It’s surprising to learn that John Astley Cooper first proposed what has become the Commonwealth Games in 1891: 5 years before the Modern Olympics. The plan was to hold a sports competition every four years “as a means of increasing goodwill and understanding of the British Empire”. Committees were set up throughout the Empire to […]
England at the FIFA World Cup over the years – it’s certainly been a journey! From crushing defeat to glorious victory…to who knows what the 2026 tournament will bring. We’ve still got the fun and great hope of not knowing at this point. The first World Cup took place in Uruguay in 1930. FIFA chose […]
Was Jim Thorpe the greatest athlete in the world? King Gustav V of Sweden certainly thought so. He described Thorpe thus as he handed him two gold medals at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. Jim Thorpe was a legendary Native American sportsman, who lived from 1888 – 1953. He was a Sac and Fox Native American, […]
An early 1960s guide to coaching rugby union to juniors, written by the Schools Rugby Correspondent to 'The Times' and emphasising enjoyment alongside improvement.
8vo. 79pp. Dust-wrapper. Price-clipped.
Important volume on the techniques of rugby in the 1920s.
1st edition. 8vo. 128pp. Original green cloth. Ownership signature of the original owner to fly-leaf and half title-page - Rear Admiral Dudley
Historical and instructional work by the finest of English outside halves.
1st edition. 8vo. Original green cloth. No dust-wrapper. Very good condition.
Schoolboy rugby manual from 1960, featuring demonstration photographs showing boys from various schools in action and instructional diagrams.
8vo. 112pp. Dust-wrapper. Creases and minor losses to wrapper,
Comprehensive book on Rugby Union by the Australian player who played international rugby for England.
1st edition. 8vo. Photos. A very good copy, dust jacket is edgeworn, spine chipped and closed tear
The first official manual issued by the RFU. Part one covers technique and tactics, the second part is aimed at coaching and describes how to pass on those skills.
First Edition. Small 8vo. 280pp. 16
The author was a brilliant all-round sportsman playing first-class cricket and international rugby for England. He was killed in the first world war and this book was published posthumously. Includes a
An instructional for the beginner, player and spectator. Baskerville was a Rugby Union player before organising the ground-breaking Rugby League tour to Great Britain in 1907-08, which continued in Australia.
Nicholls was one of the greatest centre three-quarters in the first golden era of Welsh rugby. This instructional volume reveals his methods and gives a fascinating insight into the rugby of the Edwardian
A multi-author work discussing in detail each aspect of rugby union as played by the New Zealand All Blacks of the 1970s and early 1980s providing a coaching manual for coaches and players, featuring numerous
An examination of New Zealand rugby methods and tactics, plus a rare account of the 1884 New Zealand tour of Australia.
Second edition. Small 8vo. 128pp. Frontispiece, 8 plates, including a photograph
Mainly instructional work on Rugby Union, interesting for its Scottish perspective on the game.
1st edition. 8vo. 152pp. Original brown cloth, titles on paper labels to front cover and spine (with small
How to play the game from every perspective.
Small 8vo. 150pp. Frontispiece, 17 plates, numerous charts and diagrams in the text. Blue cloth, spine sunned. A good copy. [Jenkins F180]
One of the best rugby coaching books by the Gloucester player England international.
1st edition. 8vo. 220pp. Frontispiece + 1 plate.. Original red cloth, a little bumped and marked. Page edges
Instructional volume by the outstanding Welsh outside half of the 1930s.
2nd edition. Small 8vo. 174pp. Numerous photos. Original blue cloth, no dustwrapper. Owner's name to front pastedown. A very good
One of the best rugby coaching books by the Gloucester player and England international.
8vo. 224pp. Original red cloth. Dust-wrapper, lightly rubbed to edges with small nick to lower edge
Part of the Isthmian Library of Sports and Pastimes. Mainly an instructional book with some chapters by guest writers. Also offers a more general look at the game.
8vo. 338pp + adverts. original
Early instructional volume on Rugby Union by the former Irish international, Jerome Rahilly.
1st edition. 8vo. Original yellow illustrated boards. Edges bumped, owner's name to ffep, spotting to prelims
First edition of the well-regarded and nicely illustrated 1950s guide to all aspects of playing rugby union.
8vo. 132pp. Dust-wrapper, rubbed to edges. Good condition.
Antipodean rugby union coaching manual from the 1940s, illustrated with line diagrams and photographic plates.
8vo. 80pp. Paperback. Good condition.
In the "Warne's Recreation Books" series, with details of rules and the role of players in each position.
Paperback. 8vo. 64pp. Text illustrations. Pictorial card covers, drawn
Instructional volume by the outstanding Welsh outside half of the 1930s.
First edition. Small 8vo. 174pp. Numerous photos. Gift inscription to fly-leaf. Dust-wrapper, rubbed and chipped to edges. Fair/good
Rugby tactics and training practices. The author captained the England XV from 1920 to 1923.
8vo. 160pp. Portrait frontispiece, diagrams in the text. Original light brown cloth. Good condition.
First edition of the well-regarded and nicely illustrated 1950s guide to all aspects of playing rugby union.
First edition. 8vo. 132pp. Dust-wrapper, lightly rubbed to edges. Good condition. Signed very
Guide to playing rugby union from the 1920s, by the England international and illustrated with period photography.
8vo. 128pp. Cloth-covered boards. Dated gift inscription to original owner to front fly-leaf.
One of the earliest instructional books, dealing with all aspects of the game. The author had a distinguished playing career with Sedbergh, Edinburgh Academicals and Scotland.
First edition. 8vo. 108pp.
1940s coaching manual for those involved in teaching and playing schoolboy rugby union, illustrated with photographs and line diagrams.
8vo. 181pp. Dust-wrapper. Wrapper lightly rubbed, Good condition.
