Rugby Union For Dummies
by Nick Cain and Greg Growden
Rugby Union For Dummies, 2nd Edition
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data: A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN-13: 978-0-470-03537-5
ISBN-10: 0-470-03537-4
Printed and bound in Great Britain by Bell & Bain Ltd, Glasgow
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
About the Authors
Nick Cain has been a rugby writer on The Sunday Times since 1995 and before that he edited Rugby World for eight years. He has covered rugby union all over the globe, including five World Cups and four Lions tours.
He had a chequered playing career punctuated by such diversions as travelling, working on farms and in demolition in New Zealand, and as a fledgling journalist on an English language newspaper in the military junta Argentina of the early 1980s. He played rugby for Manchester University, Ponsonby (New Zealand), and Belgrano (Argentina) before grinding to a halt with Wasps thirds a decade ago.
Greg Growden is one of Australias best-known sports writers. He began writing about rugby union in 1981, and since 1987 has been the chief rugby writer for the Sydney Morning Herald and Sun-Herald newspapers.
Greg has written for numerous international newspapers, including The Guardian and the New Zealand Herald. He is also a regular on New Zealand television rugby shows.
Gregs other books include A Wayward Genius: The Fleetwood Smith Story and Gold, Mud n Guts: The Incredible Tom Richards, Footballer, War Hero, Olympian.
Dedication
Dedication? Well, one things for sure: not everyone who picks up a copy of Rugby Union For Dummies is going to have the dedication, in terms of hours of practice and self-analysis, that it takes to become the next Jonny Wilkinson. Hopefully, though, whatever your aspirations as far as this great game is concerned, you will find something in these pages to help you meet them.
As for my own dedication, I would like to thank my better half, Gill. Her patience, sunny disposition and unstinting support, despite the fact that she must sometimes feel like a rugby widow, are priceless. Thanks also to my son, Hugo, and daughter, Ella, who never complained as their dad yet again disappeared to The Shed At The End Of The Garden to work (at least they didnt jump for joy in front of me). A dedication too to my mother, Marion, and late father, Tony, for their faith in their sometimes wayward offspring.
Nick Cain
Authors Acknowledgements
I had invaluable assistance along the way, not least from Stephen Jones, my colleague at The Sunday Times. Stephen is not only one of the finest writers on the game, and a fount of knowledge on anything to do with it, he is also a stalwart friend. To John Griffiths (the best statistician in rugby union), Alan Pearey (at Rugby World), and Justin ORegan (at Planet-Rugby), your help was much appreciated. Lastly, thanks to the team at Wiley & Sons Jason Dunne (Executive Editor), Daniel Mersey (Project Editor), and Samantha Clapp (Editorial Assistant) for their courtesy and unflappable approach to the project.
Nick Cain
Publishers Acknowledgements
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Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development
Project Editor: Daniel Mersey
(Previous Edition: Daniel Mersey, Liz Goodman, Jan Withers)