SHORTLISTED FOR THE TELEGRAPH RUGBY BOOK OF THE YEAR The truth about being a rugby player from the horsey's mouth. This book is not just about how a psychiatrist called Humphrey helped me get back on my horse and clippity-clop all the way to the World Cup semi-final in Japan. It's the story of how a fat kid who had to live up to the nickname Psycho grew up to play and party for over a decade with rugby's greatest pros and live weird and wonderful moments both in and out of the scrum. That's why I'm letting you read my diary on my weirdest days. You never know what you're going to get with me. From being locked in a police cell to singing Adele on Jonathan Ross (I'll let you decide which is worse), being kissed by a murderer on the number 51 bus to drug tests where clipboard-wielding men hover inches away from my naked genitalia, melting opponents in rucks, winning tackles, and generally losing blood, sweat and ears in the name of the great sport of rugby. This is how (not) to be a rugby player.

Rugby basics for fans, players, and parents who are new to the game, plus all the latest developments for those returning to the sport Rugby For Dummies, Fourth Edition teaches you the essential elements of the fast-growing sport of rugby, so you can follow all the action—and get ready for the U.S.-hosted 2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups. This helpful Dummies guide also gives you the information that you need to start playing or coaching rugby. You’ll get clear explanations of the rules, insight into strategy and tactics, and info on all the most popular tournaments around the globe. Learn about the rugby greats of yesterday, plus get updates on the most significant changes at every level, from high school to international level. This new edition covers the evolution of the laws that govern play and looks at how the women’s game and the sevens version of the sport have grown. Learn how rugby is played, including necessary skills and strategies for winning Take a look at the most entertaining North American and international rugby competitions Get tips for joining a rugby team or becoming a rugby coach Familiarize yourself with the history of previous World Cups in time for the next one This is the perfect Dummies guide for anyone who wants to better understand all aspects of the game of rugby.

Drawing on the collective knowledge of experienced players and coaches, this book prepares rugby players to withstand the rigours of the sport. It helps identify strengths and weaknesses and goes on to game strategy and improving the team's mental focus.

The extraordinary memoir of the sporting icon, devoted friend to Rob Burrow, and fundraising hero who has inspired the nation in his fight against MND NOW UPDATED WITH TWO BONUS CHAPTERS ON SINFIELD'S LATEST CHALLENGES THE INSTANT NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER ‘A very British hero, the unassuming yet utterly superb Kevin Sinfield – rugby league great turned rugby union coach turned charity fundraiser, all while carrying a torch for the true meaning of sport and friendship. The Extra Mile tells how Sinfield set about raising money to combat motor neurone disease, the appalling condition that has gripped his former Leeds Rhinos teammate and best pal, Rob Burrow. If Sinfield weren’t such a modest man, his story could be subtitled, How to Be a Decent Person.’ The Times, Sports Books of the Year, 2023 'If you want inspiring, uplifting and empowering... give this amazing man some of your time' Jake Humphrey 'Kevin Sinfield is adored and respected . . . he is the best of men' Brian Moore, Daily Telegraph 'I've always thought Kevin Sinfield was a hero. His quiet, calm, committed leadership makes people want to support him and we are all doing that as he supports Rob Burrow and everyone living with MND' Clare Balding 'The friendship between Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow gives you faith in humankind' Sir Chris Hoy The Extra Mile is no ordinary sports memoir. But Kevin Sinfield is no ordinary sportsman. A one-club legend of Leeds Rhinos, who has now crossed codes as a defence coach for the England national rugby union team, Kevin Sinfield is a rugby icon. But in recent years has shown heroism of a very different kind through his selfless and extraordinary fundraising for motor neurone disease (MND), the terminal illness that has affected his best mate and former teammate Rob Burrow. Sinfield's epic challenges have included running 7 ultra marathons in 7 days, and running over 101 miles in 24 hours. In the process, Sinfield has captured the hearts of the nation and over £7 million for MND. He was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday honours for his efforts, along with the Freedom of Leeds and a special BBC Award for his fundraising. Told with Sinfield's characteristic warmth, dry wit and inspirational leadership, The Extra Mile is the story of an astonishing life, of an enduring friendship, of perseverance against the most difficult of challenges, and of a remarkable, humble human being who has defied the odds. The book equips readers with the tools and the mindset to embrace togetherness and to overcome their own challenges. It leaves the reader with the urgent question: Who would you go the extra mile for to help in life? PRAISE FOR KEVIN SINFIELD 'Inspirational does not do him justice, he's that and much, much more' Matt Dickinson 'Kevin Sinfield is an incredible human being' Gabby Logan 'A total hero' Yvette Cooper 'Britain's greatest sportsman (off the pitch) ... Kevin Sinfield's fundraising is a poignant story of friendship and human endeavour' The Times Number 1 Sunday Times bestseller, June 2023

Updated edition of the #1 Amazon Bestseller LONGLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR PRIZE 2020 Sports books tend to detail extraordinary achievements, triumphs against the odds or commemorate World Cup winning captains. This book does not do that. For many, playing professional sport is the Dream Job. Few manage it, very few make it to the top and for the rest, life is very different. This is their story. In Fringes, Ben Mercer invites you to witness life at the outer edges of professional rugby. This is a first hand account of what life is like as a journeyman professional athlete. You play, but to the wider public you don't exist. You earn but you don't drive a flash car. You sometimes pack out a stadium but sometimes, you play in a deserted park. This is the story for the majority of sports professionals. Only the minority taste the top, only one person gets to lift the cup or win the medal, only 15 get to play for England at any one time. For the rest, that’s not the case. Ben Mercer is a former professional rugby player who after becoming disillusioned and uninspired plying his trade in the English Second Division, accepted an offer out of the blue to go to France and do something different - help an amateur team turn professional. This is a first hand account of what life is like in the lower reaches of professional sport - where your employment status is as precarious as your health and barely anyone will know your name. It's about how it feels to live year to year, with teammates constantly on the move. It's about how professionalism irreversibly changes the French club Stade Rouennais as they move up the divisions, about the tension between progress and identity in a rugby team. It's also about how it feels to actually be out there on the field, how it feels to occasionally do something extraordinary and how it feels when this is no longer enough for you to make the sacrifices that you need to make to keep playing. There's no ghostwriting, it's an unmitigated meditation on how it feels and what it means to play rugby for a living, to dedicate yourself to an uncompromising but occasionally beautiful game. If you've wanted to know what life is really like as a professional athlete, on the Fringes, away from the glitz and glamour of the international game then look no further.

This manual is the perfect pocket reference for all health care professionals who care for athletes, including sports medicine specialists, orthopaedic surgeons, family practitioners, physical therapists, and trainers. In a format designed for quick reference, the book provides comprehensive guidance on the full range of issues in sports medicine--from pre-participation examinations, protective equipment, and training, to care of specific medical problems and injuries, to summaries of what to expect in each particular sport. Paperback edition available only in selected countries. Please check with your local representative or distributor.