- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Yellow Jersey Press (2 Oct 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0224063936
- ISBN-13: 978-0224063937
- Product Dimensions: 21.8 x 15.8 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,009,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Frank Keating
'The book rugby has been waiting for... A likeable, literate and landmark tour de force'
John Inverdale
'Richard Beard's journey to the heart of rugby captures the soul of the game... Hugely enjoyable'
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Promises much, delivers in fits and starts. Given the (UK) hype, the past success of 'journeyman' player books and England's World Cup triumph, this ought to be a winner.
After all, there are some worthy themes in here - the gulf in funding and facilities, the cultural differences between rugby nations, even dissecting the core of the rugger-bugger.
But sometimes the narrative just plods on aimlessly like a fat prop forward; worthy intentions but not particularly effective.
In choosing to revisit his haunts of past glories, the author ties himself into a structure that doesn't always deliver - some chapters seem to just go through the motions, nothing really happens that's worth the paper.
A worthy try, but won't convert many.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I loved this book, though it must be admitted that I don't like rugby. I was puzzled by the fuss after England won the rugby World Cup, and felt that I needed to find out more. Since I enjoyed Beard's novels, this seemed the obvious place to start. It turned out to be a good choice; intelligent, funny and superbly written, 'Muddied Oafs' was the ideal introduction to the game for this dyed in the wool football fan. I now understand why the rules of rugby are so impenetrable; more, I now understand why people like to play the damned game. As Beard says, football is for voyeurs, whilst rugger is for those who like to join in. Well, I'm still a voyeur, but after reading this, I really think that I could watch a game of rugby, and finally understand why the backs are the attackers, and the forwards are the defence. My sports book of the year, by a mile.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The author, an Englishman who has played rugby into his late 30's in France, Switzerland, and with several schools and clubs in England and Scotland sets out to revisit all the places he has played with a view to assessing the impact of professionalism on the wonderful amateur game of rugger that he loves so much. Along the way he tries to answer the question of why he and so many other men, and now women, love the game. Littered with inspired observations, eg. “I like being among grown men who have no fear of making fools of themselves.” “The affinity between rugby and non-conformism is a pattern repeated often in the history of the game.” He also mentions and repeats the observations of many famous people who have played the game, such as Che Guevara (who played as an Argentine university student), Samuel Beckett, Thomas Kennealy and others. He speaks lovingly of the international brotherhood of rugby and how it is affected by professionalism. In general, he finds it unaffected below the professional level. Among those who play for love, the game and the people are the same the whole world over. But at the levels where winning and losing are vital the game has changed, and the effort to play at the professional level has almost ruined one club that he revisits. The book has its dull moments but overall it is an inspiring memoir.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
