suid-Afrika in ander sportsoorte verteenwoordig. Die jongste was Hannelie du Randt, Os du Randt se vrou, as swemster. Springbok-allegaartjie gee jou alles wat jy oor die beroemde span wil weet, van die heel eerste wedstryd tot die hede. Die skrywers se noukeurige navorsing onthul rekords en feite wat nog nooit die lig gesien het nie, en hulle vertel ook gewilde verhale rondom Suid-Afrikaanse rugby oor die jare heen. Tabelle, aanteke-ninge, feite en statistiek verander die boek in ’n skatkis met alles wat ’n rugbygeesdriftige oor die Springbokspan wil weet: die spelers, die erfenis, die rampe en die seges.

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.

Dit is met trots en nederigheid dat die Blou Bulle Rugby - Unie sy 70ste herdenking vier - trots oor die prestasies van die spelers van die voormalige Noord-Transvaal en die Blou Bulle; en nederig, dat die drome en visie van die wat hulle vir 'n onafhanklike unie beywer het suksesvol nagestreef is. Blou Bulle - 70 Glorie Jare is nie bedoel om 'n naslaanwerk te wees nie. Dit is die storie van die totstandkoming van die unie en hoe dit oor die 70 jaar ontwikkel het. Die hoogtepunte - en ook laagtepunte - word in die titel gedokumenteer, insluitende die prestasies op die veld en in die raadsale van Suid-Afrika en inderdaad die wereld; so ook die probleme tydens die oorgang na professionalisme. Die rol van die skeidsregters, die ondersteuners, die skole en die klubs word gekombineer in hierdie verhaal van eenheid van wat eintlik 'n enkele groot familie is, omdat die unie so na aan sy ondersteuners staan.

Die afgelope 27 jaar was 'n uitdagende en opwindende tyd in ons land se geskiedenis, en die Matieklub het, getrou aan tradisie en verwagting, voortgebou op die lewering van spelers van gehalte en uitsonderlike talent. Hierdie publikasie bring hulde aan elke speler, afrigter en administrateur wat die klub met trots en eerbied in hierdie tydperk gedien en gedra het. Die titel bevat biografiee van al die Matie-Springbokke van hierdie era, asook die tellings van die belangrikste toernooie.

101 Rugby decisions takes the reader through a variety of on-field situations and, in plain language, explains the reasoning and laws behind the relevant decisions. This title is an ideal guide for referees, players, coaches and spectators and reflects the altest laws as outlined by the International Rugby Board.

Winning! tells the story of the remarkable past six years - an unforgettable journey that began in September 1997 and took the team from the lower ranks of international first-class rugby to the top as World Cup Champions. Sir Clive Woodward and his team mounted a campaign of vast change, great learning, team building and clear vision to achieve their aim. 'We would question everything, change anything and leave no stone unturned,' he writes. Winning! will talk about the team's journey of innovation and discovery and will reveal exactly how it happened, the fundamentals of their success and how these principles can be applied to any human endeavour. 'We changed the way we coached, the way we played and, of equal importance, how we operated off the field.' Bringing his business management skills to the game, Woodward simplified the entire approach to the structure of the team and created new management systems both on and off the pitch. In an anecdotal style, Clive Woodward entertains and informs while he describes the thrilling build-up to England's World Cup triumph.

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.