Football variants and related games Books

Book SynopsisA talented yet ferocious player, and one of the acknowledged 'bad-boys' of rugby, Mark Jones' on-field brutality was a direct consequence of the off-field torment he suffered with a debilitating stammer. In Fighting to Speak, his revealing and uplifting autobiography, Jones explains how his frustration with his stutter led to a self-loathing and the internalising of an explosive hate that only playing rugby could release - with his unfortunate opponents often on the receiving end of his rage. Sent off six times and banned for over 33 weeks for violent conduct during his career, the dual-code Wales international and Great Britain RL forward was desperately unhappy and detested the thuggish reputation he'd created. After one exceptionally ugly incident, when he broke another player's eye socket, Jones realised that in order to defeat his demons and control his bad behaviour he needed help to conquer his stammer. Mark Jones fought and won the hardest battle of his life with a steely determination and has now found the inner peace and dignity he'd longed for as a young man. He has decided to tell his story in order to seek redemption for his violent past on the rugby field, and to help others overcome their stammers.Trade Review'We were all aware about Mark's stammer but it didn't make any difference to me. He is a top bloke and a great rugby player, and to me that's perfection.' Rowland Phillips;'People who didn't know Mark thought he was just an aggressive thug - but to those who know him, he is a kind-hearted, gentle and compassionate man.' Byron Hayward;'I have nothing but the highest respect for Mark. His stammer did not make life easy for him and challenged his mental health, but his immense strength of character saw him beat his demons and win his battles.' Jim MillsTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface by Glyn Llewellyn Foreword by Kingsley Jones 1. Personality Crisis (x3) 2. Stand Up! (Banged Up!) 3. I'm an Upstart(er) 4. Teenage Kick(ing)s 5. (Playing With) The Rude Boys 6. Neat(h)! Neat(h)! Neat(h)! 7. Rockaway (Miami) Beach 8. Anarchy in the U(Know who) 9. Psycho (Thriller 10. 'A' Bomb in (Twickers) 11. Working for (the Let-Down) 12. Looking After Number(8) 13. Highway to (Hull) 14. Smash It Up! (Bash It Up!) 15. (Hitting Rucks) and Alcohol 16. (Pooler) UEber Alles 17. Holidays in the (Qatar) Sun Epilogue Career Statistics

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn order to maximise their performance in training and in matches, rugby players need to understand the importance of energy and nutrients and their role in the working of the body. It is also vitally important that they make appropriate food choices and that they eat and drink those foods in the correct quantities. This informative book clearly explains which foods and fluids, when consumed in the right amounts at the correct times, will help players perform to the best of their ability.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMeet Harry Maguire - Ultimate Football Hero.Harry Maguire is the boy from Sheffield who battled heroically in the Premier League with Hull City before becoming a lion-hearted defender for Leicester City. But it was with England at the 2018 World Cup that Harry proved his talent once and for all. With determination, courage and passion, Harry Maguire's performances at the heart of England's defence will be remembered for years to come.Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life-stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to super-star professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Twentieth Anniversary Edition*WINNER OF THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR* Fever Pitch is Nick Hornby's million-copy-selling, award-winnning football classic'A spanking 7-0 away win of a football book. . . inventive, honest, funny, heroic, charming' IndependentFor many people watching football is mere entertainment, to some it's more like a ritual; but to others, its highs and lows provide a narrative to life itself. But, for Nick Hornby, his devotion to the game has provided one of few constants in a life where the meaningful things - like growing up, leaving home and forming relationships, both parental and romantic - have rarely been as simple or as uncomplicated as his love for Arsenal.'Hornby has put his finger on truths that have been unspoken for generations' Irish TimesBrimming with wit and honesty, Fever Pitch, catches perfectly what it really means to be a football fan - and in doinTrade ReviewFunny, wise and true -- Roddy Doyle

