Rugby Union Books

Book SynopsisThis paperback edition has been fully updated to include the 2013 Six Nations and the British and Irish Lions Tour.What does rugby mean to Wales? Where does the heart of Welsh rugby lie? In Calon, Owen Sheers takes a personal journey into a sport that defines a nation. Drawing on interviews and unprecedented access with players and WRU coaching staff, Calon presents an intimate portrait of a national team in the very best tradition of literary sports writing. At the 2011 Rugby World Cup a young Welsh side captained by the 22-year-old Sam Warburton, captured the imagination of the rugby-watching world. Exhibiting the grit and brilliance of generations past, an ill-fated semi-final ended in heartbreak. But a fledgling squad playing with the familiarity of brothers had sent out an electrifying message of hope: could this be a third golden generation of Welsh rugby? It was with this question hanging in the air that Owen Sheers took up his position as Writer in Residence for the Welsh Rugby Union. Calon is the document of a year spent at the heart of Welsh rugby; the inside story of a 6 Nations campaign that galvanised a nation and ended in Grand Slam success for the third time in 8 years.

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Book SynopsisNeath Rugby Football Club is the oldest senior club in Wale and the Welsh All Blacks have enjoyed a long and proud history. This is the second Images of Sport volume devoted to the development of Neath RFC and it covers the period from 1945 to 1996 - from the end of the Second World War to professionalism. Read how the All Blacks became the first post-war Welsh champions, the first to celebrate their centenary, the first to win the Welsh Cup, the first to win the Welsh League in its amateur form, and the first to win the League under professionalism. Read too how Neath took on - and so very nearly beat - world champions New Zealand, Australia and South Africa as the ''Thomas Revolution'' set them on their way to dominance of the Welsh scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Many of the great names of Welsh rugby are featured, including the club''s first British Lions, Rees Stephens and Roy John, Courtenay Meredith, Ron Waldron, Brian Thomas, Dai Morris, Elgan Rees, Paul Thorburn, Jona

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Book SynopsisMartin Johnson is the towering second row forward who has come to set the standards of what a professional rugby player should do. His drive and physical presence mean that he is a natural leader on the pitch - and off it, too. In this, his long-awaited autobiography, he looks at the changing world of rugby. He explains why he led the England team to the brink of a strike in the autumn of 2000, and provides the definitive account of England''s 2003 World Cup triumph, as well as Lions tours and all the goings-on that make rugby such a special sport. Hugely popular and respected, Martin Johnson has written vivid autobiography and a remarkable portrait of modern rugby.Trade ReviewFirm, clear and fascinating... There is no morbid sentimentality...about these passages, and their directness is reflected throughout the book with no concessions to the squeamish... His rugby life [is] quite a journey, but...millions will feel compelled to make the trip. * Brough Scott, Sunday Telegraph *Very droll, dry, self-deprecating humour; Johnno is a very funny man...this is so crisp, tough. I think it's a good buy for Christmas. * Germaine Greer *

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Book SynopsisAs a Premiership, World Cup and Grand Slam winner, no one better embodies the charisma and the colour of English rugbys greatest era than Lawrence Dallaglio. He has some story to tell, not just of the formidable exploits on the field, but an extraordinary life off it. His only sister, Francesca, was the youngest to perish in the Marchioness disaster and her death at 19 remains the great sadness of his life. In addition to this and his much-talked about England exploits, he also led his club Wasps to the summit of European rugby, winning two Heineken Cups and three consecutive English Premiership titles. Full of drama, controversy and great sadness, Lawrence Dallaglios story the last of the great World Cup heroes is the one every rugby fan has been waiting to read.Trade Review'Uncontrollably frank...a terrific book' * Daily Telegraph *'Dallaglio, as befits his hardman persona, takes no prisoners' * Guardian *'One of the best autobiographies of the year... beautifully written' * Daily Telegraph *'It's top' * Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear *'Never less than compelling' * Mariella Frostrup, The Book Show *'By no means just for rugby heads' * Evening Standard *'An engaging tale' * Daily Express *'lucid, detailed and frank' * The Times *'Conveyed with the right balance of truth and delicacy: there is nothing prurient, yet the emotional passages are extremely moving, which is not something you can say about many rugby books' * Daily Telegraph *'The story of a true English sporting hero, albeit a flawed one for whom tragedy as well as disgrace has been a companion. Pretty much everything is confronted head on, exactly as Dallaglio played, indeed plays' * Daily Mail *

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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 *

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

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Book SynopsisA hilarious and, at times, moving and soul-searching account of rugby union’s rollercoaster days in the 1990s, told through the eyes of a player who saw it all as the sport lurched shambolically from the crazy final days of amateurism into the professional era.Martin Bayfield has a story to tell. Indeed, some might describe it as a very tall story. Standing at 6ft 10ins, the former England and British and Irish Lions second row remains one of the tallest players ever to have played international rugby, and his immense physical stature made him one of the most destructive forwards in the world game. He played for England during one of the most successful eras in English rugby, winning two Grand Slams alongside legendary players such as Will Carling, Jeremy Guscott, Brian Moore and Rory Underwood. His international heyday came at a seminal moment for rugby union when, almost overnight, it was transformed from a noble minority sport toTrade Review'The best raconteur in the game' -- James Haskell

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Book SynopsisThe clubâs most iconic and successful players and managers.

