The must-have companion to the greatest event in world rugby, the Rugby World Cup France 2023.

Containing everything rugby fans will need to enjoy the World Cup, this official guide is packed with images, profiles, previews and charts, making it essential reading for any fan and the perfect companion to all of the tournament action.

Contents include:

• Team-by-team profiles
• Star player profiles
• A guide to every venue
• Fill-in tournament progress chart
• History of the Rugby World Cup
• Rugby World Cup records
• Qualification round-up

And much, much more besides.

Looking back over 18 seasons in the Premier League, Aston Villa fanatic Steve Brookes chooses his favourites players and most memorable moments. From Paul 'God' McGrath to James Milner, Steve's favourites in Claret and Blue are assessed and rated for their commitment to the cause. Villa began the Premier League era as a team in contention at the top of the table but have yo-yoed up and down the table as finances, managers and star names have come and gone. Now, under Martin O'Neill, they are among a number of clubs poised to breakthrough into the upper echelons at the dawn of a new decade. This book contains Steve's subjective assessment of his favourites, along with profiles of the owners and managers who have presided over affairs at Villa Park. But with a steady partnership of manager and owner at the helm, it seems those troubled times are over.

Leeds United AFC was formed in 1919 following the disbanding of Leeds City FC by the Football League. The team took over the Elland Road stadium and have won three First Division League titles, one FA Cup and one League Cup. The club also won two Inter-Cities Fairs cups. The majority of the honours were won under the management of Don Revie in the golden age of the 1960s and '70s. In Leeds United: A History, author Dave Tomlinson relates the complete and definitive history of the club from foundation to the present day. He reveals the voices of the people involved with the club, including supporters, players and former players, owners, administrators and local writers, to describe the club's history within its social context, how changes have affected the club and how developments in football itself have made an indelible impact upon both the football club and the wider community. This is a must-have for any fan of the 'Mighty Whites'.

Manchester United may be world famous today, but back in 1907 the club had yet to win either the League Championship or the FA Cup. Things were to change dramatically over the following four seasons, during which time the club moved to Old Trafford under the management of Ernest Mangnall, and captured two League titles, two Charity Shields and a first FA Cup success. But how were these successes achieved? Who were the players that set the Manchester club on a path to greatness? Who were their opponents? Why did Manchester United move to Old Trafford? Find out more in Manchester United 1907-11: The First Halcyon Years, the first in-depth work on this truly great period in the illustrious history of the great Manchester United.

The Claret and Blue Book of West Ham United collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Iron. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the time the team's train was delayed for hours, so the match at Chesterfield was played in front of only 3,000 spectators? How about the goalie who made his debut playing at centre-forward? Do you know in which year West Ham last won at Anfield? Which five League grounds have staged the club's seven FA Cup semi-finals? Or how many managers were employed from the Iron's foundation in 1902 through to Ron Greenwood's appointment in 1962? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia, essential for any West Ham fan who holds the riches of claret-and-blue history close to their heart.

Sharpe captures the pulse and passion of North Carolina basketball: the great players, teams, magical moments, riveting rivals, the all-time best Tar Heels team, the rosters of all five national championship squads, and more. All is told by UNC players, managers, coaches, opponents, fans, and the media.

The Olympic Games have become a subject of major importance to students, academics, sports bodies, politicians, urban planners, and the public at large. The Olympic Rings are among the most recognised symbols in the world, and there are few other cultural phenomena that attract such a significant following in the popular media or such widespread support among the nations of the world. "Global Olympics: Historical and Sociological Studies of the Modern Games" draws together some of the world's leading scholars on critical issues emerging from ancient Olympic contests, and over one hundred years of modern Olympic history. A wide range of expertise permits the authors to address these issues from varied perspectives, while encompassing an in-depth assessment of the current literature and debates on the Olympics. This book will serve as an interdisciplinary resource for undergraduate and graduate students alike, as well as for the growing cohort of researchers interested in understanding and explaining the historical and sociological significance of the Games.