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe extraordinary, life-affirming autobiography of DODDIE WEIR Rugby legend and MND campaigner Doddie Weir has always lived life to the full. On the pitch, Doddie’s irresistible talent took him to the heart of every team he graced – from Stewart’s Melville to Melrose, Newcastle Falcons to Borders, from Scotland to the British & Irish Lions – winning 61 caps over a decade of appearances for his national side. He won fans all over the world with his sportsmanship, humour and boundless energy – especially when on the charge ‘like a mad giraffe’. Then, in June 2017, Doddie made the announcement that he had been diagnosed with MND. With no cure and almost no treatment of any sort available, Doddie set out to do what he could to change that, tackling the issue head on with his trademark positivity and good humour. Since then, his MY NAME’5 DODDIE Foundation has raised and pledged millions towards research into this dreadful condition and his tireless campaigning has transcended the world of sport. MY NAME’5 DODDIE is a humbling, courageous and very funny celebration of a remarkable life being lived to the max. And with a brand new update, this is an absolute must-read – rugby fan or not.Trade ReviewLucid, brave, and full of the wit and character that makes him the legend he is * Rory Bremner *

Read more less

Book SynopsisLooking at all forty-six Tests that have taken place since the nineteenth century, respected rugby writers Chris Schoeman and David McLennan look at one of the greatest rivalries in sport ahead of the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa.

Read more less

Book Synopsis*WINNER OF THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR*Fever Pitch is Nick Hornby''s million-copy-selling, award-winnning football classic''A spanking 7-0 away win of a football book. . . inventive, honest, funny, heroic, charming'' IndependentFor many people watching football is mere entertainment, to some it''s more like a ritual; but to others, its highs and lows provide a narrative to life itself. But, for Nick Hornby, his devotion to the game has provided one of few constants in a life where the meaningful things - like growing up, leaving home and forming relationships, both parental and romantic - have rarely been as simple or as uncomplicated as his love for Arsenal.Brimming with wit and honesty, Fever Pitch, catches perfectly what it really means to be a football fan - and in doing so, what it means to be a man.''Hornby has put his finger on truths that have been unspoken for geTrade ReviewFunny, wise and true—Roddy Doyle

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe South African Rugby Annual 2020 is the official record of a seminal year 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 49th edition records arguably the Springboks’ grea

Read more less

Book SynopsisCrowood's Rugby Drills is a collection of 125 activities, practices and games designed to improve coaching sessions at all levels of the game. The drills are organised into chapters according to a particular skill or phase of the game; from the warm up to handling, contact, lineout, scrum, kicking and defence. 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.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe side-splittingly hilarious new book from Sunday Times bestselling author, rugby icon, and stag do in human form, James Haskell.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHere 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.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Twentieth Anniversary Edition As a young boy, growing up in the Home Counties and watching his parents' marriage fall apart, Nick Hornby had little sense of home. Then his dad took him to Highbury. Arsenal's football ground would become the source of many of the strongest feelings he'd ever have: joy, humiliation, heartbreak, frustration and hope. In this now-classic book, he vividly depicts his troubled relationship with his father,, his time as a teacher, and his first loves (after football), all through the prism of the game, as he insightfully and brilliantly explores obsession, and the way it can shape a life.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEngland's head coach tells the gripping story of how he took the national side to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup in this fully revised and updated paperback.Trade ReviewHis first day in the job of England coach is superbly described, and thereafter he is forever going the extra yard to make his team great. * The Sunday Times *There is much more to the man than single-minded determination. * Sunday Telegraph *To the hardened rugby fan, it is incisive and required reading. To anyone involved in sports coaching or administration, regardless of the sport or level of competition, 'Winning!' is essential reading. * Yorkshire Post *Very different to pretty much any sporting autobiography on the market... Fascinating. * Daily Express *Entertaining and informative. * The Sun *The best feature of the book is that the essential Woodward comes through so strongly. * The Sunday Times sports books of the year *