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Book SynopsisUnholy Union is a snapshot of rugby in the 21st century, and how rugby collided with the modern world.

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Book SynopsisWhat is the state of rugby?Is the game on the brink of expansion? Or is it on the brink of implosion?No game has undergone so traumatic a transformation since the turn of the century. The last of the major sports to embrace professionalism, rugby was propelled on a trajectory that has twisted its cumbersome frame to the limit in a drama compelling and appalling to behold. After a hundred years defying the future, rugby now shudders with the turmoil of its sudden leap into the modern world, attaining heights hitherto undreamed of, even as the strains - financial, political, social and medical - threaten to tear it apart.With a global focus (and a particular lens on Australasian and South African rugby), Unholy Union is a fascinating and in-depth analysis of the sport, examining the journey so far and speculating on where it will go next. It is irreverent and provocative, asking uncomfortable questions of rugby, but imbued throughout

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Book SynopsisInspiring and irreverent by turns, Brian Levison''s new anthology has drawn on rugby''s wealth of excellent writing. Frank Keating, P. G. Wodehouse, Alec Waugh, A. A. Thomson, John Reason and Mick Imlah are among the distinguished names who have written movingly, amusingly and entertainingly about the game they loved. Great players such as Brian O''Driscoll, Willie John McBride, J. P. R. Williams, Chester Williams, Colin Meads, Gavin Hastings and Brian Moore give us a fascinating insider''s view, as does World Cup Final referee Derek Bevan, who reveals what it is like to try to control thirty powerful and often volatile men in a highly competitive situation. But some of the best writing and the wittiest insights come from those who played their rugby at a much less exalted level. The origins of the game - sometimes true, sometimes fanciful - are explored as are some of its rituals like the haka. There are amusing tales including that of the four Tibetan boys sent byTrade ReviewCricket, as Sam Johnson might have averred, has all that life affords. Almost every aspect is touched upon in this delightful collection. It is the product of wide reading, deep interest and a versatile mind.One of the nicest things I've been asked to sign.There is a treat around every corner . . . this will stay on the bedside table for some time . . . It is a splendid reminder that we have the best game in the world, and the best writers too. Ranges far and wide through the literature of the game . . . almost certainly the only book in history to combine the best bits of Gus Fraser and Charles Dickens. Something for everyone then. - GuardianRead the book if you love cricket or if you love life - or if like so many of us, you believe the two are interchangeable. - ESPNCricinfo

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Book SynopsisVoted Rugby Book of the Year at the 2018 Sports Book Awards.Wrecking Ball is a captivating and humorous memoir by Billy Vunipola, one of the stars of England''s recent rugby renaissance, and will be enjoyed by those who have read the recent autobiographies by Jonny Wilkinson, Brian O''Driscoll, Dan Carter and Paul O''Connell.Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing almost 20 stone, Billy is a rampaging and unmissable presence on the rugby pitch, for both club and country. Wrecking Ball is his captivating story so far, chronicling his remarkable personal odyssey of 10,000 miles, from the tiny Tongan village of Longo Longo to the imposing vastness of Twickenham.Join Billy on his journey from the year-round sunshine of Tonga to the bitter cold of a British winter, from his favourite Pontypool kebab shop to finding himself eating broccoli for breakfast, and from carefree childhood games in the middle of the Pacific to the serio

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR RUGBY BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE 2020 TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS.''excellent'' Donald McRae, The Guardian''Gatland is the master'' Sir Ian McGeechan''Gatland is a coaching star'' Sir Clive Woodward''Gats is one of the all-time great coaches'' Sam WarburtonWarren Gatland is one of the world''s most renowned and intriguing rugby coaches of the modern era, leading Wales to four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-finals and masterminding two history-making tours as Head Coach of the British and Irish Lions.As he leaves his post as Head Coach of Wales at the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Gatland''s definitive autobiography provides a colourful and vivid chronicle of an extraordinary three decades at rugby''s dynamic coal-face. The personal journey has been rewarding and challenging in equal measure, spanning many Trade ReviewShortlisted for 'Rugby Book of The Year' in the Telegraph Sports Book Awards 2020

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR RUGBY BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE 2020 TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS.''excellent'' Donald McRae, The Guardian''Gatland is the master'' Sir Ian McGeechan''Gatland is a coaching star'' Sir Clive Woodward''Gats is one of the all-time great coaches'' Sam WarburtonWarren Gatland is one of the world''s most renowned and intriguing rugby coaches of the modern era, leading Wales to four Six Nations titles, three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-finals and masterminding two history-making tours as Head Coach of the British and Irish Lions.As he leaves his post as Head Coach of Wales at the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Gatland''s definitive autobiography provides a colourful and vivid chronicle of an extraordinary three decades at rugby''s dynamic coal-face. The personal journey has been rewarding and challenging in equal measure, spanning many Trade ReviewShortlisted for 'Rugby Book of The Year' in the Telegraph Sports Book Awards 2020