CHELSEA FC: THE OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY goes to the heart of what gives the club its personality. The author has access to all the key characters, including Mourinho, Abramovich and the star players, plus legendary names of the past. He addresses all the controversies, including: the near suffocation through lack of cash in the 1970s and in 2002; the impact of Abramovich's money; the club and fans' response to racism; how the hooliganism which dogged Chelsea for years has been tackled. On the lighter side, Chelsea is regarded as the country's glamour club, and fashions, good and dreadful, will feature alongside celebrity fans and the worlds of art and music. And then there is the football at the core of it all, creating moments of huge tension and excitement.

Athletic Director's Desk Reference, Second Edition With HKPropel Access, is the most comprehensive resource available for collegiate and high school athletic administrators. Expert leadership advice and practical tools guide administrators in successfully navigating increasingly complex roles in athletic programs of any size. With more than 75 combined years of experience as athletic program administrators, coaches, and consultants, the authors deliver an engaging narrative and professional insights for athletic directors of all levels. The modern demands on athletic programs and evolving safety and culture issues are reflected in this updated edition, with new content on Title IX compliance, social media communications, planning tools for budgets, cost-saving strategies, revenue generating opportunities, student-athlete mental health, concussion protocols, athletes' rights, Esports, and more. Offering a solid foundation of information every athletic director needs to know, plus clear advice on day-to-day operations, this essential resource can be used as an immediate practical guide through the real-world issues typically encountered by every athletic director. An extended table of contents provides an outline of the book elements so athletic directors can quickly find relevant tools within the book and easily reference the corresponding online materials, enabling administrators to confront issues and lead with confidence. Throughout the book, management tips deliver professional advice, foundational information, problem-solving strategies, and suggestions for management of employees, programs, events, and facilities. Planning tools provide specific steps and considerations to take when developing strategic plans, action plans, professional development plans, and governance systems. More than 300 documents are delivered through HKPropel. These valuable time-saving resources can be downloaded and customized to suit the needs of any athletic program. Educational resources can be used for teaching and motivating staff, campus constituents, volunteers, and student athletes. Evaluation instruments and risk assessments help today's athletic administrators assess job performance, evaluate program contents, identify risks, and prevent litigation. Policies and forms are easily modified, enabling athletic directors to produce effective policies and procedures that meet their unique needs while saving significant time. The advice and tools in Athletic Director's Desk Reference allow professionals to turn theory into immediate practice. The book addresses all the various policy, procedure, and system needs required for becoming an efficient and effective athletic director overseeing a successful athletic program. Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is included with all new print books.

If you don't recall the 1976 Denver Olympic Games, it's because they never happened. The Mile-High City won the right to host the winter games and then was forced by Colorado citizens to back away from its successful Olympic bid through a statewide ballot initiative. Adam Berg details the powerful Colorado regime that gained the games for Denver and the grassroots activism that brought down its Olympic dreams, and he explores the legacy of this milestone moment for the games and politics in the United States. The ink was hardly dry on Denver's host agreement when Mexican American and African American urbanites, white middle-class environmentalists, and fiscally concerned local politicians realized opposition to the Olympics provided them new political openings. The Olympics quickly became a platform for taking stands on a range of issues, from conservation to urban livability to the very idea of growth, which for decades had been unquestioned in Colorado. The Olympics That Never Happened argues that hostility to the Olympics galvanized and empowered diverse citizens in a major US city, with long-term ramifications for Colorado and political activism elsewhere. The Olympics themselves were changed forever, compelling organizers to take seriously competing interests from subgroups within their communities.

When LSU head football coach Paul Dietzel saw Billy Cannon field an Ole Miss punt on LSU's own eleven yard line on a stifling Halloween night in 1959, his shouts of "No, no, no " turned to "Go, go, go " as Cannon eluded tackler after tackler, sending fans in Tiger Stadium into a frenzy and earning himself that year's Heisman Trophy. Dietzel is probably best known for leading LSU to its first national championship the year before Cannon's legendary run, but his career in athletics also carried him to numerous posts across the country and put him in the company of some of the best coaching minds of all time. In Call Me Coach, Dietzel affectionately recalls his rich and varied life in college football.