Read more less

Book SynopsisRational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) is one of the most widely used counselling approaches in the world and is one of the original forms of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy in Sport and Exercise is the first and only book to date to examine the use of REBT in sport and exercise. It brings together leading international experts and practitioners to reflect on the use of REBT in sport and exercise, and examine the techniques used. Each chapter contains a case study, contextualising theory into practice, giving a rare and detailed insight into the use of REBT across a diverse range of issues. Some of the topics covered include: the theory and practice of REBT REBT intervention for competition anxiety the use of REBT interventions in Paralympic soccer the use of REBT in managing injury and loss using REBT to address symptoms of exercise dependence REBT intervention to improve low frustTrade Review"Mental health issues in athletes is a growing area of concern. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy in Sport and Exercise is a good book, that is well explained, evidence-based, and practical. Case-studies give a feel to how this therapy works in practice." Professor Andy Lane, HCPC Registered Psychologist, Director of Research Excellence and Associate Dean at the University of Wolverhampton, UK. "As a sport psychologist I use several frameworks to help sports participants manage themselves better in and out of the competitive arena. This book has become one of my go-to resources when I want to explore an REBT approach with a client. Each chapter offers evidence based solutions brought to life through case studies and an engaging text." Dan Abrahams, HCPC Registered sport psychologist, best-selling author, and host of The Sport Psych Show podcast."Mental health issues in athletes is a growing area of concern. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy in Sport and Exercise is a good book, that is well explained, evidence-based, and practical. Case-studies give a feel to how this therapy works in practice." Professor Andy Lane, HCPC Registered Psychologist, Director of Research Excellence and Associate Dean at the University of Wolverhampton, UK. "As a sport psychologist I use several frameworks to help sports participants manage themselves better in and out of the competitive arena. This book has become one of my go-to resources when I want to explore an REBT approach with a client. Each chapter offers evidence based solutions brought to life through case studies and an engaging text." Dan Abrahams, HCPC Registered sport psychologist, best-selling author, and host of The Sport Psych Show podcast.Table of Contents1. The Use of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) in Sport and Exercise: An Introduction 2. The Theory and Practice of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) 3. A Short-Term Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Intervention for Competition Anxiety with a Trampoline Gymnast 4. Anxiety, Unhealthy Jealousy, and Exercise Avoidance: A Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Intervention 5. “It Will be the End of the World If We Don’t Win This Game”: Exploring the Use of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Interventions in Paralympic Soccer 6. Managing Injury and Loss: The Use of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) with a Collegiate Football Player 7. The Use of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to Address Symptoms of Exercise Dependence 8. Mixed Martial Arts and the Paradox Between Self-Improvement and Self-Acceptance: A Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Intervention 9. The Use of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) with an Anxious Sub-Elite Fencer 10. Rebounding from Injury and Increasing Performance with Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) 11. A Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Intervention to Improve Low Frustration Tolerance in an Elite Table Tennis Player 12. Applying Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Resilience "Credos" with a South-East Asian Elite Squash Player 13. Delivering Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Education in Youth Rugby Union 14. “Is it Really That Bad?”: A Case Study Applying Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) with an Elite Youth Tennis Player 15. “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)”: The Use of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to Increase Function and Reduce Irrational Beliefs of an Injured Athlete 16. Using Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to Combat Performance-Debilitating Unhealthy Anxiety in an International Level Karateka

