Rugby Union

No game generates more passion, or stirs the emotions, like Rugby Union. No game enjoys itself more when the final whistle blows. And none has produced quite such a line of good talkers, on or off the subject. Here, from the BBC's unique Sound Archives, are memories of great teams, matches and tries, the wit and wisdom of some of the legendary characters to have graced the game and a few of its celebrated followers.

Few sports have had a more eventful last 50 years than rugby union. Even fewer involve such a range of different cultures, contrasting characters or diverse geographical settings. With the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and the 200th anniversary of the game’s ‘birth’ on the horizon, Around the World in 80 Minutes sets out to find the game’s most inspiring people and places. Observant, amusing and thought-provoking, the book takes listeners on a global journey to meet key figures from rugby’s ‘golden age’ between 1973 and 2023.

Welsh brawn, all black mystique, South African power, Australian courage, Celtic grit, English resolve: all have given us occasions to remember. Moments of courage and resistance, moments of passion and pride. Moments when a flash of brilliance or collective determination helped turn the game one way or another. Moments when the best proved they are the best, and times when the unsung had their moment in the spotlight. These are rugby's greatest moments.

In 2003, England won the Rugby World Cup. Steve Thompson was there, in England's front row, at the heart of the match and at the heart of the scrum—one of sport's most destructive, repetitive impacts. But the triumphs came at a cost. When rugby union turned professional, Steve was plunged into a game where raw power meant everything. Today, he remembers nothing about playing in that final. In his words, watching the tape back is like watching a ghost.

The purpose of this book is to provide the player, family, coach, and player’s support network with the information needed for positional excellence in the position of blindside winger (number 11) in rugby union.

The purpose of this book is to provide the player, family, coach, and player’s support network with the information needed for positional excellence in the position of hooker (no. 2) in rugby union.

The purpose of this audiobook is to provide the player, family, coach, and player’s support network with the information needed for positional excellence in the position of Loose-head Prop (No. 1) in rugby union.

The purpose of this book is to provide the player, family, coach, and player’s support network with the information needed for positional excellence in the position of tight-lock (number five) in rugby union.

The purpose of this book is to provide the player, family, coach, and player’s support network with the information needed for positional excellence in the position of inside center (number 12) in Rugby Union.

The purpose of this book is to provide the player, family, coach and player’s support network with the information needed for positional excellence in the position of Number 8 (No. 8) in rugby union.

The purpose of this book is to provide the player, family, coach and player’s support network with the information needed for positional excellence in the position of Openside Flanker (No. 7) in rugby union.

Specialist training in the position of blindside flanker in the sport of rugby union from Develop a Player.

The purpose of this book is to provide the player, family, coach and player’s support network with the information needed for positional excellence in the position of Tight-head Prop (No. 3) in rugby union. The objectives of this audiobook are to provide the listener with an understanding of the natural physical and mental development of young players, an appreciation of the statistics of modern rugby union and use that information to guide the player’s development, a blueprint for the elite conditioning needed to help young players achieve results; and much more.