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Book SynopsisAs Kieran Read prepares to call time on his distinguished New Zealand career at the end of the Rugby World Cup, this is the open and honest life story of one of rugby''s greatest players, a legendary All Black and a two-time World Cup winner.Kieran Read first played for the All Blacks as a 23-year-old in 2008 and since then has amassed more than a century of Test appearances in the famous jersey. Now, after a stellar provincial, club and international career - including back-to-back World Cup victories - the New Zealand captain writes openly and honestly about his time in the game.Read takes to these pages with his trademark determination, lifting the lid on the unique pressures of succeeding as captain the most celebrated All Black of all time (Richie McCaw). He outlines the decisions that molded his career and uncovers the skills of the coaches who shaped him, while offering readers an inside account of how the world''s greatest team functions and thrives.<Trade Reviewone of the greats of our game ... a fantastic leader - Steve Hansen (All Blacks Head Coach)

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Book SynopsisAn exclusive look at England Rugby from Rob Andrew - a former England star with a unique perspective on the game.Trade ReviewAn excellent read * Rugby World *

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Book SynopsisAn exclusive look at England Rugby from a Rob Andrew - a former England star with a unique perspective on the game.Trade ReviewAn excellent read * Rugby World *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019''Brutally honest . . . A moving, candid tale of a coach taking the plunge with a rugby ball as his only buoyancy aid'' DAILY EXPRESS''An engrossing account of a remarkable story'' EVENING STANDARD''An excellent read covering a brilliant journey'' Sir Clive WoodwardIt is late summer 2013. Ben Ryan, a red-haired, 40-something, spectacle-wearing Englishman, is given 20 minutes to decide whether he wants to coach Fiji''s rugby sevens team, with the aim of taking them to the nation''s first-ever Olympic medal. He has never been to Fiji. There has been no discussion of contracts or salary. But he knows that no one plays rugby like the men from these isolated Pacific islands, just as no one plays football like the kids from the Brazilian favelas, or no one runs as fast as the boys and girls from Jamaica''s boondocks. He knows too that no other rugby nation has so little - no monTrade ReviewYou'll struggle to read a more compelling rugby story than this . . . heartily recommendedAn excellent read covering a brilliant journeyOne of the all-time great sporting tales . . . Good things happen to good peopleSevens Heaven by Ben Ryan is such a special book * Guardian, Best Sports Books of the Year *Brutally honest . . . A moving, candid tale of a coach taking the plunge with a rugby ball as his only buoyancy aid * Daily Express *An engrossing account of a remarkable story * Evening Standard *So many beautiful, provocative postcard descriptions of Fiji alongside fascinating, honest insights and humble lessons and truthsSevens Heaven, the story of how English coach Ben Ryan took the Fiji sevens side to Olympic gold, is the best rugby book I've ever read (I don't say that lightly) and as good as any sports book, from Mailer to Plimpton to Hauser, I've encountered in the almost sixty years since I got a Terry McLean '59 Lions tour book for Christmas. It's so good because it reads at times like a noir novel, and is stunningly open and honest. We know how the rugby ended, but Ryan's book is so gripping to tell you any other plot twists might spoil it for youWe always knew a book by Ben Ryan wouldn't be dull, but Sevens Heaven surpasses all expectations. The Londoner's "three years of enlightenment" in the South Pacific makes such enthralling reading that I unhesitatingly call this one of the best rugby books ever written * Rugby World *Entertaining and insightful * The Rugby Paper *

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestseller'A genuine super-coach' – Stephen Jones, Sunday TimesBrilliant, honest, combative – Eddie Jones is a gigantic yet enigmatic figure in world rugby and a true legend of the game. In My Life and Rugby he tells his story for the first time, including the full inside story of England’s 2019 World Cup campaign.Since taking over as head coach of England in 2015, Eddie Jones has orchestrated a complete revival of the national team. He has won the Six Nations Championship back-to-back, including England’s first Grand Slam in a generation and their first-ever whitewash of Australia in their own backyard, as well as taking them on their longest-ever winning streak, matching the world record held by the All Blacks.Eddie Jones is one of the most experienced and decorated coaches in Rugby Union. His career has spanned four World Cups: from the 2003 final, working with South Africa when they won in 2007, and causing the greatest upset in the history of the game in 2015 when he masterminded the Japanese victory over South Africa. Most recently, he led England on their incredible run at the 2019 World Cup, culminating in a stunning victory against the All Blacks before falling to South Africa in the final.Learning from the extreme highs and lows of his own playing career – including the numerous successes playing for Randwick and New South Wales but also the painful disappointment of never playing for Australia – he shows what it takes to be the best in the world and how everything he has learned about the game, both on and off the pitch, has gone into plotting England’s route to the top of world rugby.Written with Donald McRae, twice winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award and three-time Sports Feature Writer of the Year, My Life and Rugby is the story of one of the most compelling and singular figures in rugby. Told with unflinching honesty, this is the ultimate rugby book for all fans of the sport.Trade ReviewEternally thoughtful about his craft and sport . . . fascinating . . . Jones is brutally frank about himself and the people and players in his life. His gifts of leadership and organisation are clearly remarkable -- A Daily Mail Book of the Year * Daily Mail Books of the Year *A world-class coach -- Sir Clive WoodwardJones has a winning mentality - he is constantly asking for more. England were 18 games unbeaten and I saw his quote saying we are nowhere near ready to win a World Cup. He recognised what the end looks like and what that environment needs to look like. -- Gareth SouthgateAn absolute genius * Sydney Morning Herald *A genuine super-coach -- Stephen Jones * The Sunday Times *Refreshingly self-critical . . . Jones emerges as a more complex character than he had led us to believe -- The Times Sports Book of the YearOne of the best autobiographies of 2019 * Rugby World *

