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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Ball games > Rugby football > Rugby Union
Authorative, comprehensive, all encompassing and the last word on
the history of the British & Irish Lions - this book is
essential reading for dedicated followers of the team that best
represents the spirit of rugby and is THE ONLY OFFICIAL LIONS
HISTORY This fully revised and updated edition includes a full
review of the 2017 Tour to New Zealand and a preview of the 2021
Tour to South Africa Over 130 years of Lions rugby is chronicled in
this authoritative and lavishly illustrated book which was
originally written by Clem Thomas, (Lion #386), up to the 1993 Tour
and then carried on by his son Greg and renowned rugby writer, Rob
Cole. With over 500 pages of content and over 400 illustrations,
including photographs, paintings, scrapbooks & memorabilia, the
book is simply the most comprehensive and thorough re-telling of
Lions' history - Each tour is covered in wonderful detail. This
edition also carries a foreword by Lions Chairman, Jason Leonard
#644 and there is a 75 page statistics section that includes: the
score and team makeup of every Test played by the Lions, full lists
of every Lion by A-Z and by order of appearance (from #1 Jack
Anderton to #835 Finn Russell), records against each country,
appearances, points, tries and so much more.
Keith Earls started out in senior rugby as a teenage star and
during the course of his long career has become one of the most
admired and respected players of his generation. A British &
Irish Lion at the age of 21, he is now closing in on his 34th
birthday and still playing at the top of his game. He has won 93
caps for Ireland and played 179 times in the famous red of Munster.
He started every game of the 2018 Six Nations campaign that
culminated in an Irish Grand Slam victory. A lethal finisher
blessed with thoroughbred speed, Earls is the second-highest try
scorer of all time for his country. With Munster he is one try
short of the all-time total and looks set to break that record next
season. Behind the glittering success, there is another story to be
told. He has achieved these milestones whilst being racked by
private battles with his mental health for most of his career. A
number of crises brought him to the brink of voluntary retirement
from the game. A long series of injuries have taken their
psychological toll too. A native of Limerick city, Earls grew up in
one of its most socially disadvantaged housing estates. Moyross was
blighted by crime and violence and he did not escape unscathed from
the surrounding fear and trauma visited upon his beloved community.
His natural sporting talent brought him into the privileged bastion
of elite rugby union. His frank and fearless autobiography tells
the story of his long struggle to reconcile the world whence he
came with the world opened up by his brilliance with an oval ball.
Earls has maintained a low profile throughout his career. For the
first time he will talk in depth and at length about the inner
turmoil that went unseen by team-mates, friends and fans. It is a
confessional, intimate and courageous story of the pain that was a
constant companion to the glory.
Rugby union has undergone immense change in the past two decades -
introducing a World Cup, accepting professionalism and creating a
global market in players - yet no authoritative English-language
general history of the game has been published in that time. Until
now. A Game for Hooligans brings the game's colourful story up to
date to include the 2007 World Cup. It covers all of the great
matches, teams and players but also explores the social, political
and economic changes that have affected the course of rugby's
development. It is an international history, covering not only
Britain and France but also the great rugby powers of the southern
hemisphere and other successful rugby nations, including Argentina,
Fiji and Japan. Contained within are the answers to many intriguing
questions concerning the game, such as why 1895 is the most
important date in both rugby-union and rugby-league history and how
New Zealand became so good and have remained so good for so long.
There is also a wealth of anecdotes, including allegations of
devil-worship at a Welsh rugby club and an account of the game's
contribution to the Cuban Revolution. This is a must-read for any
fan of the oval ball.
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