Stand Up and Fight

Stand Up and Fight PDF Author: Alan English
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
ISBN: 1915359295
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 370

Get Book Here

Book Description
'A modern classic . . . Absolutely riveting and frequently moving' – The Telegraph 'Among the best books ever written on Irish sport' – Sunday Tribune 'Brilliant . . . Stand Up and Fight is the definitive account. It captures the essence of what makes Munster rugby and its provincial team so unique' – Tony Ward, Irish Independent 'A terrific combination of intelligent reportage and open-eyed mythmaking' – Sunday Times 'A seminal account' – New Zealand Herald 'Irresistible' – Guardian 31/10/1978, Thomond Park. On one of the greatest days in rugby history, Munster beat the All Blacks. More than 100,000 people claimed to have watched the game, even though the ground could only hold 12,000. Now, fully updated for the 45th anniversary of the match, Alan English tells the true story.

Stand Up and Fight

Stand Up and Fight PDF Author: Alan English
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
ISBN: 1915359295
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 370

Get Book Here

Book Description
'A modern classic . . . Absolutely riveting and frequently moving' – The Telegraph 'Among the best books ever written on Irish sport' – Sunday Tribune 'Brilliant . . . Stand Up and Fight is the definitive account. It captures the essence of what makes Munster rugby and its provincial team so unique' – Tony Ward, Irish Independent 'A terrific combination of intelligent reportage and open-eyed mythmaking' – Sunday Times 'A seminal account' – New Zealand Herald 'Irresistible' – Guardian 31/10/1978, Thomond Park. On one of the greatest days in rugby history, Munster beat the All Blacks. More than 100,000 people claimed to have watched the game, even though the ground could only hold 12,000. Now, fully updated for the 45th anniversary of the match, Alan English tells the true story.

Rags to Riches

Rags to Riches PDF Author: Barry Coughlan
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781848890190
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description
Munster's journey in pursuit of rugby glory has been long and often heartbreaking. The seeds for their ascent into the pantheon of great teams were sown long before Munster's current success, built on a reputation as a fearsome side for touring teams to play. These personal contributions of players, coaches, fans and pundits make fascinating reading for enthusiasts.

Rugby in Munster

Rugby in Munster PDF Author: Liam O'Callaghan
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781782053644
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description
Covering the period from the game's origins in Ireland in the 1870s through to the onset of professional rugby in the twenty-first century, this book seeks to examine Munster rugby within the context of broader social, cultural and political trends in Irish society. As well as providing a thorough chronological survey of the game's development, key themes such as violence, masculinity, class and politics are subject to more detailed treatment. Since the turn of the twenty-first century rugby football in Munster has seen extraordinary growth in terms of popularity and cultural significance. The Munster rugby team in particular has become a hugely important provincial institution through which regional identity has been expressed on the international stage. This book will detail and analyse the game's evolution in Munster from its origins in the 1870s through to the dawn of the professional era in the 2000s. Focusing mainly on the game's two centres of popularity in Limerick and Cork cities, this book will display how contrary to popular myth, rugby football rarely expressed any kind of unitary, coherent identity throughout the province. The game was centred on clubs and was highly adaptable to local conditions throughout its history. In addition, the often fractious internal politics of the game within the province, reflecting the game's contrasting social development in Limerick and Cork, will also be discussed. Drawing on the unpublished records of the game's provincial and national administrative bodies and a comprehensive survey of the provincial press, this book will show how one sport served multifarious roles in terms of class, culture and politics in Munster.

Alone it Stands

Alone it Stands PDF Author: John Breen
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780573019883
Category : Rugby football
Languages : en
Pages : 78

Get Book Here

Book Description
October 31st 1978. Thomond Park, Limerick. The mighty New Zealand All Blacks, on an Irish tour, take on the none-too-mighty Munster team - and, to everyone's surprise, they lose 12-0. From this piece of Irish sporting history John Breen has fashioned a funny, lively play in which both teams, plus fans, children, relatives and even a dog, are portrayed by a cast of six, with no props and only a half-time change of shirt.

The Battle

The Battle PDF Author: Paul O'Connell
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0141956313
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 389

Get Book Here

Book Description
WINNER OF THE CROSS SPORTS BOOK AWARDS RUGBY BOOK OF THE YEAR The revelatory autobiography of a rugby colossus: Paul O'Connell. There has never been a rugby player quite like Paul O'Connell. He is synonymous with passion, heart and determination; but he is also the thinking man's rugby player, a legendary student of the game. As the heartbeat of Munster, British and Irish Lions captain in 2009, and captain of the first Ireland team to defend a Six Nations championship, O'Connell has emerged as perhaps the most beloved of the golden generation of Irish rugby players. In an autobiography as intense as its author, he tells the story of his remarkable career. 'O'Connell's book tells you how it all happened' David Walsh, Sunday Times 'O'Connell has emptied the tank here' Hilary A. White, Irish Independent 'The intense physicality of his rugby upbringing is an abiding theme . . . along with humour, the craic and an extensive knowledge of how teams work' Paul Hayward, Daily Telegraph 'I found The Battle entrancing' Stephen Jones, Sunday Times 'Revelatory . . . Unflinchingly charts his personal evolution' Keith Duggan, Irish Times

