Carwyn James treated rugby football as if it was an art form and aesthetics part of the coaching manual. This son of a miner, from Cefneithin in the Gwendraeth Valley, was a cultivated literary scholar, an accomplished linguist, a teacher, and a would-be patriot politician, who also won two caps for Wales. He was the first man to coach any British Lions side to overseas victory, and still the only one to beat the All Blacks in a series in New Zealand. That was in 1971, and it was followed in 1972 by the triumph of his beloved Llanelli against the touring All Blacks at Stradey Park. These were the high-water marks of a life of complexity and contradiction. His subsequent and successful career as broadcaster and journalist and then a return to the game as a coach in Italy never quite settled his restless nature. After his sudden death, alone in an Amsterdam hotel, his close friend, the Pontypridd-born writer, Alun Richards set out through what he called "A Personal Memoir" to reflect on the enigma that had been Carwyn.The result, a masterpiece of sports writing, is a reflection on the connected yet divergent cultural forces which had shaped both the rugby coach and the author; a dazzling sidestep of an essay in both social and personal interpretation.

David Pocock was born 1988 in Zimbabwe and immigrated to Australia in 2002. David's story is one of dedication to self, family, team and others. Based on his spectacular rise and his incredible talent and drive, this book is David's insight into the world of Rugby. From his early days growing up in Zimbabwe, immigrating to Australia and playing for the Australian Schoolboys, his debut with Western Australia's The Force, to his call up to the Wallabies, he has won many honours in many games and is held in great esteem by fans and peers alike. In Openside: My Journey to The Rugby World Cup, David shares the life and times of a professional rugby player. It includes key tournaments in Rugby throughout 2011: Super Rugby, Tri-Nations, Bledisloe, as well as the highlight of the Rugby calendar the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

What colour jerseys did the Lions first play in? Which of the four home nations has been represented in every Lions test team? When did Ugandan dictator Idi Amin line up against the Lions? "The British & Irish Lions Miscellany" is crammed with 120 years worth of amazing facts, stats, stories, lists and quotes from the rich history of the oldest and greatest touring team in the sporting world. It includes: the complete story of every Lions tour; the Lion nicknamed 'Judith'; the Lion killed by a rhino; the tour when the Lions played Aussie Rules; the Lion invited to audition for Ben Hur; and, the Greatest Ever Lions XV.

The essential authority for Rugby fans around the world, the Yearbook looks back on an action-packed year coupling insightful writing with in-depth statistics, reviews and features creating an 'access all areas' ticket to the world Game. Over 600 pages of features, analysis, tournament reviews, opinions, results, statistics and records, the IRB World Rugby Yearbook 2010 also features an insider's guide to the British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa from former Lion and 2009 Tour Manager Gerald Davies, a review of the IOC decision to include Rugby Sevens in the Olympic Games and a reflection on Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 in Dubai. With dedicated sections on the top 20 nations in the IRB World Rankings, the Yearbook also looks forward to Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand and predicts the Game's biggest winners and losers in 2010.

Absolutely Huge is a spoof biography of a fictional Welsh rugby player, Gethin 'Huge' Hughes. Mimicking the standard sports biography format, the book explores the highs and lows of his remarkable and often controversial career both on and off the pitch. An affectionate satire on Welsh rugby and the media hype that surrounds it. -- Welsh Books Council

No city in England can match Gloucester's passion for the game of rugby. The streets are festooned in cherry and white on match days and that famous cry of `Glaw . . . sterrr' can be heard far beyond the club's Kingsholm ground. This book illustrates what makes Gloucester Rugby Club so special. It features revealing and humorous interviews with some of the greats (including, to name but a few, Mike Teague, John Watkins and Ian Smith), historical facts, trivia, stats and stories, told by those who pulled on that famous shirt. It recalls the great matches, the cup wins, the highs, and also some of the lows.It highlights what it means to play for Gloucester, a club steeped in tradition, pride and sporting excellence.

