Rugby History

‘Okay, lads, you have everything you need to win this game. So go out and do it ,' said the coach. Eoin's not sure if it will be so easy! He’s just started a new school...and a new sport. Everyone at school is mad about rugby, but Eoin hasn’t even held a rugby ball before! With new rules to learn, new friends to make and new teachers to get a handle on, he really doesn’t need to have Richie Duffy, the resident bully, picking him out as his latest target! And just who is this guy Brian who looks so out of date but gives great rugby advice?

Since its inception in 1987 the rugby union World Cup has gone from being a cheerful, amateurish kickabout to one of the world's premier sporting events, third only to the football World Cup and the Olympics in terms of global reach. Along the way it has mirrored the sport's occasionally painful march into the professional era, with commensurate advances in the standard of play but also, some would argue, a loss of innocence as the marketing men have moved in on an increasingly lucrative property. But the competition is still - mostly - about the game itself.

It looks like Eoin Madden’s busiest term ever! He’s Castlerock College’s star player and he’s been called up for Ireland in the Under 16 Four Nations - how will he juggle sport and school work? But his biggest challenge of all goes way beyond his own concerns and right to the heart of Irish rugby. When his oldest and best ghostly friend calls for help, can Eoin and his band of heroes solve their deadliest mystery yet?

It’s a new school term, and Eoin Madden has new responsibilities. He’s now captain of the Under 14s team and has to deal with friction between his friend Rory and new boy Dylan as they thrash it out for a place as scrum-half. And away from the pitch Eoin has his hands full. He starts work on a project about Irish-born All Black Dave Gallaher who died in World War I. Then history becomes reality when an old book brings Eoin a lot closer to the rugby legend than he ever thought possible....

Haunting history and thrilling tries in the fourth instalment of the Rugby Spirit series. Eoin has been chosen for the Junior development squad, so over the summer he gets to go to Dublin for a rugby summer school. Arising out of that, he and his new friends are taken on a trip to Twickenham, London, to play and watch rugby. While there, he meets a ghost: Prince Obolensky, a Russian who played rugby for England, scored a world famous try against New Zealand in Twickenham and later joined the RAF and died in WWII.

Immerse yourself in the drama and excitement of the Rugby World Cup - including clips from the iconic "World in Union" theme song (by Hayley Westenra) and supporting sound effects from rugby’s greatest stage.

Eoin Madden’s having a busy term with friend issues, schoolwork and new rugby challenges; he’s been moved up to train with the Junior Cup team, which is hard work, plus there’s trouble in his dormitory as mobile phones start going missing! But as usual there are ghostly goings-on in Castlerock school - what’s the link between Eoin’s history lessons and the new spirit he’s spotted wearing a Belvedere rugby jersey?

An exclusive look at England Rugby from a former player with a unique perspective. Nobody has spent as much time in the front line of rugby union's first's two dramatic decades of professionalism - as a player, coach and administrator (blazer) - as Rob Andrew, or taken as much flak; all this in...

Welsh brawn, all black mystique, South African power, Australian courage, Celtic grit, English resolve: all have given us occasions to remember. Moments of courage and resistance, moments of passion and pride. Moments when a flash of brilliance or collective determination helped turn the game one way or another. Moments when the best proved they are the best, and times when the unsung had their moment in the spotlight. These are rugby's greatest moments.

Rampaging Rugby is the first audiobook in the Stupendous Sports series, which aims to do for sport what Horrible Histories did for Year Six history! Full of fascinating facts, player tips your coach won't tell you, irreverent explanations and plenty of practical instruction, this is a great book for kids of any age who are interesting in developing their rugby skills.

Cliff Morgan, using BBC Sound Archive material, presents the history and humour of the great game of Rugby Union.No game generates more passion, or stirs the emotions, like Rugby Union. No game enjoys itself more when the whistle blows. And none has produced quite such good talkers, on or off...