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Book Synopsis'People think they know him but unless you read this book you will never know the REAL Alun Wyn Jones' – Warren Gatland‘One of the greatest, and seemingly indestructible, players in history' – A Daily Mail Book of the YearBelonging is the story about how the boy from Mumbles became the most capped rugby union player of all time. It is the story of what it takes to become a man who is seen by many as one of the greatest ever Welsh players. What it takes to go from sitting cross-legged on the hall floor at school watching the 1997 Lions tour of South Africa, to being named the 2021 Lions captain.But is it also about perthyn – belonging: playing for Wales, working his way through the age grades and club rugby and his regional side. How to earn the right to be there, and what it feels like to make the sacrifices along the way. Feeling the connection to players who have come before, and feeling the ties to the millions in front rooms and pubs across the country, coast to coast. Knowing that deep down you want to belong, as everyone does.From playing on the rain-swept pitches of Swansea to making his test debut against Argentina in Patagonia in 2006; from touring with the Lions in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021 to dealing with loss and creating a family – Belonging is the autobiography of one of the most compelling figures in world rugby. Told with characteristic honesty, this is his unique personal story of what it takes and what it means to play for your country: what it means to belong.

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Book SynopsisWhat does it take to become one of the most successful coaches in the world?Eddie Jones is one of the most successful sports coaches of all time. From coaching three different nations to Rugby World Cup Finals and with a winning record with England of nearly 80%, Eddie Jones knows what it takes to lead and manage high performance teams. What can sport teach us about leadership? For the first time, Eddie Jones shows just what it takes to be a leader in a high performance and high pressure environment and how these lessons can be applied to every walk of life, from coaching the U9 rugby team to leading a multinational organization to simply doing your job better.Have a voracious ambition to improve every day As he explains the High Performance Cycle of Success at the heart of his philosophy, Eddie Jones reveals the lessons he has learnt from Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Pep Guardiola as well as from the founder of Uniqlo and Ron Adams from the NBA. He also gives a detailed analysis of his own performance as a coach as well as how he gets the best out of the players and coaches around him and what he saw in Tom Curry that no one else saw, which makes him think that he could be the next Richie McCaw. Always start with the end in mindDrawing on stories of nearly thirty years of coaching, including the 2003, 2007, 2015 and 2019 World Rugby campaigns, the full story of England's 2021 Six Nations campaign as well as why it takes humour, humility and relentless curiosity to lead an eclectic mix of superstars from Maro Itoje to James Haskell, George Smith to Kyle Sinckler, to create teams that are relentlessly hungry to win, Leadership is the ultimate rugby book about what it takes to be the best.Written with Donald McRae, two-time winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, Leadership is the book for anyone who wants to learn how to build and lead a team to success.

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Book SynopsisPraise for Eddie Jones‘A genuine super-coach’ – The Sunday Times‘His gifts of leadership and organisation are remarkable’ – The Daily MailEddie Jones is one of the most successful sports coaches of all time. From coaching three different nations to Rugby World Cup finals and enjoying a winning record with England of nearly 80 per cent, he knows what’s needed to lead and manage high performance teams. For the first time, Eddie reveals what it takes to operate in high pressure environments, the successes and setbacks, and how these lessons can be applied to every walk of life, from coaching a children’s sports team to leading a multinational organization to simply doing your job better.Forthright and unflinchingly honest, Eddie Jones reveals what he has learnt from Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger and Pep Guardiola, as well as from the founder of Uniqlo and Ron Adams of the NBA. Drawing on stories from nearly thirty years of coaching, Eddie explains how you need humour, humility and relentless curiosity to lead an eclectic mix of superstars – from Maro Itoje to James Haskell, George Smith to Kyle Sinckler – and create teams that are relentlessly hungry to win. Leadership is the ultimate rugby book about what it takes to be the best.Written with Donald McRae, two-time winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, Leadership is the book for anyone who wants to learn how to build and lead a team to success.

