Rugby Union For Dummies

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