Download or read book Rugby s Greatest Characters written by John Griffiths and published by Aurum Press Limited. This book was released on 2014-07-10 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There’ s an old joke about rugby players and oddballs. However, there certainly have been quite a few of them playing rugby in the history of the game. And not just oddballs, there’ s been pitbulls, quiet men, iron men, and unsung heroes. And you can meet them all in this quirky collection of the famous and infamous of the game. Characters include Wilfred Wooller, who, playing in the ‘ 30s, was described as a ‘ juggernaut, leaving a trail of prostrate figures in his wake.’ Then there was Gordon Brown (not the PM), known as ‘ Broonie’ but also as the baby-faced assassin when he first entered the Scottish team in 1696. Right up to Sir Clive Woodward who transformed the England side from amateur to professional – a man who knew his own mind, but didn’ t seem to sure about anyone else’ s. Using extensive research author John Griffiths wins bonus points for a funny, fascinating, remarkable collection of the good, the bad and the ugly, of the scrums, forwards, fly halfs, flankers and dummy passers. A great gift book for all rugby fans. John Griffiths is the author of six books on rugby and for many years co-edited Rothmans Rugby Yearbook and the IRB's Rugby Yearbook.

Download or read book Women in Rugby written by Helene Joncheray and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-04-27 with total page 149 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the first book to introduce key themes in the study of women’s rugby from multi-disciplinary perspectives, including history, sociology, gender studies, sport development and sport science. Featuring contributions from leading researchers and former international players from across Canada, England, France, New Zealand and the USA, the book opens with a global history of women’s rugby, locating the game in the wider context of the development of women’s sport and exploring important social issues such as race, gender and violence. The book then looks at training and performance analysis at pitch level, helping the reader get a sense of the game from the ground up, before focusing on women’s rugby through the eyes of others (such as rugby coaches), women’s experiences of rugby’s culture and promotional culture. This is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in women’s sport, rugby, sport and social issues, sport development, or sport history.

Download or read book The Changing Face of Rugby written by Greg Ryan and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2009-01-14 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1995 rugby union became the last significant international sport to sanction professionalism. To some this represented an undesirable challenge to the traditions of the game. To others the change was inevitable and overdue – an acknowledgment of both the realty of modern sport and the extent to which money had already permeated the game. While there are some commonalities in the response to professional rugby, the contributions to this book, representing almost all of the significant rugby playing countries, reveal much more that was shaped by particular local contexts both within rugby and in terms of its place within the economic, political, class and social structures of the surrounding society. The authors assess the contrasting ways in which rugby administrators at local, regional and national level grappled with the changes that were required and the demands of the corporate backers who funded the transition to professionalism. But the more contentious relationships considered are those involving the many amateur rugby players and committed fans who found that significant community and historical reference points were subtly altered or simply obliterated in the face of new commercial imperatives – and especially new competitions that separated elite players from the grassroots of the game. Some have adapted to the replacement ‘product’ with relish, others have not. Some have genuine and well articulated grievances against the processes of changes. Others have fallen victim to a nostalgia which appropriates very selective memories of the amateur past to highlight apparent problems with the professional present. Above all, these contributions provide a range of perspectives that enable the reader to take stock at a particular point in what is still a rapidly evolving game. Read in ten or twenty years, this book may confirm that many of the right paths have been taken – or it may provide pointers to crisis as yet unimagined.

Download or read book Rugby World Cup France 2023 written by Simon Collings and published by Welbeck. This book was released on 2023-08-03 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The must-have companion to the greatest event in world rugby, the Rugby World Cup France 2023. Containing everything rugby fans will need to enjoy the World Cup, this official guide is packed with images, profiles, previews and charts, making it essential reading for any fan and the perfect companion to all of the tournament action. Contents include: • Team-by-team profiles • Star player profiles • A guide to every venue • Fill-in tournament progress chart • History of the Rugby World Cup • Rugby World Cup records • Qualification round-up And much, much more besides.

Download or read book Rugby For Dummies written by Mathew Brown and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-08-30 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The official guide to rugby in North America, revised and updated Rugby For Dummies is the guide to rugby in North America, endorsed by USA Rugby and Rugby Canada, the official regulating bodies for the sport. It gives you a look at how rugby is played, offers strategies for winning, and covers every level of the sport, from high school to college (including women's rugby) to the international leagues. Plus, this new edition addresses changes to the rules of rugby, includes new rugby player bios, and looks at rugby's upcoming return to the Olympic games. Inside you'll find easy-to-understand explanations of rugby rules and positions, plus in-depth lessons on skills, fitness training, and winning techniques. Add in entertaining stories from rugby in North America and around the world, and you've got the definitive book on rugby! Covers every level of the sport Includes the latest rules and information on rugby Discusses rugby's return to the Olympic games Whether you're new to rugby or a scrum veteran, this friendly guide is for you.

