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  • Published: 1 February 2008
  • ISBN: 9781845962555
  • Imprint: Mainstream Publishing
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $35.00
Categories:

A Game for Hooligans

The History of Rugby Union




A comprehensive, meticulously researched history of international rugby

Rugby union has undergone immense change in the past two decades - introducing a World Cup, accepting professionalism and creating a global market in players - yet no authoritative English-language general history of the game has been published in that time. Until now.

A Game for Hooligans brings the game's colourful story up to date to include the 2007 World Cup. It covers all of the great matches, teams and players but also explores the social, political and economic changes that have affected the course of rugby's development. It is an international history, covering not only Britain and France but also the great rugby powers of the southern hemisphere and other successful rugby nations, including Argentina, Fiji and Japan.

Contained within are the answers to many intriguing questions concerning the game, such as why 1895 is the most important date in both rugby-union and rugby-league history and how New Zealand became so good and have remained so good for so long. There is also a wealth of anecdotes, including allegations of devil-worship at a Welsh rugby club and an account of the game's contribution to the Cuban Revolution.

This is a must-read for any fan of the oval ball.

  • Published: 1 February 2008
  • ISBN: 9781845962555
  • Imprint: Mainstream Publishing
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $35.00
Categories:

About the author

Huw Richards

Huw Richards, who assisted Robert Jones in the writing of this book, is the rugby correspondent of the Financial Times and has co-edited Heart and Soul and More Heart and Soul, two critically acclaimed collections of essays on Welsh rugby heroes.

Also by Huw Richards

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Praise for A Game for Hooligans

Crammed with fact and leavened with anecdote . . . an utterly reliable guide

Daily Telegraph

Huw Richards has managed to distil the very essence of rugby union history into this one volume . . . an excellent chronicle

The Independent

Magnificent

The Times

An ambitious project, triumphantly realised

Independent on Sunday

Engagingly quirky

Publishing News

Full of incident, detail and gossip

Daily Telegraph

Astounding

The Observer