Rugby Union for Dummies [Import] [Paperback]

Greg Growden (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Wiley John + Sons; 2nd Edition edition (October 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470035374
• ISBN-13: 978-0470035375
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,727,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars rugby for dummies more for the world scene, May 10, 2008

By 

David W. Straight (knoxville, tennessee United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rugby Union for Dummies (Paperback)

About two-thirds of this book is the same as Rugby for Dummies, which is subtitled "The official guide to Rugby in North America". The two books share an author (Greg Crowden), and many of the photographs, diagrams, drawings, and narrative is the same. Which is fine--Rugby for Dummies is an excellent introduction to a complex game. Rugby Union for Dummies omits the sections on the greatest North American players, the college scene, etc, and concentrates more on the professional side. You'll see pages on the All-Blacks Haka, for example, in Rugby Union for Dummies that are not in the North American version.

There's a dizzying array of overlapping professional rugby leagues in the world, made even more complex by the idea that a player--let's call him Smith--might play professionally for England in the Six Nations tournament, might play in a league, might play for the British Lions touring team, and the Barbarians, and more, all in the same year. It's not quite as confusing as if Smith played for the Dallas Cowboys Sunday afternoon, for the Bills in the Monday night game, then again with Dallas the next Sunday--but it does take getting used to.

There are differences in the game. You won't find the "Sin-Bin" in Rugby for Dummies, but you will in Rugby Union for Dummies--this is like a penalty box in hockey. Ditto the "Blood Bin". If you're new to the game, and may be playing rugby, there are things to watch out for. Rugby is NOT American football (which derived from rugby). Padding, etc, is minimal, and if you try to use football equipment, almost certainly illegal. The books say that in tackling "keep your head aimed to the side of your opponent's body"--use your brain, not your head! The son of a friend of mine got permanently paralyzed at age about 20 in his first and only game of rugby. Also, as noted--some of the rules (such as offsides, can be very confusing--even for veteran players. These books will help. An interesting sport, and some well-written books to help you understand it.