International Rugby Union

A celebration of the game of rugby union . from its origins and history to the present day. Fully illustrated and packed with never-before-published memorabilia, this is a great gift for any rugby fan.

Packed with information about rugby to help you, or anyone with an interest in rugby union, demystify the sport and make learning about it fun. This book features chapters on what you need to play rugby union, the laws of the game, misconduct, skills and more; and interactive tasks to test your understanding as you work through the chapters.

The sport of rugby union has burgeoned from the relaxed amateur games of the 1950s - played for fun and friendship - into the multi-million pound global sport it is today. This title presents the illustrated history of this transformation, charting the rise of the game through its great games, celebrated moments, and legendary players.

If you're new to the sport or you feel you could sharpen up your knowledge of the game, this guide is for you. Inside you'll find easy-to-understand advice on the basic rules and pitch positions, plus in-depth lessons on ball skills, fitness training, and techniques to outwit your opponents - all illustrated with entertaining stories from British and International rugby's back pages. In addition, you get a grounding in the local, national and international reaches of Rugby Union Rugby Union For Dummies 3rd Edition: Features an in-depth and up-to-date look at the Laws that form the beautiful game Covers all you will need to know about talking tactics and is perfect for anyone looking at swatting up on rugby for the World Cup and beyond Advises on all you will need to know to get stuck in and play Contains a new chapter on sevens as the sport will be a demonstration sport at London 2012 and a full sport at Rio 2016

A major reference sourcebook on rugby union, this yearbook covers all the essential fixtures, results and statistics from the world game. Published in association with rugby's governing body, the IRB International Rugby Yearbook represents a comprehensive review of events in world rugby union over the past season and a glimpse into the next. It covers every level of the game, from domestic club to international rugby. and results; all the facts and figures from the major international competitions, such as the Six Nations, Tri Nations, World Sevens Series, U21 World Cup and the Women's Rugby World Cup tournaments; a review of the season and feature articles on key issues in the game over the past year by the world's leading rugby writers; and fixtures for the 2003-2004 season.

An unrivalled insight into the sad mismanagement of rugby union in the 25 years since it turned professional, endangering its future at amateur level. The book recounts the history of the early decades as a professional sport, and suggests solutions to the injury crisis and financial apartheid operated by the major northern-hemisphere unions. 19 photographs.

The game of rugby has changed significantly in the course of its history. In the early part of the 19th century it evolved from a folk game played by the working class to a recreational activity for public schoolboys. From the 1820s rugby represented an opportunity for gentlemen to demonstrate physical prowess and masculinity and in more recent times it has developed into an activity that reflects the changing attitudes towards professional sport. For the most part of the last one hundred years, rugby union became an important international sport that represented the nationalistic ideals of a number of countries. However, a number of developments, including the increasing influence of a business ethos within sport during the latter decades of the twentieth century, exposed rugby union to the realities of commercialism and all the factors associated with it, especially the demands of a more diverse spectating public. Drawing on interview material with forty-eight elite level rugby union players from England, Wales, Scotland, France, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia who participated in elite level rugby union either before, in the overlapping period or after the declaration of professionalism, this book traces the evolution of attitudes towards professionalism from a players’ perspective and develops a critical review of the impact that professionalism has had upon the sport of rugby union. Rugby Union and Professionalisation: Elite Player Perspectives is fascinating reading for all students and scholars with an interest in rugby union, sport history, sport policy, sport management and the sociology of sport.