South Africa’s Rugby Legends celebrates those players who have become truly immortal in the eyes of their fans – the greatest South African rugby players of the amateur years. This beautifully illustrated book covers the immense achievements of those players who ran out against the mighty All Blacks, the cunning Aussies and the fiery Welsh, among others, and played their way into rugby folklore. These are the best of the best, the players who make you say, ‘Those were the days!’ From Fairy Heatlie, who played for South Africa against the British in 1891, to the genius Danie Craven in the 1930s, the inspirational Hennie Muller of the 1940s and 50s, and the charismatic Morné du Plessis of the 1980s, the author explores in fascinating detail what made these men the unforgettable names they are today. With historical photographs from the author’s personal collection, some of which have never been published before, this is the book every rugby fan will want for his or her personal collection.

For more than a century, the Springbok captain has represented the pinnacle of rugby achievement in South Africa. In this revealing narrative, Edward Griffiths and Stephen Nell tell the stories of the elite group of men who have been able to call themselves 'Springbok captain', exploring their backgrounds, their triumphs and their disappointments. The Springbok Captains offers an epic historical perspective on this remarkable country, viewed through the prism of rugby. Compelling and emotional, the book brings the story of the Springbok captains right up to date. Relive the heyday of legends such as Bennie Osler, Danie Craven, Hennie Muller, Johan Claassen, Naas Botha, François Pienaar, Gary Teichmann, Joost van der Westhuizen, Andre Vos and others. This revised and updated third edition includes up-to-date accounts of the careers of Bob Skinstad, John Smit, Victor Matfield and Jean de Villiers, as well as the story of the Springboks' 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign.

"Theuns Stofberg's illustrious rugby career spanned from 1976 to 1985, and he is commonly considered one of the all-time Springbok greats. As the 36th captain of the Springboks, one of only 56 players to be given this honour, he was tough and uncompromising on the field but a true gentleman and great raconteur off it, which he proves with the anecdotes collected in this book. In Stories from the Touchline, he takes the reader behind the scenes, from his childhood days as a schoolboy rugby player to the 1981 flour-bomb tour of New Zealand and winning the Currie Cup for three different provinces - a feat unmatched to this day. He also writes about what it was like playing with legends such as Morné du Plessis, Gerrie Germishuys, Schalk Burger Sr and Gysie Pienaar, marvels at the fans' odd and often colourful behaviour, and affords readers a fascinating glimpse into the amateur days of rugby in South Africa. He also shares his personal struggles with a speech impediment and ill health, and coping with family tragedy, in his own inimitable way. By turns deeply personal, amusing and nostalgic, this book will be treasured by each and every South African rugby fan."--Page [4] of book cover.

In the world of rugby, the All Blacks have an unsurpassed legacy of success. We are the best of the best. Legends in Black comprises frank, no-holds-barred interviews with New Zealand rugby greats, each sharing their thoughts on every aspect of what it means to be an All Black: first selection, the haka, international and provincial rugby, professionalism, team culture, camaraderie, technical advances, coaching and leadership. A one-of-a-kind account of New Zealand rugby, Legends in Black draws on unprecedented access to some of the biggest names in the game – revealing the secrets to why we win. 'The winning ethos was so fundamental to the culture and had been ingrained for years, and it just keeps going. The wonderful thing about the All Blacks is the tradition of its history, the belief by players in what happened before. Winning was something that was an absolute focus.' —John Hart 'Leadership is within the team. I had a role as a fixer, if there was trouble going on – not a dirty role, but as the one able to talk to the opposition and tell them, 'I wouldn't do that again, if I were you.''' —Colin Meads 'Winning becomes a habit, because success is fantastic, but when you take those platitudes you've also got to learn how to lose, lose well and graciously, and learn from your losses.' —Wayne 'Buck' Shelford 'It was about working out who you played the game for . . . it's not the name of the team or the colour of the jersey, but the people around you.' —Andy Haden Also available as an eBook

It's in the early morning, usually on dry, icy cold, thorn-strewn fields, that rugby legends are created. The boys are kaalvoet, the linesmen are spectators, sometimes unwillingly plucked from the makeshift stands, and the aroma of boerewors on hot coals drifts across the field. It is here that the love for the game of rugby is born, where passion is first ignited. Between the Lines is a journey to the heart of South Africa's rugby spirit. Join Matthew Knight as he travels from Bishops in Cape Town - the birthplace of rugby in South Africa - to the hallowed corridors of Hilton College and Michaelhouse in KwaZulu-Natal, to dusty platteland dorps where Bok greats such as Os du Randt were nurtured, and Grey College in Bloemfontein, the undisputed nursery for future Springboks. Knight meticulously mines South Africa's rich rugby heritage and interviews some of the former and current greats of the game. Characters such as Schalk Burger Snr and son, 'Skonk' Nicholson (South Africa's longest-serving coach), Mark Andrews and Nick Mallett, among many others, share their memories of the game that has left an indelible impression on their lives, as well as the lives of those who cheered them on from the stands. This is Knight's quest to discover the foundation of Springbok success: schools' rugby.

This multivolume set is much more than a collection of essays on sports and sporting cultures from around the world: it also details how and why sports are played wherever they exist, and examines key charismatic athletes from around the world who have transcended their sports. Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice provides a unique, global overview of sports and sports cultures. Unlike most works of this type, this book provides both essays that examine general topics, such as globalization and sport, international relations and sport, and tourism and sport, as well as essays on sports history, culture, and practice in world regions—for example, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and Oceania—in order to provide a more global perspective. These essays are followed by entries on specific sports, world athletes, stadiums and arenas, famous games and matches, and major controversies. Spanning topics as varied as modern professional cycling to the fictional movie Rocky to the deadly ball game of the ancient Mayans, the first three volumes contain overview essays and entries for specific sports that have been and are currently practiced around the world. The fourth volume provides a compendium of information on the winners of major sporting competitions from around the world. Readers will gain invaluable insights into how sports have been enjoyed throughout all of human culture, and more fully comprehend their cultural contexts. The entries provide suggestions for further reading on each topic—helpful to general readers, students with school projects, university students and academics alike. Additionally, the four-volume Sports Around the World spotlights key charismatic athletes who have changed a sport or become more than just an outstanding player.

The leaping Springbok on the green jersey of South Africa is one of the most iconic emblems in world rugby. At the same time, no symbol in world sport has ever done so much to divide – and then unite – a nation. Respected by opponents and supported passionately by South Africans, the Springboks have been a powerhouse rugby nation for over a century, yet the emblem that now sits alongside the Protea on the chests of the players was once a symbol of violent oppression in apartheid South Africa, the epitome of the white man's dominance over people of colour in the Republic. Told in the words of Springboks past and present, Our Blood is Green explores what it means to play for South Africa – from schoolboy dreams to the sacrifices required to make it to the very top – as well as the myriad difficulties the players have faced over the years, from the horrors of apartheid through to the emerging rainbow nation in the 1990s and the multi-cultural World Cup-winning team of today. It is a fascinating, powerful and poignant read that explores the unity of a brotherhood that fights to transcend race, culture and class while simultaneously striving to become the best team on the planet. Our Blood is Green examines what it truly means to be a Springbok and it is told the only way it can be – by the players themselves.