Fantasy Rugby Geek Top 5s – My Top 5 Rugby Books

Fantasy Rugby Geekon

Well over a month without Rugby. The withdrawal symptoms are strong, so in the absence of anything to play fantasy rugby on or indeed any live sport to watch, I’m going to continue sticking out a few Rugby-related Top 5’s to tide things over while we stay safe and patiently wait for the return of the real “beautiful game”. If you have any ideas for Top 5’s that you’d like to see, let me know!

Next up, with plenty of time for us to kill, I’m turning my attention to some literary classics about our great game. These are my Top 5 favourite Rugby books, the best rugby books that I have read (in my humble opinion). Have I missed any classics? Please let me know in the comments!

Playing the Enemy – John Carlin

Widely considered to be the greatest Rugby book written, this is a story that truly transcends the sport. The book that lead to the film Invictus, Playing the Enemy tells the story of Rugby in South Africa in the 90’s, culminating in their glorious victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final, and how Nelson Mandela and the victorious Springboks united a nation. A hugely inspiring book that demonstrates the unifying power that sport can bring.

“Don’t address their brains. Address their hearts.”

 

Beware of the Dog – Brian Moore

While many may know Brian Moore as an opinionated BBC pundit and an uncompromising Hooker who played a key part of England and B&I Lions’s late-80’s/early-90’s pack, there is so much more to the man than that. Moore is far from your stereotypical Rugby player, and while this book provides some brilliant stories from his playing days, the stories of his personal challenges away from the sport are even more eye opening. Winner of many awards, Beware of the Dog is a truly elite sporting memoir from one of the true characters of the game. 

 

Confessions of a Rugby Mercenary – John Daniell

While far from a household name, John Daniell has a hugely impressive Rugby pedigree, playing for England Schoolboys, New Zealand Under 19s, Oxford University, Wellington Lions, Racing, Perpignan and Montpellier. Confessions of a Rugby Mercenary is Daniell’s memoir of a brutal career in a brutal sport. Having had a career that straddled the amateur and professional eras, Daniell’s story provides a unique insight into the challenges of playing sport at the coalface at such a transitionary time, lifting the lid on the dark world of the journeyman player, where losing a home game is considered a crime, coaches and club owners will do anything to win, and agents ruthlessly manipulate players. His insights are both shocking and funny, taking you behind the scenes, onto the field and into the very heart of the scrum.

 

My Name’5 Doddie Weir: The Autobiography – Doddie Weir

Doddie Weir is one of the sport’s true greats. A literal giant of the game and a rugby icon, his story is unique, inspirational and charged with a passion for living life to the full. His on-field career was hugely decorated with 61 caps for Scotland, part of the historic 1997 Lions squad on their victorious tour of South Africa and a key member of the Newcastle Falcons who won the Premiership in the 1997/98 season, their first season in the professional top flight. Now he’s facing the devastating challenge of Motor Neurone Disease, an adversary that he is taking on with courage and dignity. Since his diagnosis he faced up to MND with undaunted positivity, using his boundless energy to raise funds for MND research and support through his My Name’5 Doddie Foundation charity. Raising more than £1million in it’s first year alone. Doddie’s Autobiography is a courageous and hugely entertaining celebration of a remarkable life being lived to the max. Doddie’s story is an absolute must-read – rugby fan or not.

 

The Grudge – Tom English

Tom English’s The Grudge delves deep into one of the most famous matches in one of sport’s great rivalries, Scotland v England. The scene is Murrayfield in the 1990 Five Nations. The final match of the tournament is England vs. Scotland. The winner takes home the Grand Slam, the biggest prize in Northern Hemisphere Rugby. With a huge political undercurrent, Will Carling’s England are the very embodiment of Margaret Thatcher’s Britain, while Scotland are the underdogs, coming from a land that was at the time the testing ground for the most unpopular tax in living memory: Thatcher’s Poll Tax. Fifteen men in blue jerseys are plotting the downfall of the English oppressors. In Edinburgh, nationalism is rising high – what happens in the stadium will resound far beyond the pitch.

The Grudge recaptures a day that has gone down in history as one of the greatest days in Rugby history for Scotland. The real story of an extraordinary game, told with astounding insight and almost unprecedented access to key players, coaches and supporters on both sides. This is an essential account of a titanic struggle that thrusts the reader right into the heart of the action. Even for fans of England like myself, this is a must read.

 

Honourable Mentions…

  • Ripley’s World – Andy Ripley
  • Sevens Heaven – Ben Ryan
  • The Final Whistle: The Great War in Fifteen Players – Stephen Cooper
  • The Battle – Paul O’Connell
  • Wrecking Ball – Billy Vunipola
  • The Jersey – Peter Bills

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Other Top 5’s…

While the sport hiatus goes on, FRG will be creating more Top 5’s to tide things over, any requests, please let me know on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. ICYMI, here are the other Top 5’s so far…

Classic Material

Even with no Rugby going on to play Fantasy Rugby on, here’s a few classic articles that you may have missed previously to keep you warm for the eventual return of the real “beautiful” game…

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Rugby Warfare

Shout out to the good folks at Rugby Warfare who pulled together this insightful and timely infographic based on a survey with various pro, semi-pro and amateur players looking into the methods used to improve their playing performance. Touching on aspects of training and nutrition (as well as some eye-opening insights on PED’s, it’s a must read snapshot into the state of Rugby performance at present). Rugby Warfare themselves produce some awesome looking and high quality Rugby apparel, you can check them out at https://rugbywarfare.com/ and stay tuned for an exclusive discount code for FRG readers coming soon…

Looking for more Fantasy Rugby insight and Resources?

New for the 2019/20 season, we are proud to present the The Fantasy Rugby Handbook. An exhaustive collection of wisdom and experience gained from over a decade of fantasy rugby playing. Primarily aimed at less experienced players but with enough nuggets of wisdom and insight for even the most grizzled fantasy rugby veteran. There is something here for all players. The eBook is available to download now for just £3.99 on Gumroad as a PDF and on Amazon in Kindle format (Free on Kindle Unlimited) – check it out!