Opinion is still sharply divided on whether Breaker Morant and his Australian co-defendants were criminals who got what they deserved, or scapegoats used by the British Empire. Major Thomas, the bush lawyer drafted in at the last minute to defend them, is invariably depicted as either a hero or an incompetent fool. Now, for the first time, Greg Growden attempts to unravel the truth about the lawyer and soldier who returned from South Africa a broken man.Before the Boer War, Major T...

Covering more than a century of rugby union football, IT'S NOT JUST A BLOODY GAME! brings together hundreds of the best and most colourful stories about the sport, from the days of early club rugby to the hotly contested international battles of today, including the regional competitions and the World Cup.With a foreword by Mark Ella and insights from renowned rugby writer Greg Growden, IT'S NOT JUST A BLOODY GAME is a collection of timeless rugby stories in which ...

Tom Richards is the only Australian-born Test rugby player to have played for both Australia and the British Lions. When the Australian team won the Gold Medal for rugby at the 1908 Olympic Games, the London Times pronounced: 'If ever the Earth had to select a Rugby Football team to play against Mars, Tom Richards would be the first player chosen.'With an introduction by leading Australian rugby writer Greg Growden, Richards's diaries offer wonderful insights into...

Aussie cricketing heroes who also fought for Australia during wartime'That's nothing. Pressure is having a Messerschmitt up your arse.'Keith Miller, when asked if he felt under pressure while captaining the NSW cricket team.Numerous heroes of Australian cricket have also proved themselves on the battlefield, from Gallipoli to Vietnam and beyond. Among them are some of Australia's most illustrious cricketing names: Donald Bradman, Keith Miller, Keith ...

Aussie heroes who have proved themselves on the battlefield as well as on the sporting field.Members of the Wallabies, the national rugby union team, have fought in virtually every major conflict Australia has been involved in, including the Sudan, Boer War, Boxer Rebellion, both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and East Timor. Among them are some of Australia's most illustrious footballers. In this book, a veteran sports journalist tells their extraordinary stories of bravery, hardship, ...

Your complete reference for all things rugby in Australia and New Zealand!A practical, useful and entertaining guide to rugby union in Australia and New Zealand, this book explains the aim of the game, the laws, what to wear, tactics, training, coaching and more. Whether you want to play or just want to watch the game, Rugby Union For Dummies, 2nd Australian and New Zealand Edition, delivers expert rugby knowledge.Build your confidence — disc...

Dally Messenger, Ken Catchpole, Dick Thornett, David Campese, John Eales, Nick Farr-Jones, Cyril Towers, Mark Ella, George Smith, Dave Brockhoff, Andrew Slack, Ray Price, John Hipwell, Jason Little, Phil Kearns, Will Genia.Herbert 'Paddy' Moran was mesmerised by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. He was also the first captain of a strange, disparate bunch who called themselves the Wallabies. One hundred years on, the Wallabies of today are as outlandish, cocksure and eccentric as t...

Opinion is still sharply divided on whether Breaker Morant and his Australian co-defendants were criminals who got what they deserved, or scapegoats used by the British Empire. Major Thomas, the bush lawyer drafted in at the last minute to defend them, is invariably depicted either as a hero or an incompetent fool. Now, for the first time, Greg Growden attempts to unravel the truth about the lawyer and soldier who returned from South Africa a broken man. Before the Boer War, Major Thomas h...

If you get a big kick out of rugby but still feel you could sharpen up your knowledge of the game, Rugby Rules in a Day For Dummies is for you. Inside you'll find easy-to-understand advice on the basic rules of the game, pitch positions, and tactics. In less than a day, readers will find all they need to know to get understand the sport of rugby:Features an in-depth look at Laws that form the beautiful gameCovers all the reader will need to know about talki...

For years journalists have been eyewitnesses to athletes - from the elite to downtrodden - chasing, achieving or falling short of their dreams. They have observed, chronicled and attempted to find the secrets to winning and losing. For some, sport may be a meaningless diversion. For most, it is life's most important punctuation mark. In this book the formidable Fairfax stable of fine writing thoroughbreds explains why.Roy Masters explores the heart and soul of rugby league. Peter R...

If you're new to the sport or you feel you could sharpen up your knowledge of the game, this guide is for you. Inside you'll find easy-to-understand advice on the basic rules and pitch positions, plus in-depth lessons on ball skills, fitness training, and techniques to outwit your opponents - all illustrated with entertaining stories from British and International rugby's back pages. In addition, you get a grounding in the local, national and international reaches of Rugby Union

Now updated–a practical guide to understanding rugby, North American—styleFilled with illustrations and photographs of drills and shape-up exercises, Rugby For Dummies tackles North American rugby rules, levels of play, and how to coach junior players as well as adults. This revised edition includes the scoop on the fall 2007 rugby World Cup in France, expanded coverage of women’s rugby, and updated information on North America's best players and teams.