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Book Synopsis'Extraordinary . . . great fun' Barry Egan, Irish Sunday Independent'A wonderful story . . . vivid and comprehensive.' Stephen Jones, Sunday Times''Throughout it all though there is a feeling of warmth for the sport and for others. Above all there is a sense of achievement . . . Best was never one of the glamour boys, but he deserves star billing.' Daily Telegraph Rory Best is widely-regarded as one of Ireland's greatest ever captains. Entrusted by Joe Schmidt to lead the side that looked on the wane following the 2015 World Cup, Best's inspirational leadership skills and abrasive qualities proved to be the foundation stones for the most successful period in Ireland's history.His first year in charge saw Ireland complete a hat-trick of victories against the southern hemisphere 'Big Three', including leading his side to a first ever victory over world champions New Zealand in Chicago, a feat that etched Best's place in Irish sporting folklore and ended the All Blacks' record-winning streak of 18 Test victories.Ireland's annus mirabilis under Best's captaincy would come in 2018 however, when he led the side to only their third Grand Slam title, culminating with a famous victory over England at Twickenham, and a record-breaking run of 12 successive Test victories.When he stepped down as Ireland captain at the age of 37 following the World Cup in Japan, his fourth tournament, history will no doubt also judge Best to be one of their greatest forwards.A hugely-popular figure across the game, Best finished his career as Ireland's most capped forward, behind only Brian O'Driscoll and Ronan O'Gara in the all-time records, and also made over 200 appearances for his province Ulster.Trade ReviewExtraordinary... Great fun - Irish Sunday IndependentThroughout it all though there is a feeling of warmth for the sport and for others. Above all there is a sense of achievement... Best was never one of the glamour boys, but he deserves star billing. - Daily Telegraph'his autobiography revealed so many other things about a pretty special person ... one for both fans and non-fans of rugby.' - News Letter Northern Ireland

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Book Synopsis'Extraordinary . . . great fun' Barry Egan, Irish Sunday Independent'A wonderful story . . . vivid and comprehensive.' Stephen Jones, Sunday Times''Throughout it all though there is a feeling of warmth for the sport and for others. Above all there is a sense of achievement . . . Best was never one of the glamour boys, but he deserves star billing.' Daily TelegraphRory Best is widely-regarded as one of Ireland's greatest ever captains. Entrusted by Joe Schmidt to lead the side that looked on the wane following the 2015 World Cup, Best's inspirational leadership skills and abrasive qualities proved to be the foundation stones for the most successful period in Ireland's history.His first year in charge saw Ireland complete a hat-trick of victories against the southern hemisphere 'Big Three', including leading his side to a first ever victory over world champions New Zealand in Chicago, a feat that etched Best's place in Irish sporting folklore and ended the All Blacks' record-winning streak of 18 Test victories.Ireland's annus mirabilis under Best's captaincy would come in 2018 however, when he led the side to only their third Grand Slam title, culminating with a famous victory over England at Twickenham, and a record-breaking run of 12 successive Test victories.When he stepped down as Ireland captain at the age of 37 following the World Cup in Japan, his fourth tournament, history will no doubt also judge Best to be one of their greatest forwards.A hugely-popular figure across the game, Best finished his career as Ireland's most capped forward, behind only Brian O'Driscoll and Ronan O'Gara in the all-time records, and also made over 200 appearances for his province Ulster.