Ronan O'Gara

Ronan O'Gara PDF Author: Ronan O'Gara
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 1409081494
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 444

Get Book Here

Book Description
Ronan O'Gara is one of the greatest sportsmen Ireland has ever produced. A brilliant kicker both from the hand and at penalty goals, a sublime orchestrator of play from the out-half position he has made his own, and a cool head in the pressure-cooker of club and international rugby, the list of the Cork man's achievements goes on and on. The leading points scorer in Irish rugby history, the Six Nations and the Heineken Cup. The architect of two amazing Munster triumphs in Europe. The man whose last minute drop-goal sensationally won the Grand Slam in 2009, Ireland's first for 61 years. In his candid, illuminating autobiography, O'Gara tells the story of those many on-field successes and, with brutal honesty, the darker days as well, most notably at the 2007 World Cup. He tells the inside story of Ireland's disappointments in France, and responds to the allegations about his personal life that made front-page news that autumn. Ronan O'Gara: My Autobiography is the unforgettable story of a rugby player at the top of his game, of a life lived to the full, and of a passionate and proud representative of the people of Cork and Ireland.

Joking Apart

Joking Apart PDF Author: Donncha O'Callaghan
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 1409045013
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 321

Get Book Here

Book Description
Donncha O'Callaghan is one of Ireland's leading international rugby players, and a stalwart of the Munster side. He was a key figure in the Irish team which won the IRB 6 Nations Grand Slam in 2009, and has won two Heineken Cup medals and two Magners League titles with Munster. But that success did not come easy. For such a well known player with a larger-than-life reputation, his long battle to make a breakthrough at the highest level is largely unknown. In this honest and revealing autobiography, Donncha talks in detail about the personal setbacks and disappointments at Munster and the unconventional ways he dealt with the frustration of not making the team for four of five years in his early 20s. He had a parallel experience with Ireland where it took him nearly six years to get from fringe squad member to established first choice player. Here he talks candidly about how he brought discipline to his game, and about his relationships with the coaches who had overlooked him and the second row rivals who had kept him on the bench. Donncha talks also with great warmth about a hectic childhood that was shaped by the death of his father when he was only six years old. One of the heroes of his story is his mother Marie who showed incredible strength and resourcefulness to rear a family of five on her own. Often deservedly regarded as 'the joker in the pack', what is often less well known is the serious attitude and intensely professional approach Donncha brings to his rugby. Joking Apart gives the full picture, showing sides of the man that will be unfamiliar to followers of Irish rugby and will surprise the reader.

Rugby's Greatest Mavericks

Rugby's Greatest Mavericks PDF Author: Luke Upton
Publisher: Y Lolfa
ISBN: 180099348X
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 134

Get Book Here

Book Description
The author of the bestselling Hard Men of Rugby gives us the thrilling stories of 20 of the greatest rugby mavericks from the last 80 years. Featuring exclusive player interviews, this lively book brings some of rugby's craziest moments, biggest characters and most remarkable stories to life.

The Bull

The Bull PDF Author: John Hayes
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
ISBN: 9781471100932
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description
John 'The Bull' Hayes is an Irish rugby legend. Keith Wood calls him a 'rugby giant', Donncha O'Callaghan calls him 'the heart and soul of the team', but Hayes is adored as much for his down-to-earth personality and background as his legendary status on the pitch. The phenomenon that is The Bull grew up in GAA farming heartland and was a late recruit to the game, picking up a rugby ball only at the age of 18. His determination on the pitch and passion for the shirt comes through in many a tale of graft and glory in the front row. Hayes relates his story of over 100 caps for his country, including four Triple Crowns and a glorious Grand Slam in 2009. Two Heineken Cup-winning campaigns gild an incredible career of over 200 games for Munster. This is the story of a giant of a man, and a rugby legend who is of the people.

Chasing a Rugby Dream

Chasing a Rugby Dream PDF Author: James Hook
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
ISBN: 0957507682
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 249

Get Book Here

Book Description
Winner of the Telegraph Sports Book Awards Children's Book of the Year Small, skinny and short-sighted . . . and dazzlingly talented. Jimmy Joseph loves rugby. All he dreams about is one day playing for his country in a World Cup, or winning a Test series for the Lions with a last-minute drop-goal. But when he kicks an up-and-under in the schoolyard and accidentally hits the new head of PE, Mr Kane, on the head, he makes a powerful enemy. Jimmy and his best friends – Manu, Scott and Kitty – try to prove their worth on the rugby field, but to no avail. Mr Kane has it out for them, and he's being helped by team captain Mike Green, well known as the school bully. Can Jimmy and his friends overcome the tyranny of Mr Kane and help Mike see the error of his ways? Or will the combination of bullying, pressure and dirty tactics derail the friends' rugby careers before they have even begun? An epic new rugby series begins here!