When Britain's empire went to war in August 1914, rugby players were the first to volunteer: they led from the front and paid a disproportionate price. When the Armistice came after four long years, their war game was over; even as the last echo of the guns of November faded, it was time to play rugby again. As Allied troops of all nations waited to return home, sport occupied their minds and bodies. In 1919, a grateful Mother Country hosted a rugby tournament for the King's Cup, to be presented by King George V at Twickenham Stadium. It was a moment of triumph, a celebration of military victory, of Allied unity and of rugby values, moral and physical. Never before had teams from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Britain and France been assembled in one place. Rugby held the first ever 'World Cup' - football would not play its own version until 1930. In 2015 the modern Rugby World Cup returns to England and Twickenham as the world remembers the Centenary of the Great War. With a foreword by Jason Leonard, this is the story of rugby's journey through the First World War to its first World Cup, and how those values endure today.

Reviews

'I was proud to lead men on the field as All Blacks skipper. I am proud and humbled to read here of rugby men of all nations who went before me, who loved the game and loved their country enough to lay down their lives.' - Sean Fitzpatrick, former All Black captain 'As a World Cup winner with a great grandfather who fought in this war, I was really moved by this book. To read of men who lived through hell, then in the aftermath pieced themselves together and played the first rugby World Cup in 1919, brought home to me why our game's values, forged in adversity, are so strong.' - Lewis Moody MBE, Rugby World Cup winner and RFU Great War Commemoration Ambassador. 'The story of the Kings Cup in 1919 was a real discovery for me. In here is all the tragedy of war, mixed with the human triumph of the players who came through. It took my breath away to read these stories. If you want to know where the values of teamwork, discipline, respect in rugby come from, then read this.'- Maggie Alphonsi MBE, Rugby World Cup winner with England 'A story of brave men who faced danger with true heroism; some lived to play rugby again. We can only hope to live up to their legacy.' - Gareth Thomas, captain Wales and British & Irish Lions 'A triumph: a proper accompaniment to the rugby world cup.'- Justin Webb, journalist and BBC Radio presenter

Awards
Short-listed for Cross Sports Book of the Year Award 2016.



Book Information
ISBN 9780750969994
Author Stephen Cooper
Format Paperback
Imprint The History Press Ltd
Publisher The History Press Ltd