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Book Synopsis**Winner of the Rugby Book of the Year at the Sports Book Awards 2022**Prince Alexander Sergeevich Obolensky made his name on a cold January day at Twickenham in 1936, his achievements captured for posterity by the newsreels of the time. On his England debut, having already scored one exhilarating try, the striking blond winger collected a pass on the right and, path blocked, veered left at such a pace that a line of opponents were left grasping at thin air. It was a historic try, unrivalled in skill and speed - and it inspired England's first ever victory over the All Blacks.Born to a noble family in St Petersburg in 1916, he had been due a life of wealth and privilege, until revolution forced the Obolenskys to flee Russia. Arriving in Britain with just a handful of possessions, they were reduced to relying on handouts, little Alex's very education resting on the charity of others. But as the young boy began his new life in a strange country, it was his natural sporting ability that would bring him lasting fame. The controversial selection for England of a Russian-born prince was a huge story in the press, stirring up xenophobia as well as excitement at the 19-year-old Oxford student's sheer pace. His later exploits on and off the field would keep his name in the papers, yet Alex was destined to win only four international caps, despite touring with the Lions and appearing for the Barbarians. After joining the RAF to serve his adopted king and country, he died at the controls of a Hurricane in March 1940.Bringing a fascinating era to life, The Flying Prince explores the mystery and mythology surrounding Alexander Obolensky, and for the first time tells the full story of the sporting hero who died too young.*****'Well-researched . . . a pleasure to read. There are plenty of colourful characters' - THE TIMES'The fascinating tale of the Russian-born aristocrat who helped England beat the All-Blacks for the first time' JOHN AIZLEWOOD, I NEWS'A first biography from Hugh Godwin, rugby correspondent of the i, and a fine fist he's made of it too' - BEST RUGBY BOOKS 2021'Expertly fills in the gaps . . . Now we have a biography his story deserves' - THE RUGBY PAPERTrade ReviewA first biography from Hugh Godwin, rugby correspondent of the i, and a fine fist he's made of it too * Best Rugby Books 2021 *It is well-researched vignettes such as this, deftly side-stepping the main story, that make Hugh Godwin's tale of Obolensky a pleasure to read. There are plenty of colourful characters, such as Geoffrey Bell, Obolensky's headmaster, who was fond of making the boys take a naked cold dip in the outdoor pool every morning; or WTS Stallybrass, a sozzled Brasenose don who died falling off a train on his way back from dinner, after mistaking the carriage door for the lavatory * The Times *'Expertly fills in the gaps . . . Now we have a biography his story deserves' * The Rugby Paper *The fascinating tale of the Russian-born aristocrat who helped England beat the All-Blacks for the first time * John Aizlewood, i news *Compelling * Gavin Mairs, Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis**Winner of the Rugby Book of the Year at the Sports Book Awards 2022**Prince Alexander Sergeevich Obolensky made his name on a cold January day at Twickenham in 1936, his achievements captured for posterity by the newsreels of the time. On his England debut, having already scored one exhilarating try, the striking blond winger collected a pass on the right and, path blocked, veered left at such a pace that a line of opponents were left grasping at thin air. It was a historic try, unrivalled in skill and speed - and it inspired England's first ever victory over the All Blacks.Born to a noble family in St Petersburg in 1916, he had been due a life of wealth and privilege, until revolution forced the Obolenskys to flee Russia. Arriving in Britain with just a handful of possessions, they were reduced to relying on handouts, little Alex's very education resting on the charity of others. But as the young boy began his new life in a strange country, it was his natural sporting ability that would bring him lasting fame. The controversial selection for England of a Russian-born prince was a huge story in the press, stirring up xenophobia as well as excitement at the 19-year-old Oxford student's sheer pace. His later exploits on and off the field would keep his name in the papers, yet Alex was destined to win only four international caps, despite touring with the Lions and appearing for the Barbarians. After joining the RAF to serve his adopted king and country, he died at the controls of a Hurricane in March 1940.Bringing a fascinating era to life, The Flying Prince explores the mystery and mythology surrounding Alexander Obolensky, and for the first time tells the full story of the sporting hero who died too young.*****'Well-researched . . . a pleasure to read. There are plenty of colourful characters' - THE TIMES'The fascinating tale of the Russian-born aristocrat who helped England beat the All-Blacks for the first time' JOHN AIZLEWOOD, I NEWS'A first biography from Hugh Godwin, rugby correspondent of the i, and a fine fist he's made of it too' - BEST RUGBY BOOKS 2021'Expertly fills in the gaps . . . Now we have a biography his story deserves' - THE RUGBY PAPERTrade ReviewA first biography from Hugh Godwin, rugby correspondent of the i, and a fine fist he's made of it too * Best Rugby Books 2021 *It is well-researched vignettes such as this, deftly side-stepping the main story, that make Hugh Godwin's tale of Obolensky a pleasure to read. There are plenty of colourful characters, such as Geoffrey Bell, Obolensky's headmaster, who was fond of making the boys take a naked cold dip in the outdoor pool every morning; or WTS Stallybrass, a sozzled Brasenose don who died falling off a train on his way back from dinner, after mistaking the carriage door for the lavatory * The Times *'Expertly fills in the gaps . . . Now we have a biography his story deserves' * The Rugby Paper *The fascinating tale of the Russian-born aristocrat who helped England beat the All-Blacks for the first time * John Aizlewood, i news *Compelling * Gavin Mairs, Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis'A genuine presence on the field, Owen refereed with the perfect balance of respect and authority' Keith Wood'Highly respected with vast experience and knowledge, Owen Doyle contributed hugely to the world of rugby refereeing, both on and off the field' Nigel Owens'Owen Doyle was a highly respected referee who officiated matches with passion, commitment, knowledge and, occasionally, some great humour' Will CarlingWith a foreword by Donal Lenihan.Owen Doyle is an Irish Times columnist and former Irish rugby Test match referee. Here in his frank, revealing and often humorous memoir, The Ref's Call, he gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the high-pressured world of international rugby.From the processes involved in becoming a referee, to officiating in the Five Nations, touring Internationals and a World Cup, Doyle takes us through the most memorable matches of his career and how, following his retirement, he became instrumental in coaching the most successful generation of referees in the IRFU's history.Covering over forty years of rugby, and written in his own inimitable style, Doyle looks at the challenges facing modern rugby, particularly the issues of concussion and dementia, to give a fascinating insight into the great game, told from a unique perspective.