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince it's first publication, Rugby's Great Split has established itself as a classic in the field of sport history. Drawing on an unprecedented range of sources, this deeply researched and highly readable book traces the social, cultural and economic divisions that led, in 1895, to schism in the game of rugby and the creation of rugby league, the sport of England's northern working class. Tony Collins' analysis challenges many of the conventional assumptions about this key event in rugby history about class conflict, amateurism in sport, the North-South divide, violence on the pitch, the development of mass spectator sport and the rise of football. This new edition is expanded to cover parallel events in Australia and New Zealand, and to address the key question of rugby league's failure to establish itself in Wales. Rugby's Great Split is a benchmark text in the history of rugby, and an absorbing case study of wider issues issues of class, gender,Trade Review"Tony Collins shows in this major work that there are reasons behind [rugby league] developing the way that it did and that they are reasons as honourable as those behind the rise of any other form of working class self-expression. It should be compulsory reading for anyone who believes that the game more than a hundred years later is merely about competing for the same shiny suits and corporate contracts."Book of the Week, The Independent, 15th June 1998"This year's literary outpourings are dominated again by the lustre of bygone days, pre-summer and Super League. The pick is Rugby's Great Split, by Tony Collins ... who asks why there are two forms of rugby, and ends up with a celebration of the game's traditions and passions in answering that rugby's schism in 1895 actually defined the class barriers.Rugby league was shaped in the spirit of defiance and Collins, successfully treading between social history lessons and good storytelling, lends weight to a truth not universally acknowledged: that little has changed in a century when the game remains wedded to an expansionist theory that has never quite succeeded."Christopher Irvine, The Times, 22nd December 1998"This book is a landmark in the history and historiography of Rugby League and of rugby in general."Robert Gate, League Express, 4th May 1998"... replete with hundreds of footnotes, a comprehensive bibliography and extensive appendices, it is primarily aimed at academic consumption. None of that should put off the ordinary reader, however, for the book is written in a lively narrative way which will engross and inform all who take an interest in the whys and hows of the evolution of both codes of rugby. The scope of this work borders on the monumental."Robert Gate, League Express, 4th May 1998"Rugby's Great Split will undoubtedly supersede all other works on the origins of Rugby League. I have little doubt that it will become THE standard work on the early development of rugby itself."Robert Gate, League Express, 4th May 1998"A few months ago the librarian at Twickers phoned me to say that he had read Tony Collins' thesis and at last he understood why Rugby League people often took the belligerent stance they do in regard to his own game's absurd treatment of theirs. It is hard to think of a more eloquent recommendation for buying Rugby's Great Split." Robert Gate, League Express, 4th May 1998"Tony Collins has now produced what could be classed the definitive version ... he has written a serious account of both the actual mechanics of the [1895] split and, perhaps more importantly, the social aspects. ... Rugby's Great Split is one of the finest books ever to be written about Rugby and Tony Collins deserves great credit for his work."Sports Collector, July 1998"The author of this book has done a great service to the field with this fine book that places the split between Rugby-Football Union and the Northern Union (now called "rugby league") into its historical context. General readers might mistakenly be put off by the book's apparent topic, an esoteric exploration of the 1890s rugby schism; however, this work is much broader than that and would be interesting to anyone interested in class and culture in turn-of-the-century Britain. In the tradition of the best sport history, Tony Collins rescues the rugby league's history from the hands of hagiographic club secretaries and places it firmly in the mainstream of cultural and social history. Moreover, Collins brings new light to a tale that sport historians and rugby fans most likely believe they already know."Patrick F McDevitt, Rowan University, Historian, Fall 2000Rugby World - colour review -"..an authorative look at the historical basis on which today"s rugby survives it ia an excellent contribution."Independent on Sunday - "Rugby"s Great Split brilliantly records the early years when rugby and football emerged from the public schools and seduced the working calsses, prompting the class tensions which led two games played exclusivelyby gentlemen to confront professionalism. This is a fine read which intelligently probes the connections between social calss and sport which still holds sway today."The Independent - "It is the most detailed and perceptive account yet of the events around the great schism."Financial Times - " The outstanding historical work was Tony Collins"s Rugby"s Great Split definitive on the 1895 schism between the two rugby codes."The Times -"...Collins, successfully treading between social history lessons and good storytelling, lends weight to truth not universally acknowledged: that little has changed in a century when the game ren=mains wedded to an expansionist theory that has never quite succeeded."The Final Hooter - feature that book won the Aberdare Book PrizeTotal Rugby League - "... a truly brilliant book, and a real eye-opener. Don"t be put off by the scholarly title either. "Rugby"s Great Split" is readily accessible, you don"t need a PhD to read it, and it"s a real must for anyone even remotely interested in this great game"s heritage, and wondering how we got where we are today."Sydney League News- " A ground-breaking work on the subject, this fascinating volume is probably the most important rugby league book of the year"Sports Collector- " Rugby"s Great Split is one of the finest books ever to be written about Rugby and Tony Collins deserves great credit for his work"St Helen"s Star/ Sport Journal/Yorkshire Post/Open RugbyBulletin of the Rugby League Collectors" Federation- " Tony Collins adds ...a large amount of very interesting detail which is so well presented that you can almost at times be transfered back to those exciting days of Victorian Rugby Football"Loosehead Magazine- interview with Tony Collins- " Quite simply, it is the rugby league book of the year, and possibly one of the best ever written on the code"League Express- " This book is a landamrk in the history and historiography of Rugby League and of rugby in general"Albion-" This is a book that is grounded firmly in the seconday literature and draws on a wide variety of primary sources. Collins understands the difference between theory and empirically based conclusions. His straightforward prose shows how the sport(s) changed and draws important links between that and the changing nature of Empire, trade unionism, as well as attitudes towards local pride and masculine behaviour""The author of this book has done a great service to the field with this fine book that places the split between Rugby-Football Union and the Northern Union into its historical context."The HistorianPraise for the previous edition:'The outstanding historical work … definitive on the 1895 schism between the two rugby codes.'- Financial Times'This book is a landmark in the history and historiography of rugby league and of rugby in general.' - Rugby League ExpressTable of ContentsList of Illustrations. Series Editor's Foreword. Preface to the Second Edition. Introduction 1. From Folk Football to Civic Pride: Origins to 1879 2. The Coming of the Working Class: 1879-1886 3. 'King Football': 1886-1893 4. Schism: 1893-1895 5. The Rise and Decline of the Northern Union: 1895-1905 6. A Revolution in Rugby: 1905-1910 Conclusion: The Northern Union and Working Class Culture. Appendices. Bibliography. Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAnalyses South African rugby through the lens of aesthetic politics. Building on 17 months of ethnographic research with rugby coaches, players, and administrators, Joshua Rubin 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.Trade ReviewAnimated by Uncertainty is insightful, thought-provoking and beautifully written. It offers a bold, new perspective that is at once engaging and provocative: far more than a history of sport, it offers deep insights into the embodied practices and legacies of Apartheid in white and ‘coloured’ men and communities, as well as diverse fantasies of integration and failures to materialize them."" - Laura Fair, Michigan State UniversityTable of Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Making Art from Uncertainty: Magic and Its Politics in South African Rugby Chapter 2: Sons and Commodities: Work, Play, and the Politics of Autonomy at the Margins of Professional Rugby Chapter 3: Residual Uncertainty: Play, Injuries, and Rugby’s Masculine Ideal Chapter 4: Searching for Certainty: Rugby and Male Identity in a Former Model C School Chapter 5: Fractured Frames: Rugby, Imaginative Resistance, and the Legacies of the Struggle against Apartheid Chapter 6: In Apartheid’s Image: Rugby and Nationalist Spectacle in South Africa Conclusion Endnotes Works Cited