When Britain's empire went to war in August 1914, rugby players were the first to volunteer: they led from the front and paid a disproportionate price. When the Armistice came after four long years, their war game was over; even as the last echo of the guns of November faded, it was time to play rugby again. As Allied troops of all nations waited to return home, sport occupied their minds and bodies. In 1919, a grateful Mother Country hosted a rugby tournament for the King's Cup, to be presented by King George V at Twickenham Stadium. It was a moment of triumph, a celebration of military victory, of Allied unity and of rugby values, moral and physical. Never before had teams from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Britain and France been assembled in one place. Rugby held the first ever `World Cup' - football would not play its own version until 1930. In 2015 the modern Rugby World Cup returns to England and Twickenham as the world remembers the Centenary of the Great War. With a foreword by Jason Leonard, this is the story of rugby's journey through the First World War to its first World Cup, and how those values endure today.

Rugby is an exciting game . . . run with the ball, score a try, make a crucial pass, crash in a perfect tackle, get covered in mud, become part of a team, have fun. Now in its 4th edition, Rugby Skills, Tactics & Rules has earned a reputation as the best book for learning the fundamental skills of the game so you can experience the thrills and spills of playing, and winning. - Over 170 colour photos of top players from around the world - Specially created diagrams to explain critical aspects of moves and tactics are a great tool for coaching - 200 variations of challenging and useful drills - Sections on the tactics, strategies and skills needed to win a game - Covers the basic skills of running, passing, catching and tackling - Includes specialised skills and set play: scrums, line outs, rucks and mauls, restarts and endings - Also discusses the spirit, traditions and social aspects of the game.

""Nobody ever beats Wales at rugby. They just score more points." --Graham Mourie, former New Zealand captain"
In the 1970s, an age long before World Cups, rugby union to the British public meant Bill McLaren, rude songs, and, most of all, Wales. Between 1969 and 1979, the men in red shirts won or shared eight Five Nations Championships, including three Grand Slams and six Triple Crowns. But the mere facts resonate less than the enduring images of the precision of Gareth Edwards, the sublime touch of Barry John, the sidesteps of Gerald Davies and Phil Bennett, the courage and extravagant sideburns of J.P.R. Williams, and the forward power of the Pontypool Front Row and "Merv the Swerve" Davies. To the land of their fathers, these Welsh heroes represented pride and conquest at a time when the decline of the province's traditional coal and steel industries was sending thousands to the dole queue and threatening the fabric of local communities. Yet the achievements of those players transcended their homeland and extended beyond mere rugby fans. With the help of comedian Max Boyce, the culture of Welsh rugby and valley life permeated Britain's living rooms at the height of prime time, reinforcing the sporting brilliance that lit up winter Saturday afternoons. In "Nobody Beats Us," David Tossell, who spent the 1970s as a schoolboy scrum-half trying to perfect the Gareth Edwards reverse pass, interviews many of the key figures of a golden age of Welsh rugby and vividly recreates an unforgettable sporting era.

When the Australian team won the Gold Medal for rugby at the 1908 Olympic Games The Times pronounced: 'If ever the Earth had to select a Rugby Football team to play against Mars, Tom Richards would be the first player chosen.' This book tells something of Richards' extraordinary sporting life, but it mainly reproduces highlights from the very entertaining diary he kept during WW1. He had worked part-time with the Sydney Morning Herald before he enlisted and he would write between 100-800 words about his experiences each day, giving a revealing, intimate account of what occurred throughout the Gallipoli campaign and then the Western Front, where he received a Military Cross for his courage under German fire. He was acerbic in his opinions, often critical of his superiors and fellow soldiers; he was a great observer of human tragedy and frailties, repeatedly finding fault with the British in charge, and meeting numerous important war figures, including Simpson at Gallipoli. He included vivid descriptions of football matches played in Egypt, Gallipoli and on the Front, and there are also numerous lighter moments, as Richards sought out and was intrigued by strange characters.

On 20 May 2006, Anthony Foley held aloft the European Cup for Munster and cemented his position as a legend of Irish rugby. With a father who played for Munster and Ireland - and who was a member of the team that conquered the All Blacks - it was no surprise that the young Anthony took to the game and he has shone on every team he has played for - from the St Munchin's Junior Cup team to the Irish national side. He was part of the Shannon side that dominated the 1990s, winning four All-Ireland league titles in a row and playing in all forty-eight games in that amazing record. In a memorable debut for Ireland, he scored a try against England in 1995 and went on to gain over sixty caps and captain his country. But it is with Munster - his true band of brothers - that Foley is most identified. He is the province's most capped player, holds the record for the most tries in all competitions and led them to glory in Europe. In Axel, he looks back at a career of dizzying highs and sickening lows, at Ireland's often painful progression into the professional era and lets us in on what makes one of the last, great amateur players tick.

