"Scrums, Lineouts & Tries - America's newest, oldest game" provides a detailed introduction to the game of rugby union, a sport that celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2023.
The book is targeted at a broad audience: people of all ages who want to play for the first time or are returning to the game; parents who want more information about the sport and what it may offer their kids; girls and women looking to participate in one of the world's fastest growing sports; spectators who don't understand the rules of this fast, complex sport and want to know what they are watching; non-playing enthusiasts considering becoming a referee; university and college sports departments who may be planning to offer rugby as more than a club sport; recreation departments across the nation who want to provide access to this fast-growing activity.
The book has three sections: Part 1 looks at the game itself, explaining the terminologies and unique language of the sport, the basic requirements an individual might need to consider playing, and why the game has gathered so much support around the world from players and fans alike. Part 2 looks at the beginnings of the game two hundred years ago, examines where the sport stand in the US both in comparison to the rest of the world and other domestic sports, and what is needed for America to gain maximum benefit from hosting the quadrennial World Finals in 2031 and 2033. Part 3 looks at the culture of rugby and how much deeper it goes than "a few blokes chucking a ball around and going for a beer afterwards". This section looks at the ethos of the sport, the Laws of the game and the folk who administer it, and Health & Safety, the critical issue in all "contact" sports. In the Appendix, the reader can get a taste of the host of major rugby competitions that take place around the world, both at the club and national level, representing the top of the pyramid of a game played and enjoyed by millions.
The international profile of rugby union will be dramatically enhanced in 2023. In addition to the 200th anniversary of the game's "birth" (in England in 1823), the Men's Rugby World Cup will be played in France in the fall. Over 500 million fans around the world are expected to tune in for the world's third-largest spectator event. Of particular relevance to the American audience is that the US will host the 2031 Men's and 2033 Women's Rugby World Cup Championships. Over the next 8 years the game will attract enormous attention from players, officials, spectators and investors and a better understanding of the game and its components is essential.