In 1948, Dietzel decided to forgo medical school at Columbia University to become the plebe football coach at West Point. As an assistant over the next few years, he worked with Bear Bryant at the University of Kentucky, Colonel Red Blaik and Vince Lombardi at West Point, and Sid Gillman at the University of Cincinnati. Taking the job of head coach at LSU in 1955, he reversed the Tigers' losing skid and -- using the wing-T formation and a revolutionary three-team substitution system incorporating the White Team, the Go Team, and the renowned Chinese Bandits -- crafted 1958's unbeaten championship season. The thirty-three-year-old Dietzel was voted National Coach of the Year by the widest margin ever.

Back at West Point from 1961 to 1965, Dietzel rallied the Cadets to finally "beat Navy" and, as South Carolina's football coach and athletics director from 1966 to 1974, he took the Gamecocks to their first bowl game in twenty-five years and mandated the recruitment of black athletes in all sports programs. After twenty years as a head coach, with 109 wins and 95 losses at three schools and a postseason record of 11 victories and 3 defeats, Dietzel retired from coaching in 1974, later serving as athletics director at Indiana and LSU.

Through Dietzel's eyes, readers glimpse college football during a simpler time but also see that many facets of the game -- including recruitment challenges, job insecurity, press relations, and fickle fans -- remain constant. Highlights among the book's many unforgettable anecdotes are a 1962 interview with Howard Cosell, discussion about West Point's football team with General Douglas MacArthur, and a rare disagreement with Bear Bryant during a staff meeting.

Dietzel's recollections of his early and later years help complete the story of the man. In a warm raconteur's voice, he describes his impoverished childhood in Ohio, his own participation in high school and college sports, and his stint flying B-29 missions over Japan during World War II. His postretirement endeavors have included providing color commentary for TV, selling fudge, teaching skiing, and watercolor painting. Always at the top of Dietzel's priorities have been friends, family, and faith.

Gratitude rings as a constant refrain in Call Me Coach, and sports enthusiasts everywhere will be grateful that Dietzel has shared these recollections of his remarkable life.

On 25 March 1876, the Football Association of Wales played its inaugural match, against Scotland in Glasgow. On that day 11 intrepid footballers became the first of over 700 players to proudly represent the senior men's team of the world's third oldest football nation. Sons of Cambria is the first volume of a landmark three-part collection that will feature every footballer capped for Wales' senior men's team since 1876 and is the essential reference guide for all followers of Welsh international football. Listed in the order in which they won their caps, every player has for the first time been assigned their unique player number, with Volume I containing biographical listings of the 374 players capped between 1876 and 1939 (as well as the 30 players who represented Wales in uncapped war-time matches) including photographs of almost all the players. In addition to the players, Sons of Cambria also lists every international match (capped and uncapped) played between 1876 and 1946, and includes team photographs from 38 of those games. Packed with incredible stories, fascinating facts and hundreds of photos, Sons of Cambria is a book all Welsh football fans will treasure.

When the Leeds United players celebrated winning the championship in April 1992, they had no idea how momentous the occasion was. Manchester United, losers at Liverpool that Sunday afternoon, had now gone 25 years without winning the league. Howard Wilkinson's side, promoted just two seasons ago, could bring back the glory days to Leeds. But Wilkinson would prove to be the last English manager to win the league. In 1992, football changed beyond all recognition. The Last Champions explores the roots of that success and the amazing cast of characters who came together to fashion the triumph. As in his acclaimed book The Fallen, Dave Simpson's quest to catch up with the protagonists of the era, from the visionary Sergeant Wilko, top scorer Lee Chapman and unsung heroes like Mike Whitlow and Carl Shutt (not forgetting Eric Cantona), sees him unearth some extraordinary untold stories. And he finds that The Last Champions were also the last ordinary people to win the league, before the Premier League saw skyrocketing wages, billionaire foreign owners and the dictates of television taking the game away from the fans. It is the brilliantly told story of the end of an era.