Read more less

Book SynopsisStep back in time to the thrilling year of 1912, where rugby forged its indomitable spirit, and a legendary team emerged to win all five of the international matches they played.

Read more less

Book SynopsisGordon Strachan has had one of the most illustrious careers in modern football. As a player, he was the heartbeat of Alex Ferguson''s Aberdeen in the early 1980s, before being signed by Ron Atkinson to play for Manchester United. He captained Leeds to championship in the early 1990s, won 50 Scottish caps and went on to manage Coventry and Southampton. A former regular on Match of the Day, and one of the most honest and interesting voices on the game, he is now manager of Celtic.This book is a fascinating mix of both Gordon''s story and a brilliant analysis on the way the game is played and run. Refreshingly candid on everything from the stress and pressure managers are under to the players and bosses Gordon has worked with, this will be the one of the most explosive football books of 2007.Trade ReviewA frank, serious study of a career spent in the public eye . . . the most fulfilling of the year's football autobiographies * SCOTSMAN *Strachan emerges as that rare character in football: a man who can put the game in its proper perspective * OBSERVER *An insightful and interesting read . . . Essential reading * FOUR FOUR TWO *A frank and often wry take on British football * GLASGOW HERALD *

Read more less

Book SynopsisRichard Parks has what must be one of contemporary sport''s most extraordinary and inspirational stories. Soon after he turned thirty, the professional career in rugby that had been his life for over a decade was cut short by injury, leaving him faced with an uncertain future. But unlike many other young athletes, Richard decided to tackle his fears, anxiety and depression head on, taking inspiration from Ranulph Fiennes and a line from his grandmother''s eulogy - The horizon is only the limit of our sight and setting out on challenges that have become part of his everyday life.Richard created history with his first endeavour - the 737 Challenge - by becoming the first person to conquer the highest mountain on each of the world''s continents and venture to both the North and South Poles within seven months. Then in 2013 he tackled three hugely challenging events - an ultramarathon through the Peruvian jungle, the world''s highest mountain bike race, and a double iron man tri

Read more less

Book SynopsisA history of Featherstone Rovers Rugby League Football Club

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 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.Trade Review'Guaranteed happiness to rugby lovers...a gem' * planetrugby.com *'Essential reading for blokes who love a bit of skulduggery in the scrum' * Daily Telegraph *'Blood, sweat and beers from droll Lol and friends. Some classic one-liners. Love it!' * Rugby World *

