Introduction 1
Part I: Rugby: Roots, Boots and All 7
Chapter 1: Rudimentary Rugby 9
Chapter 2: The Aim of the Game 19
Chapter 3: Grab Your Rugby Gear 35
Part II: Getting Down and Dirty 45
Chapter 4: Location, Location, Location: Positions on the Pitch 47
Chapter 5: Laying Down the Laws 63
Chapter 6: Honing Your Skills 83
Chapter 7: Breaking Down the Breakdown 107
Chapter 8: Leaping Lineouts 123
Chapter 9: Talking Tactics 135
Chapter 10: Talented Training 151
Chapter 11: Coaching 167
Part III: Welcome to Planet Rugby 183
Chapter 12: The World Cup 185
Chapter 13: The International Scene 201
Chapter 14: Magnificent Sevens 217
Chapter 15: Home and Away 227
Chapter 16: The Domestic Scene 243
Part IV: Following the Game: The Informed Fan 255
Chapter 17: Compulsive Viewing: Rugby on the Screen 257
Chapter 18: Keeping Up with the News 269
Chapter 19: Spectating and Sobriquets 281
Part V: The Part of Tens 293
Chapter 20: The Ten Best British Players of All Time 295
Chapter 21: Ten Matches Made in Rugby Heaven 305
Chapter 22: Ten Peculiar Facts About Rugby 315
Part VI: Appendixes 325
Appendix A: Honour Boards 327
Appendix B: Glossary 347
Appendix C: Key Rugby Organisations 361
Index 367