Over the first decade of the 21st century the scale and importance of the commercial sport industry has increased dramatically and rapidly. This timely second edition of the ground-breaking text The Business of Sport Management has been comprehensively revised, updated and significantly expanded in scope to meet the needs of today's sports management students, and equip future managers with the tools they need to succeed. Elegantly blending theory with practice, the text looks first at the distinctive context of sport organisations. It then examines the sport management theories and practice within functional areas such as finance, HRM, marketing and strategy. Finally it considers important issues such as risk management, sponsorship, retailing, social media, sports betting and more. Written with a thoroughly international perspective, this book is ideal for students of sports management on programmes of sports, leisure and business studies, and will also be of great interest to practitioners working in sport businesses.

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.

When the Rogers Place arena opened in downtown Edmonton in September 2016, no amount of buzz could drown out the rumours of manipulation, secret deals, and corporate greed undergirding the project. Working with documentary evidence and original interviews, the authors present an absorbing account of the machinations that got the arena and the adjacent Ice District built, with a price tag of more than $600 million. The arena deal, they argue, established a costly public financing precedent that people across North America should watch closely, as many cities consider building sports facilities for professional teams or international competitions. Their analysis brings clarity and nuance to a case shrouded in secrecy and understood by few besides political and business insiders. Power Play tells a dramatic story about clashing priorities where sports, money, and municipal power meet.

We may not always be World Cup standard on the field, but on the page we are the best. This anthology brings together heroes, favourite grounds and historic moments from Welsh soccer as Cardiff's Dannie Abse lines up alongside the Rhondda's Ron Berry, John Toshack pens a poem on the immortal John Charles, and the great Trevor Ford writes about himself. This is a new-look Welsh XI that shows that our football is world class.

National league glory last visited Manchester City in 1968, when the likes of Bell, Lee and Summerbee lifted the English Football League Championship trophy. Fast forward forty-four years. The 2011/12 Premiership season belongs to Manchester City. It has been a long wait, but premiership glory has finally come to rest at the Ethiad Stadium. My Eyes Have Seen the Glory is a match-by-match, blow-by-blow, superbly illustrated account of the most memorable season of English football in recent years. The world has looked on as Man City has grown in strength under the steady leadership of Roberto Mancini. The chairman expected, the fans expected; Mancini has delivered. It has been a season of magnificent highs - the 6-1 trouncing of Manchester United, named by Sir Alex Ferguson as 'the worst result in my history' - and depressing lows - the infamous Carlos Tevez saga - but there has always been drama, passion and world-class football. Victory in the Premiership is to be cherished; My Eyes Have Seen the Glory is the book every Man City fan has been waiting to read. Read it, bask in the glory of long-awaited victory, and celebrate the birth of a new era in the Premiership - Manchester City's era.

This book is a must for the bookcase of any true Sunderland fan! What makes a player a cult hero? Well he has to give 100 per cent, and he has to be lovable. As much as any set of supporters, the fans of Sunderland - shown to be the noisiest in the country by a study of decibel levels - love their heroes and take them to their hearts. In this official "Sunderland AFC book, Sunderland Cult Heroes", the club's publications editor Rob Mason speaks to nine cult heroes, including 1973 Cup winners Vic Halom and Dick Malone, sublime schemers Kevin Arnott and Julio Arca, hard-man full-backs Joe Bolton, John Kay and Chris Makin, modern-day cult figure Nyron Nosworthy and the inimitable goalkeeper from the 1970s and 1980s Barry Siddall. To show that cult heroes are not just a modern-day phenomenon, a goalkeeper from a century ago, L.R. Roose, is also featured - perhaps the biggest cult hero of them all.