Read more less

Book SynopsisBring the excitement of rugby right to your desktop with this fun miniature set. This mini kit includes everything you need to play the game -- a goal, ball, tee, flag, and mini pair of boots. Also included is a 32-page book on the history and rules of the game.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIf you're new to the sport or you feel you could sharpen up your knowledge of the game, this guide is for you.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part I: Rugby: Roots, Boots and All 7 Chapter 1: Rudimentary Rugby 9 Chapter 2: The Aim of the Game 19 Chapter 3: Grab Your Rugby Gear 35 Part II: Getting Down and Dirty 45 Chapter 4: Location, Location, Location: Positions on the Pitch 47 Chapter 5: Laying Down the Laws 63 Chapter 6: Honing Your Skills 83 Chapter 7: Breaking Down the Breakdown 107 Chapter 8: Leaping Lineouts 123 Chapter 9: Talking Tactics 135 Chapter 10: Talented Training 151 Chapter 11: Coaching 167 Part III: Welcome to Planet Rugby 183 Chapter 12: The World Cup 185 Chapter 13: The International Scene 201 Chapter 14: Magnificent Sevens 217 Chapter 15: Home and Away 227 Chapter 16: The Domestic Scene 243 Part IV: Following the Game: The Informed Fan 255 Chapter 17: Compulsive Viewing: Rugby on the Screen 257 Chapter 18: Keeping Up with the News 269 Chapter 19: Spectating and Sobriquets 281 Part V: The Part of Tens 293 Chapter 20: The Ten Best British Players of All Time 295 Chapter 21: Ten Matches Made in Rugby Heaven 305 Chapter 22: Ten Peculiar Facts About Rugby 315 Part VI: Appendixes 325 Appendix A: Honour Boards 327 Appendix B: Glossary 347 Appendix C: Key Rugby Organisations 361 Index 367

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner of Best New Play at the Olivier Awards 2024 It's time to change the game.The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can't England's men win at their own game?The team has the worst track record for penalties in the world and manager Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.James Graham's rousing new play' (Tatler) is a fast-moving portrayal of Gareth Southgate's reign as England football manager that presents a gripping examination of both nation and game. Uplifting, funny and more entertaining than a World Cup final.This edition was published to coincide with the West End transfer of Dear England in October 2023, following its world premiere at the National Theatre in June 2023.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe extraordinary story of John Kendall-Carpenter â captain of the England rugby team, educationalist and godfather to the Rugby World Cup.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A man I like to call my father - football royalty'' Ian Wright ''Without David Dein there wouldn''t have been a Premier League'' Greg Dyke ''Mr Dein will always be Mr Arsenal'' Thierry HenryThe long-awaited memoir from international football ambassador, former co-owner of Arsenal FC and legend of the game: David Dein.There''s no doubt that Dein has been one of the most significant and influential figures in British football for over three decades - operating at club and international level. He was a prime mover in the creation of the Premier League, hugely influential within the England set-up and, of course, was the mastermind - along with Arsène Wenger - in creating the glory days of Arsenal Football Club, leading the team for almost a quarter of a century. Connected to the most senior figures across the global game as a friend, rival, advisor, and collaborator, Dein has been central to major turning points in the game.Trade ReviewA man I like to call my father - football royalty * Ian Wright *Without David Dein there wouldn't have been a Premier League * Greg Dyke *Mr Dein will always be Mr Arsenal * Thierry Henry *If you want to know how to run a football club, ask David Dein * Baroness Karren Brady CBE *David is one of the most influential executives in world football. I was always in admiration of the work he did at Arsenal . . . success delivered with class. * Gareth Southgate *An Arsenal fan who became its owner, its saviour and later its martyr * Guardian *The book is a treasure trove of anecdotes * City AM *Absolutely loved it! So many great stories . . . and such a vivid reminder of just how vital David was to our great club and how much we've missed him. -- Piers Morgan