Download or read book The Oval World written by Tony Collins and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2015-08-27 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rugby has always been a sport with as much drama off the field as on it. For every thrilling last-minute Jonny Wilkinson drop-goal to win the world cup or Jonah Lomu rampage down the touchline for a try, there has been a split, a feud or a controversy. The Oval World is the first full-length history of rugby on a world scale – from its origins in the village-based football games of medieval times up to the globalised sport of the twenty-first century,now played in well over 100 countries. It tells the story of how a game played in an obscure English public school became the winter sport of the British Empire, spread to France, Argentina, Japan and the rest of the world and commanded a global television audience of over four billion for the last world cup final. And how American football – and other games such as Australian, Canadian and Gaelic football – emerged from rugby and highlight just how much the modern gridiron game owes to its English cousin. Featuring the great moments in the game's history and its great names – such as Jonah Lomu, David Duckham, Serge Blanco, Billy Boston and David Campese alongside Rupert Brooke, King George V, Boris Karloff, Charles de Gaulle and Nelson Mandela – The Oval World investigates just what it is about rugby that enables it to survive and thrive in countries with very different traditions and cultures. This is the the definitive world history of a truly global rugby.

Download or read book French Rugby Football written by Philip Dine and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2001-07-01 with total page 239 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As France's oldest team sport, rugby football has throughout its 125-year history reflected major changes in French society. This book analyzes for the first time the complex variety of motives that have led the French to adopt and remake this rather unlikely British sport in their own image. A major site for the construction of masculine, class-based regional and national identities, France's tradition of 'Champagne rugby' continues to be as subject to dramatic upheavals as the society that produced it. The game's precocious professionalism and endemic violence have not infrequently caused the French to be cast as international pariahs. Such isolation, exacerbated by internal politics, has led the French not only to encourage the extension of the sport beyond its British imperial base (into Italy and Romania, for instance), but also to engage in some uncomfortable tactical alliances, most obviously with apartheid South Africa.Taking his analysis both on and off the field, the author tackles these issues and much more: the relationship of sport and the state (including particularly the Vichy period and the period under de Gaulle); professionalization; the persistence of colonial and postcolonial structures (including the role of ethnic minorities); and gender issues - especially masculine identities. At the same time he links the evolution of the sport to the broader context of French socio-economic, political and cultural history.This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the cultural analysis of sport or French popular culture.

Download or read book Revelation for the Revolution written by Francis Levi and published by Page Publishing Inc. This book was released on 2020-04-21 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: My name is Francis Levi. Well, not really, that's just a pseudonym. You see, every character in Revelation for the Revolution is an actual person, so I have changed our names to keep us anonymous. We characters lived the content, and the content is very real. I invite you to enter into our dialogue, the questioning, the seeking of Truth. This is something that will touch your core and suck you into the saga of actually knowing yourself. Honest transparency shows both the ugliness and beauty of our human experience. I have shared mine so that you might judge yours and test the existence we now share. The Foundation takes you through my coming-of-age moment in time. It begins after my high school graduation in 2002 and ends just before I enter graduate school in 2007. My goal in this four-part series is to empower you, to show you how I have changed since college over thirteen years, to encourage you to own your own life's story. Remember, if your life/world is not how you want it to be, change it so that you might be fulfilled. I do not believe in fate; however, I do see how good may come from the evil horrors that free will (by its very nature) must allow to exist. I hope you will too. Flip through these pages and see if anything hits you. Look at the illustrations, read a poem, see if anything corresponds. Enter the story. It begins now.

Download or read book Rugby League in New Zealand written by Ryan Bodman and published by Bridget Williams Books. This book was released on 2023-09-29 with total page 996 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the story of a sport told through its communities. Rugby League in New Zealand: A People’s History unveils the compelling journey of a game flourishing against the odds. Beginning with the game’s introduction to the country in 1907, Ryan Bodman reveals the deep-rooted connections between rugby league’s development and the evolving cultural fabric of New Zealand. By questioning the mythic status of rugby union in the nation’s identity, this history highlights how power, politics and people have collectively shaped the country’s sporting scene. Drawing on first-hand interviews and a wide range of illustrations and archival material, Bodman locates rugby league history in working-class suburbs, and among Kiingitanga Māori, Pasifika migrants, and clubs and communities across the country. The people behind the game share accounts of change, triumph and resilience, while emphasising rugby league’s lasting influence on New Zealanders’ lives.

