Rugby 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.
Tony Collins has published over 1400 books, and racked up innumerable errors. Dozens of titles have failed. He's been involved in a court case, overlooked bestsellers and offered bad advice. But he has always loved books, and the crafting of books. For more than forty years he has tried to publish books that make a difference. This is his tale.
Tells the story of the game in all its glory, from global superstars to local supporters, professionals and amateurs, men and women, officials and grassroots volunteers. It explains why rugby league was born, grew around the world, and what enabled it to triumph over adversity - a social history of the life and times of the north of England.
A Global History of How the World's Football Codes Were Born
Exploring the evolution of football, this history delves into its transformation from a fringe activity to a global phenomenon, captivating millions as their primary winter entertainment. It offers a comparative analysis of the various major forms of football, highlighting the cultural and social factors that contributed to its widespread popularity and organization.
One man's pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, in search of holiness.
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.
A sixteen-year-old boy struggles to keep up in the 1500 metre event at the Growing Up Olympics, facing the added challenge of his grandfather's recent death. The loss becomes a catalyst for adventure when he discovers a cryptic clue left by his grandfather, leading him on a road trip in search of hidden riches. This journey not only tests his physical endurance but also propels him into a deeper exploration of family, loss, and personal growth.
Exploring the evolution of modern sport, this book examines its roots in the mid-eighteenth century capitalist economy of England and its transformation into today's globalized corporate landscape. It challenges the notion that capitalism has corrupted sport, positing instead that modern sport is intrinsically linked to capitalist development, alongside factories and financial markets. Utilizing original sources, the narrative highlights how significant political and economic events over the last two centuries have influenced the shape of contemporary sports.
Simon Tappins finds his mundane life transformed during an archaeological dig when he uncovers a significant artifact that transports him back to a tumultuous era in British history. Set against the backdrop of the Roman Empire's decline and the invasion of Saxon forces, he navigates a perilous landscape filled with conflict and uncertainty. This adventure challenges his perceptions of history and survival as he grapples with the realities of a world on the brink of change.
The book explores the transformation of a traditional game from its origins in public schools to its development into a national spectator sport, highlighting the influence of middle-class values on this evolution. It delves into how these values have redefined the game's culture, accessibility, and popularity, providing insights into the societal changes that have accompanied this shift.