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe long-awaited memoir from international football ambassador, former co-owner of Arsenal FC and legend of the game: David Dein. There''s no doubt that Dein has been one of the most significant and influential figures in British football for over three decades - operating at club and international level. He was a prime mover in the creation of the Premier League, hugely influential within the England set-up and, of course, was the mastermind - along with Arsène Wenger - in creating the glory days of Arsenal Football Club, leading the team for almost a quarter of a century. Connected to the most senior figures across the global game as a friend, rival, advisor, and collaborator, Dein has been central to major turning points in the game.Calling the Shots is part memoir, part inspirational meditation on leadership, teamwork and how to invest in people. It tracks the full story of David''s remarkable life and career to date, recounting never-before-told stories from the inside, intriguing characters met along the way, and discussing the past, present and future of football. An entertaining and motivational read for football and non-football fans alike, Calling the Shots is a dynamic masterclass in how to succeed in business and life.Trade ReviewA man I like to call my father - football royalty * Ian Wright *Without David Dein there wouldn't have been a Premier League * Greg Dyke *Mr Dein will always be Mr Arsenal * Thierry Henry *If you want to know how to run a football club, ask David Dein * Baroness Karren Brady CBE *David is one of the most influential executives in world football. I was always in admiration of the work he did at Arsenal . . . success delivered with class. * Gareth Southgate *An Arsenal fan who became its owner, its saviour and later its martyr * Guardian *The book is a treasure trove of anecdotes * City AM *Absolutely loved it! So many great stories . . . and such a vivid reminder of just how vital David was to our great club and how much we've missed him. -- Piers Morgan

Read more less

Book SynopsisOffers an insider's view of life on tour from one of South Africa's most enduring sports writers, Liam Del Carme, while he follows the much-cherished national rugby team, the Springboks.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDaniel Dumile Qeqe (19292005), Baas Dan', DDQ'. He was the Port Elizabeth leader whose struggles and triumphs crisscrossed the entire gamut of political, civic, entrepreneurial, sports and recreational liberation activism in the Eastern Cape.

Read more less

Book SynopsisJack Kyle was the rugby giant of his time, but he was also so much more than a sporting legend.Whilst he was winning a Grand Slam and touring with the Lions, Jack Kyle was also studying to be a doctor. When he retired from playing rugby - as the world''s most-capped player - his sense of adventure and medical ambition led him to settle in Chingola, Zambia, where he spent the next thirty-four years of his life. For many years, he was the only medically trained surgeon in the town and so faced many challenges, not least the appearance of and devastation caused by AIDS.Written as a series of conversations with his daughter, Justine, Conversations with My Father reveals Jack Kyle as a supremely gifted rugby player, a dedicated surgeon and a gentle family man.Trade ReviewLovingly crafted and well-written ... this is so much more than a rugby book but then Jack Kyle was so much more than a rugby player * Irish Times *Much more than a sports book, this is a nostalgic look at a full life wisely lived * Irish Examiner *A man of unrivalled class, on and off the pitch * Irish Independent *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSome Sports Stand the Test of Time.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDrawing on first-hand accounts from several players and original research, respected rugby writer Chris Schoeman marks the 50th anniversary of this controversial tour remembered as much for politics as for rugby.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFully updated to contain Sir Ian McGeechan''s reflections on the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand. 2017 saw the latest contest between the British Lions and New Zealand - the ultimate rugby clash between the northern and southern hemisphere. Ian McGeechan is the ''Ultimate Lion'', and no one could have done more than McGeechan to promote the magic of the Lions. McGeechan played for the Lions in their unbeaten 1974 tour of South Africa, and again in the 1977 tour of New Zealand. Subsequently he has been the head coach on four Lions tours. In this unique and fascinating book which celebrates the immensity of rugby at the top level, Ian McGeechan uses his own coaching notes to provide his special insight and background into what it means to be a Lion. By looking at various themes such as selection, how to create the right environment and how to build the players into what he describes as ''Test-match animals'' the reader learns how some of the most successf