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.

'A terrific book. No one put their body on the line quite like Sam Warburton.' Brian O'Driscoll 'It was an absolute privilege to play against Sam. An inspiring leader with an equally inspiring story to tell.' Jonny Wilkinson Sam Warburton OBE was not only a titan of Welsh rugby, but an icon of the game. Having represented his country as a player and team captain at all junior levels, he propelled himself to international attention in 2011 when named as the youngest ever captain of Wales for the Rugby World Cup. Despite his tender age, Sam's immense displays for club and country were recognised still further in April 2013, when, at just 24, he was named the Lions' captain for the extraordinary 2013 tour to Australia. Four years later, after a year 'in the wilderness', Sam was named Lions' captain yet again for the historic tour to New Zealand, thereby becoming the first ever Lions Captain never to lose a series in the professional era. Intelligent, calm, thoughtful - in many ways seemingly the exact opposite of the smash and crash of modern rugby - Warburton's edge never came with his size, but with his depth of thought, his reading of movement, and his understanding that, to be a uniquely successful leader, one needs to set goals that far exceed the ambitions of even the most ferocious of opponents. In leading other men, and in pitting himself against the world's best, Warburton was forced repeatedly to push himself to the very edge of his physiological and mental limits, the 21 significant injuries over that period a painful testament to his sacrifice. Open Side is therefore not simply a chronology of events or a celebration of statistics. Written in a compelling but soul searching style, this is an astoundingly personal book exploring the nature of leadership, the value of self-control, the precision of mindset and of course the future of the game. It is also a deeply personal meditation on the sacrifice of body, the torment of injury and the pain of retirement, a decision Sam was forced to make in July 2018, at just 29 years old. Never before has a rugby autobiography given such intimate access not only to the realities of the dressing room and the heroes and villains of the modern game, but to the unique mindset required to make someone a genuinely great leader of men.

Dan Carter's last game as an All Black culminated with him declared Man of the Match following the 2015 Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham - an unforgettable ending to the career of the greatest fly-half of all time.

But along with the triumphs of his signature World Cup win, his performace against the Lions in 2005, and an unprecedented run of Bledisloe Cup successes, there was also the pain and doubt he felt during a prolonged period of injury and rehab following the 2011 World Cup. He watched that victory from the sidelines, as he had the All Blacks' defeats in two previous tournaments. Indeed, heading into the 2015 World Cup he had never finished the competition on his own terms. His autobiography tells of that redemption, and gets you up close and personal with one of the most celebrated sportsmen of our time.

Threaded throughout the book is an intimate diary of his final year as a Crusader and All Black, during which he worked tirelessly to make one last run at that elusive goal: a World Cup victory achieved on the field.

Dan Carter's autobiography is essential reading for all sports fans.

This brilliant selection of photographs and stories describes what it means to stare down the most famous ritual in sport, from the perspective of those who have been there. Facing the Haka examines the significance that the All Blacks' haka has in the wider rugby world, as well as the deep respect opponents have for the team. This is about standing in front of the haka, meeting the All Blacks on those key occasions, and reliving the stories of the games that followed. Facing the Haka covers many crucial moments in rugby history with great storytelling, fresh insights and all the information a fan could ask for.

The ideal introduction to mini and youth rugby for parents and coaches, showing how young players should be properly introduced to the game of rugby. Including sections on: - the game and the rules - positions in rugby - drills for passing, catching and scoring - skills for attack - skills for defense This essential guide contains information on all game situations, with simple explanations of essential techniques and tactics to be learned, before moving on to more advanced explanations of the skills required of the game. It also includes an introduction to the bigger issues away from the pitch that parents and coaches must deal with, including: - how to develop the right ethos for a rugby team - coaching boys versus girls - elite player development Accessible and practical, this book is packed full of useful coaching advice, complete with diagrams and full-colour photographs. www.miniandyouthrugby.com