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Book Synopsis“We’re better off for having these men among us.”—Wall Street JournalBefore 9/11, the rugby team at West Point learned to bond on a sports field. This is what happened when those 15 young men became leaders in war. Filled with drama, tragedy, and personal transformations, this is the story of a unique brotherhood. It is a story of American rugby and a story of the U. S. Army created through intimate portraits of men shaped by West Point’s motto: “Duty, Honor, Country.” Some of the players deployed to Afganistan and Iraq, some to Europe. Some became infantry, others became fliers. Some saw action, some did not. One gave his life on a street in Baghdad when his convoy was hit with an IED. Two died away from the battlefield but no less tragically. Journalist Martin Pengelly, a former rugby player himself, was given extraordinary access to tell this story, a story of a brutal sport and even more brutal warfare.Trade ReviewPraise for Brotherhood“Weaves together multiple in-depth biographies to form a highly readable account of who these men were, where they came from, how they played the game and how they fought the longest war in U.S. military history….We’re better off for having these men among us.”—Wall Street Journal “Brotherhood is a mad, perfect book. Pengelly’s audacious act combining biography, war reportage and sports writing is like nothing I’ve read before. The ’02 West Point ruggers are painted in beautiful relief and their combat episodes are brilliantly rendered. Sports book? War book? I’m not sure, but I’m certain you must read it.”—Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead: A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles “An intimate portrait . . . Drawing on his own love of rugby, personal reminiscences from the [West Point] cadets, and in-depth reportage, Pengelly provides a vivid snapshot of his subjects and their experiences of war, combined with an elegiac meditation on the sport. It’s a poignant account.”—Publishers Weekly “A memorable and moving book, a significant contribution to the literature of the American military after 9/11.”—Thomas E. Ricks, author of Waging a Good War: A Military History of the Civil Rights Movement, 1954–1968“Brotherhood breaks the heart with its dramatic story of a fraternity of teammates broken by war.” —David Abrams, author of Fobbit “In rugby, we often talk of ‘going into battle’ with your team. It's just a game, of course, but in Brotherhood, sport, war, and friendship leap from the pages as players really do become warriors—and heroes.” —Dan Lyle, U.S. Rugby Hall of Famer and NBC Sports analyst“In a time when men struggle to find their place in society—a time of disheartening news on education, relationships, and lifespan itself—Martin Pengelly brings a rare story of encouragement. The young men of Brotherhood remind us of the best in men: courage, sacrifice, even nobility.”—Matthew Teague, co-author of The Steal: The Attempt to Overturn the 2020 Election and the People Who Stopped It “Brotherhood captures men working through shared hardships, the lessons learned, and bonds forged through that journey. Ultimately, the book shares the stories of young men and their families who were willing to give everything for our country—and some who did.”—Matthew Sherman, West Point Men’s Rugby Coach

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Book SynopsisRugby is full of mysteries on and off the pitchIt is played with an odd-shaped ball. There are twoversions. The rules seem to change regularly. Fans of the twogames still argue about things that happened over a centuryago including who invented it. Award-winningsports history professor Tony Collinscracks many such enigmas.Table of Contents1. Who Framed William Webb Ellis?................................................5 2. Why Is Rugby Played With An Odd-Shaped Ball? ..................11 3. How Rugby Scored The Greatest Own-Goal Of All Time ......16 4. League Or Union: Which Is The Real Rugby? ..........................22 5. Why Didn't Soccer Have Its Own 'Great Split'? ......................27 6. Why Does Wales Play The Wrong Type Of Rugby? ................34 7. Why Didn't Lily Parr Play Rugby? ............................................39 8. The Mystery Of Sherlock Holmes's Missing Three-Quarter.................................................................45 9. Unintended Consequences: How The All Blacks Kick-Started Rugby League Down Under ................................49 10. Did Australian Rugby Union Lose The Code War Because It Was Too Patriotic? ......................................................54 11. Why The 'First Lions' Weren't The First (And Weren't Even Lions)............................................................59 12. Inner City Blues (And Reds): How Manchester Was Lost By Rugby .......................................64 13. The Pen Is Mightier Than The Ball? How Tom Brown's School Days Launched Rugby......................70 14. Rugby's Line-Out And Soccer's Throw-In: Separated At Birth?.......................................................................75 15. Are Leicester Tigers The Most Important Club In The History Of Rugby Union? ...............................................80 Full book interior_Full book 216pp 25/11/2022 10:53 Page 6 16. Who Painted The Players Out Of William Wollen's 'The Roses Match'? .......................................................................86 17. Why Scrums Aren't What They Used To Be (But Never Were Anyway)?.........................................................91 18. Leeds United's Secret Rugby League History ..........................97 19. Why Doesn't Robert Delaunay's Painting 'The Cardiff Team' Show The Cardiff Team?..........................103 20. Why Are There So Many Penalty Goals In Rugby Union?...109 21. Why Does Hull Have Two Professional Rugby Teams?........115 22. Is This Sporting Life Really A Film About Rugby? ..................121 23. When Rugby League Was Almost A Jewish Game................127 24. How Lucius Banks Became America's First Pro Rugby Player And Rugby's First Black Pro ............133 25. Did Melrose Invent Rugby Sevens? It's Complicated ...........138 26. How Romanian Rugby Became A Cold War Football...........144 27. How Wigan v Bath Showed How Rugby Had Changed ... Or Did It? .................................................................................150 28. 1-2-3-4! The Rise And Fall (And Rise?) Of Drop-Goals.........156 29. Imitation Is Not Just A Form Of Flattery: Why Union Borrows From League ..........................................162 30. The Game That Won't Die: Why Reports Of Rugby League's Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated...................168