Download or read book Pride and Passion written by Warren Gatland and published by Headline. This book was released on 2019-11-14 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: SHORTLISTED 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 Warburton Warren 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 of the sport's most passionate heartlands such as New Zealand, Ireland, England and, of course, Wales. Gatland reflects in characteristically forthright and intelligent fashion on a lifetime spent playing and coaching the sport which has been his passion since as a young boy he first picked up an oval ball on New Zealand's North Island, dreaming of joining the ranks of the mighty All Blacks. Along the way we encounter the greatest matches, players and rivalries the sport has to offer, get introduced to a stunning cast of unforgettable characters who grace the story with their humour and humanity, and emerge with a striking appreciation of what makes this outstanding rugby man tick.

Download or read book Winning Matters written by Sean Fitzpatrick and published by Penguin Random House New Zealand Limited. This book was released on 2011-05-30 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sean Fitzpatrick played for the best rugby team on the planet, the All Blacks. His aggressive, uncompromising approach made him one of the greatest players ever. Ruthless, devious and compelling to watch, he was a one-man wrecking machine. He was also an inspirational leader. Between 1986 and 1997, he played 128 matches for the All Blacks, 92 of those test matches, and a record 51 as captain. In his long and illustrious international rugby career, Fitzpatrick set the benchmark for excellence. Winning Matters is a fascinating insight into the mind of a legend. In a candid, conversational tone, Fitzpatrick reflects on the key moments and meetings of his life, identifying everyday values, beliefs and principles that have driven him, both on and off the pitch. Part autobiography, part self-help, part business how-to, Winning Matters offers the reader an understanding of what makes Fitzpatrick tick – his strategies for success in all aspects of life, and how we can all learn from them. It is an easy but inspirational guide to being the best we can be. Also available as an eBook

Download or read book This is Your Everest written by Tom English and published by Birlinn Ltd. This book was released on 2021-05-27 with total page 472 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 'Magnificent ... the pinacle of rugby writing' – Owen Slot, The Times The 1997 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa is one of the most iconic in rugby history. Written off at home and abroad, Martin Johnson's men were given no hope of success against the world champion Springboks in their own backyard. But a combination of brilliant coaching, astute selections and outstanding players laid the foundations for the touring side's outstanding attacking mindset and brutal stonewall defence. On the other side was a team expected to stamp their authority on the tourists and confirm their place as the best side on the planet. But with political, racial and economic scandals swirling around the Springbok camp, plus a rookie coach parachuted into office just before the tour began, the hosts were under huge pressure. In a Test series that will go down in legend as one of the most compelling of all time, the sides could barely be separated. This is the inside story from both camps as they battle for supremacy, lifting the lid like never before as a huge cast of characters look back on those extraordinary weeks and the impact it had on their lives and careers thereafter. Hilarious, insightful and spine-chilling, Tom English and Peter Burns provide the perfect read for all Lions fans.

Download or read book The Springbok Captains written by Edward Griffiths and published by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This book was released on 2015-11-16 with total page 497 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For more than a century, the Springbok captain has represented the pinnacle of rugby achievement in South Africa. In this revealing narrative, Edward Griffiths and Stephen Nell tell the stories of the elite group of men who have been able to call themselves 'Springbok captain', exploring their backgrounds, their triumphs and their disappointments. The Springbok Captains offers an epic historical perspective on this remarkable country, viewed through the prism of rugby. Compelling and emotional, the book brings the story of the Springbok captains right up to date. Relive the heyday of legends such as Bennie Osler, Danie Craven, Hennie Muller, Johan Claassen, Naas Botha, François Pienaar, Gary Teichmann, Joost van der Westhuizen, Andre Vos and others. This revised and updated third edition includes up-to-date accounts of the careers of Bob Skinstad, John Smit, Victor Matfield and Jean de Villiers, as well as the story of the Springboks' 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign.

