Description
Book Synopsis*Shortlisted for the 2016 Cross Sports Book of the Year award*When Britain’s empire went to war in August 1914, rugby players were the first to volunteer: they led from the front and paid a disproportionate price.
Trade Review‘I was proud to lead men on the field as All Blacks skipper. I am proud and humbled to read here of rugby men of all nations who went before me, who loved the game and loved their country enough to lay down their lives.’ - Sean Fitzpatrick, former All Black captain ‘As a World Cup winner with a great grandfather who fought in this war, I was really moved by this book. To read of men who lived through hell, then in the aftermath pieced themselves together and played the first rugby World Cup in 1919, brought home to me why our game’s values, forged in adversity, are so strong.’ - Lewis Moody MBE, Rugby World Cup winner and RFU Great War Commemoration Ambassador. ‘The story of the Kings Cup in 1919 was a real discovery for me. In here is all the tragedy of war, mixed with the human triumph of the players who came through. It took my breath away to read these stories. If you want to know where the values of teamwork, discipline, respect in rugby come from, then read this.’- Maggie Alphonsi MBE, Rugby World Cup winner with England ‘A story of brave men who faced danger with true heroism; some lived to play rugby again. We can only hope to live up to their legacy.’ - Gareth Thomas, captain Wales and British & Irish Lions 'A triumph: a proper accompaniment to the rugby world cup.’- Justin Webb, journalist and BBC Radio presenter