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Book SynopsisAn All Black's memoir of rugby, dementia, and the hidden cost of success 'The best sports book I have read in decades' - Kevin Norquay, Stuff'Startlingly honest' - Phil Gifford'A brilliant read. Bold, brave and honest' - Mike Hosking, Newstalk ZBCarl Hayman, All Black #1000, once the most highly prized player in world rugby and a giant of the game in every sense - someone who was always respected, even feared. But at the end of seventeen years as a professional rugby player, the last eight played with the sole aim of setting up his family's future, Hayman's life began to unravel in nightmarish fashion.Head On is about the pressures on the modern athlete, where physical performance and commerce collide, and players become victims of their own success.Exploited then left out in the cold, Hayman is now left counting the hidden cost of the achievements that would have exceeded any young rugby player's dreams. He now fears both the known and the unknown with equal trepidation. as he looks for answers to dementia and a degenerative brain condition called CTE. In Head On, Hayman relives a remarkable rugby career, with revelations about the shock All Blacks loss to France in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the decisions to leave New Zealand and play for the Newcastle Falcons in England, in doing so becoming one of the best-paid players on the planet, and how being put on the fast track to the All Blacks as a youngster combined with the Southern Man rugby ethos in Dunedin caused him to develop a dangerous relationship with alcohol.This book is about how we can better understand the unintended consequences of the decisions we make, and how we can better serve the next generation.

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

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Book SynopsisEvery week young children are hospitalized on the playing fields of Britain. Yet this data is never collected, nor is there any concerted attempt to work out how to make sport safer. Using meticulous, peer-reviewed research, the book sets out the true risks associated with the sport, raising uncomfortable questions for politicians and the educational authorities. Would parents be so willing to let their children play rugby if they knew that the average risk of serious injury over the course of a season could be at least 17 percent, or nearly one in six?Trade ReviewHorrifying and empowering, this is an instant classic and essential reading for every parent. Professor Pollock is utterly fearless. -- Max Pemberton, author of The Doctor Will See you NowAllyson Pollock is one of the leading public health scientists of her generation . In this carefully researched book, she confronts us with a hard choice: continue with the unfettered romance of a 'man's' game or adapt it to protect our young. -- Prof. John Ashton, President of the Faculty of Public Health

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Book SynopsisWorld in Union is the story of the Rugby World Cup told via its fifteen most important and dramatic matches. From the inauspicious beginnings of the 1987 tournament, which nearly didn't happen due to back-room politics, and the amateur era's aversion to commercialism, the Rugby World Cup has grown into the third largest sporting event in the world, behind only the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. World in Union looks at the greatest games and the biggest controversies played out on the Rugby World Cup stage with each chapter focusing on a different game. Western Samoa breaking Welsh hearts, the emergence of Jonah Lomu, Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar uniting the Rainbow Nation, Wilkinson's drop for World Cup glory, France's habit of spoiling the All Blacks' party, Sam Warburton's controversial sending off and Japan's greatest moment-all this and more is covered in this enjoyable narrative for all rugby fans.

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Book SynopsisBen Cohen’s dad didn’t know anything about the sport his young son had taken up, but he was happy to drive him to practice, and was soon helping out at the club. When his business went bankrupt money was tight, but Ben’s hard working parents inspired their son to put his all into rugby.Then, when Ben was 20, his father intervened in a fight in the nightclub where he worked. He was viciously beaten and one month later he died in hospital. Ben was doing an England press conference at the time, and it was down to coach Clive Woodward to deliver the devastating news. But the ordeal was far from over. The inquest lasted five months before the funeral could be held, and it was a year before the family were in court, facing Peter’s assailants.Ben put all of the anger and pain from his father’s death into his rugby. Fast and powerful on the wing, he was soon the best in the world in his position and a cornerstone of the England team, culminating in the legendary World Cup win in Sydney in 2003. And yet he always felt like an outsider. Most people didn’t know that Ben is clinically deaf. His sixth sense for the game got him through on the pitch, but off it his poor hearing was often taken for arrogance.This is an inspirational story of passion and pain; of the highs of achieving your goals, and the grief of losing something you can never get back.

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Book SynopsisIn 2016, Doddie Weir's life - as much-loved sporting hero and Borders farmer - switched direction with the same speed and power this indefatigable No. 5 once displayed on the rugby pitch. Reeling from his own MND diagnosis, Doddie became a standard-bearer for all those valiantly seeking to halt Motor Neuron Disease in its tracks. It's a platform Doddie has unhesitatingly used to the max. 'I never set out to take the lead,' he says. 'It just happened - like MND itself. But we are making a fight of it.' And so he continues to live life at full tilt: as a tireless fundraiser for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and as a family man with a debilitating, unpredictable and incurable disease. During these unprecedented times, Doddie has received an OBE, celebrated his 50th birthday, helped pledge close to £10 million for MND research and his fellow sufferers - all amid a whirl of golfing challenges, charity cycle rides, book festivals and awards ceremonies . . . Now DODDIE'S DIARY lifts the lid on the highs, the lows, the laughter and the tears of the last few years. Each day shows an astonishing, inspirational man who simply refuses to give in as he brings his down-to-earth positivity and legendary sense of humour to the battle against MND. Just as on the pitch, it's a battle he's determined to win.

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