Download or read book The Alternative Commentary Collective Almanack written by The Alternative Commentary Collective and published by Penguin Random House New Zealand Limited. This book was released on 2024-10-08 with total page 309 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lean into the unhinged world of The Alternative Commentary Collective, where a decade of New Zealand sporting conquest and catastrophe is captured and celebrated in irreverent ACC style. From their ‘dangerously sexual’ beginnings in an abandoned mobile P-lab to the media colossus that bestrides Aotearoa today, here is the ACC in full colour, and in their own, inimitable words. Relive the ecstasy of the 2021 World Test Championship Final, the heartbreak of rugby shockers and cricket calamities, and the countless examples of punishing and heroic behaviour off the field: The Cake Tin helicopter landing. Manginagate. The stadium bans. Amsterdam. The Beige Brigade. More content about Mike Lane’s...equipment... than you could ever need. The nicknames. The scores and stats. The animal facts. The great New Zealanders. And a catalogue of practical guidance on everything from streaking and smuggling booze to skinning cats and penning the perfect parody song. Join the team behind the scenes as they desecrate iconic moments, celebrate unfortunate faux pas and mercilessly roast sporting legends—all with their trademark wit and banter. Whether you are an ACC lifer or a first-time texter to 0221 CURLY 6, this book promises a journey into the bowels of New Zealand sport — by the fans and for the fans. Strap in for a seditious sortie filled with fear, loathing and the frequent absurdity that defines the Alternative Commentary Collective. You have been warned . . . Written by Mike Lane and Matt Heath with Dylan Cleaver, plus contributions and guest appearances from all your ACC favourites, past and present, including Jeremy Wells, Ben Hurley, Jason Hoyte, Leigh Hart, James McOnie, Chris Key, Scotty J Stevenson, Lee Baker, Mike Minogue, Dai Henwood, Manaia Stewart, Paul Ford - and more. "It's actually quite good." - Daniel Vettori "‘Of all the innovations in cricket over the past decade, by far the worst has been the inexorable rise of the Alternative Commentary Collective." - Bryn Waddell "I’d like to distance myself as far away as possible from the contents of this book." – Jason Hoyte

Download or read book An Honorable Affair written by Karla Hocker and published by Diversion Books. This book was released on 2014-12-16 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Charming, romantic, and painted with gorgeous Regency detail, Karla Hocker’s romances will delight readers from the very first page. Penelope Langham was all peaches and cream, but such stray thoughts made her blush bright red.At twenty-three, she was a model of feminine reserve and a dutiful niece to the aunt she lived with—yet secretly she yearned for a bit of adventure. Now, with auntie's opals stolen and the household at sixes and sevens, Penelope was about to get her wish. But when a newsman from The Times came to cover the case, Miss Langham got more than she bargained for. Julian Rutherford was clever and nosy, as reporters are prone to be...and absolutely dashing. And while his sparkling eyes inspired lovely daydreams and his lively tales delighted her, Penelope maintained decorum; her heart had been broken once, and that was enough. However, when Julian insisted they team up to find the thief, Penelope's venturesome soul jumped with joy. To her surprise, her tender heart might soon follow suit.

Download or read book More Blood Sweat and Beers written by Lawrence Dallaglio and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2011-09-01 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In More Blood, Sweat and Beers, World Cup-winning rugby legend Lawrence Dallaglio shares his favourite stories from his time at International rugby's greatest tournament. With razor-sharp wit and good humour he lets the reader behind the closed doors of the tournament, to see what happens on and off the pitch when the cameras aren't looking. All the great names are here - Blanco, Lomu and Pienaar among them - and in his time Dallaglio has shared pints or blows (or both) with them all and has lived to tell the stories. Funny, frank and fully loaded with quick-fire banter these are the best of the best tales of the legends of the International stage.

Download or read book Sports around the World 4 volumes written by John Nauright and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2012-04-06 with total page 2668 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This multivolume set is much more than a collection of essays on sports and sporting cultures from around the world: it also details how and why sports are played wherever they exist, and examines key charismatic athletes from around the world who have transcended their sports. Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice provides a unique, global overview of sports and sports cultures. Unlike most works of this type, this book provides both essays that examine general topics, such as globalization and sport, international relations and sport, and tourism and sport, as well as essays on sports history, culture, and practice in world regions—for example, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and Oceania—in order to provide a more global perspective. These essays are followed by entries on specific sports, world athletes, stadiums and arenas, famous games and matches, and major controversies. Spanning topics as varied as modern professional cycling to the fictional movie Rocky to the deadly ball game of the ancient Mayans, the first three volumes contain overview essays and entries for specific sports that have been and are currently practiced around the world. The fourth volume provides a compendium of information on the winners of major sporting competitions from around the world. Readers will gain invaluable insights into how sports have been enjoyed throughout all of human culture, and more fully comprehend their cultural contexts. The entries provide suggestions for further reading on each topic—helpful to general readers, students with school projects, university students and academics alike. Additionally, the four-volume Sports Around the World spotlights key charismatic athletes who have changed a sport or become more than just an outstanding player.