Ronan O'Gara is quite simply one of the greatest sportsmen Ireland has ever produced. A brilliant kicker both from the hand and at penalty goals, a sublime orchestrator of play from the out-half position he has made his own, and a cool head in the pressure-cooker of club and international rugby, the list of the Cork man's achievements goes on and on. The leading points scorer in Irish rugby history, and one of the top 10 in the world. The leading points scorer in the history of the Heineken Cup. The first ever points and try scorer at the home of Gaelic sports, Croke Park. In his candid, illuminating autobiography, O'Gara tells the story of those many on-field successes, culminating in the glorious year of 2006, when his tactical prowess and will to win first helped guide Ireland to the Triple Crown in the Six Nations championship, then Munster to a memorable Heineken Cup victory over Biarritz at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. O'Gara kicked a perfect five out of five in the 23-19 win that glorious May day, as Munster lifted the coveted trophy for the first time, sparking wild celebrations heard all the way back in Limerick and Cork. Yet in any sporting career, there have been the setbacks as well, most notably Ireland's disappointing performance in the Rugby World Cup in France last year. O'Gara reveals what really went on in a divided dressing-room as a series of flat performances sent the Irish crashing out, while he personally had to deal with a series of front-page allegations about his private life. ROG has never been shy about the fact that he's fond of a drink and a bet, and he confronts his critics head on in this book. "Ronan O'Gara: The Autobiography" is the unforgettable story of a rugby player at the top of his game, of a life lived to the full, and of a passionate and proud representative of the people of Cork and Ireland.

Donncha O'Callaghan is one of Ireland's leading international rugby players, and a stalwart of the Munster side. He was a key figure in the Irish team which won the IRB 6 Nations Grand Slam in 2009, and has won two Heineken Cup medals and two Magners League titles with Munster. But that success did not come easy. For such a well known player with a larger-than-life reputation, his long battle to make a breakthrough at the highest level is largely unknown. In this honest and revealing autobiography, Donncha talks in detail about the personal setbacks and disappointments at Munster and the unconventional ways he dealt with the frustration of not making the team for four of five years in his early 20s. He had a parallel experience with Ireland where it took him nearly six years to get from fringe squad member to established first choice player. Here he talks candidly about how he brought discipline to his game, and about his relationships with the coaches who had overlooked him and the second row rivals who had kept him on the bench. Donncha talks also with great warmth about a hectic childhood that was shaped by the death of his father when he was only six years old. One of the heroes of his story is his mother Marie who showed incredible strength and resourcefulness to rear a family of five on her own. Often deservedly regarded as 'the joker in the pack', what is often less well known is the serious attitude and intensely professional approach Donncha brings to his rugby. Joking Apart gives the full picture, showing sides of the man that will be unfamiliar to followers of Irish rugby and will surprise the reader.

Not since the legendary Eric Rush departed the scene have the All Blacks had a jokester/prankster quite like World Cup-winning winger Cory 'CJ' Jane. A Commonwealth Games Sevens gold medallist and frontline All Black since 2008, Jane is one of the funniest men in New Zealand rugby. He was one of the first All Blacks to embrace social media, in particular Twitter, as a means of connecting with his fans and supporters. His stint as host of the All Blacks online behind-the-scene features 'Room Raiders' was extremely popular and he has also starred as a comments man for Sky Sport. In Winging It: Random Tales from the Right Wing Jane takes the mickey out of everything -- and everyone! -- rugby. No player or occasion is spared the sharp-witted Jane tongue. Get all the goss from the usually fortress-like inner All Blacks sanctum and, most of all, find out all the stuff the players did not want you to know.

The Rugby Almanack is the world's longest running rugby book of record. It was first published in 1935 to cover the previous season's first-class rugby in New Zealand. Since then it has been published annually without interruption (apart from two combined issues during World War II). The 2015 Rugby Almanack records another huge year, including the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship and the Bledisloe Cup, plus the ITM Cup, Super Rugby and a full summary of women's rugby.

Sevens should never be viewed as an abbreviated form of rugby. Rather, it is rugby magnified, and a closer inspection of the overall skills of rugby. This exciting and essential new edition of Coaching Rugby Sevens offers clear direction on how to coach and play the game of rugby sevens. Emphasising the three key principles of space, alignment and movement, all game situations are covered in detail, focusing on both attack and defence. Each chapter looks at a different facet of the game, and is clearly illustrated with drills, plays and set pieces, linking theory with practice. Rugby sevens continues to grow globally through the World Sevens Series and will appear at the Rio 2016 Olympics. This timely new edition covers developments in the laws of the game and changes in play due to tactical advancements. It also covers how the principles and ideas of sevens can transfer to 15-a-side rugby, providing valuable new thinking on how the two games interact.