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Totally Football Book will feature the best writing from the Totally Football Show regulars, who by happy coincidence also happen to be among the finest football journalists around, and will be the definitive account of where football is at.Containing a series of essays looking at the state of the game, with the combination of irreverence and analysis that everyone will know from the podcast and lots more besides.Carl Anka will consider the shadow that Covid-19 still casts over the game, and asks what asterisks should be placed against the seasons impacted by the pandemic. Daniel Storey looks at the war in Ukraine through the prism of football, thinking about the game's place in the wider world and how, even though such astonishing events should mean football doesn't matter, it still really does.Sasha Goryunov takes a look at the astonishing rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City, Tom Williams writes about the unique relationship between Gareth Bale and Wales, Elias Burke considers the work that Wayne Rooney has done under extraordinary circumstances at Derby, Katie Whyatt looks at Ella Toone and Lauren Hemp, two of the finest players in the women's game, Maher Mezahi profiles Aliou Cisse after he led Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations glory and much, much more.There will also be a day-by-day account of the key events of the 2021/22 season, from the traditional curtain-raiser of the Community Shield right through to the Champions League final, with everything from transfers, fights, sackings, arguments...and plenty of actual football too in between.And finally, of course, the quiz. The Inter Totally Cup crowned a new champion this year, and with the sort of trivia that has stumped even the podcast's finest brains, plus a set of teasers about the season just gone, you can test your knowledge against ours.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn a nation of rugby heroes, Jamie Roberts has become a legend.Jamie Roberts is your quintessential hard man: a 6 foot 4, 17 stone slab of rippling muscle, conditioned to run hard into other huge men in an arena where physical dominance is the prime currency. Yet away from rugby, he's a mild-mannered and thoughtful man - a qualified doctor with a thirst for knowledge and a curiosity about the world around him. It's an intriguing contradiction.In his first full season with the Cardiff Blues he was picked by new Wales coach Warren Gatland in the Grand Slam-winning side of 2008. He was still establishing his position in the national team when he toured with the 2009 Lions, emerging as Player of the Series. He went on to win 97 Test caps and play for clubs in Paris, London and Cape Town, yet his career has seldom been straightforward. A fractured skull was one of many injuries he had to overcome, and from the start he had to juggle the competing demands of university life and professional rugby. The joy of Six Nations success with Wales was balanced by heartbreak in the World Cup and disappointment against southern-hemisphere teams, while major trophies at club level proved frustratingly elusive.In this colourful and frank account of a sterling career, Jamie Roberts reveals all about life on tour, in boot camps and in dressing rooms filled with once-in-a-generation characters such as Mike Phillips, Andy Powell, Shaun Edwards, Martyn Williams, Brian O'Driscoll and Johnny Sexton. He also shares his views on concussion in rugby, the failings of the professional structure in Wales and the vital role of old-school team-bonding.Trade ReviewDelves into his innermost emotions * Best Rugby Books 2021 *Roberts' autobiography, written with the excellent Ross Harries, is a compelling offering, packed with tales from a remarkable career including his relationship with Gatland and brushes with celebrities including Lana Del Rey and Bono in Monte Carlo * Telegraph *If Jamie Roberts achieved plenty on the pitch, few modern players have a wider-ranging story to tell off it . . . It is to the credit of the 35-year-old and his skilful "ghost" Ross Harries that Centre Stage: My Life in Rugby seamlessly weaves together all these contrasting threads * Guardian *Tells his private and professional story with candor and charm * Buzz Magazine *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat separates the good from the truly great players? How do football managers get the best out of their team?How do you come back from a crushing defeat to win? In How to Win The Secret Footballer teams up with The Secret Psychologist to crack the secrets of success and share with us the tricks and tips that keep the best players at the top of their game. Exploring the winning mindset from confidence to concentration, exposing the successes, the failures and the frauds, this inspirational, funny and thought-provoking book will shock and entertain. And while most of us will never dribble like Messi or strike like Suarez, we can learn to think like them -- and aim to succeed at football, and at life.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFirsts, Lasts & Onlys is a rugby fan's delight, chock-full of astonishing events, time-honoured anecdotes and distinctly unlikely facts. Beginning in 1823 with an event that probably didn't happen, the book charts the history of the sport to the present day. Did you know that Wasps were not included at the formation of the Rugby Football Union because their representative went to the wrong venue and got drunk? Or that the first international was won by Scotland because the umpire, a Dr Almond, adjudged: 'When an umpire is in doubt, I think he is justified in deciding against the side which makes the most noise. They are probably in the wrong'? Do you know which was the first novel to mention rugby? When the last 20-a-side rugby match was played? Or why a fan cut off his testicles to celebrate a win? All this, and so much more.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Iron Curtain tells the story of rugby pioneer Phil Larder, the first coach to break through the hidden wall between rugby league and union. The journey starts with Phil's upbringing as a player, takes in the 80s rugby league revolution he sparked as national coaching director, and his jump across the barricades to rugby union in 1997. The authors examine how rugby league ideas revolutionised the concept of defence in union and changed the face of the game forever, and discuss the scientific 'quantum leaps' in analysis and conditioning under Sir Clive Woodward that led to triumph in 2003. In a book that will appeal to rugby lovers of both codes, Phil reveals the sources of his coaching inspiration, the players he loved working with and the secrets of his defensive innovation, giving his frank views on the English Premiership and the two Lions tours in which he was involved.

Read more less