Rugby Union For Dummies

Learn to:

Understand the laws that form the heart of the game Talk tactics and share your opinions on lineouts, scrums and offsides Scrum down and get involved Get to grips with the history of the game, the club scene and the World Cup

Get stuck into the scrum of rugby knowledge

If you get a big kick out of rugby but struggle with offsides and lineouts, this guide will sharpen up your knowledge of the game. Inside you′ll find easy–to–follow advice on the basic rules and playing positions, plus in–depth lessons on ball skills, fitness training and techniques to help you outwit your opponents. Covering the basic rules and regulations for would–be players and offering guidance on tactics, plays and the history of the game for the committed fan, this guide gives you all the expert knowledge you need.

The grass roots discover the origins of the great game and get to grips with all the rules and regulations of rugby Getting stuck in advice on how to get out there and play the game, with guidance on skills and techniques to help develop your play Welcome to the world of rugby become a rugby expert for the World Cup and Six Nations and follow your domestic team home and away Follow the game a guide to viewing rugby in the stands or from the comfort of your own home

Open the book and find:

Advice on getting your game together on the field Information on understanding the scoring system An introduction to the laws of the game Techniques to hone your skills A rundown on the World Cup and Six Nations Profiles of the best British players of all time A guide to the domestic rugby scene

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: Magnifi cent 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

Nick Cain has been a rugby writer for The Sunday Times since 1995, writing features, news stories, match reports and ghostwriting columns for Lawrence Dallaglio, Jeremy Guscott and Bob Dwyer. He was editor of Rugby World magazine, covering Lions tours and World Cups. Greg Growden is a rugby correspondent and author of the acclaimed rugby book Gold, Mud ′N′ Guts.