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Dragons and All Blacks
Wales V. New Zealand - 1953 and a Century of Rivalry
- Author:
- By Huw Richards
- Awards:
- William Hill Sports Book Of The Year Award Short Listed 2005
- Format:
- Paperback
- Availability:
- In print, usually dispatched within 48 hours.
- Price:
- £9.99
- Tagged with:
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Further Details
- Published: 17th Nov 2005
- ISBN: 1845960262
- Pages: 240
- Size: 234mm x 153mm
From the Publisher:
'The Bounce of the Century' they called it. A ball kicked across Cardiff Arms Park in the dying minutes of a match between two of international rugby's fiercest rivals. The world's two greatest wingers waited as it bounced towards them, knowing that whoever caught the ball would score and win the match for his country.
Dragons and All Blacks tells what happened when Wales played New Zealand in 1953. The story is written from contemporary accounts and the memories of the men who played that day, including Bob Stuart and Bleddyn Williams, for many of whom the match was the highlight of a career.
The book retells the stories of the two teams and the men who played for them, and charts the events of their lives: how they got to that meeting point in Cardiff in December 1953 and what has happened to them in the half-century since.
Dragons and All Blacks examines the remarkable relationship between two countries on opposite sides of the world, brought together by a mutual passion for rugby with few parallels elsewhere. It shows how their rivalry has developed over a century - from perhaps the greatest of all rugby matches in 1905 to the single-point thriller of 2004 - and looks to its future in the aftermath of the 2005 Welsh Grand Slam and Lions tour of New Zealand.
From the Critics:
“One of the best sports books of the year”
The Guardian
“I was left in awe of the huge amount of research Richards has put into this book.... he can write, and write well”
Rugby Times
“A superb exploration of what rugby means in Wales and New Zealand..... heartily recommended”
Evening Standard
“Certain to be regarded as a classic in the future”
The Independent
“You know you've enjoyed a book when you don't want it to end. This is one such book”
Rugby World
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At 6 foot 7 Kevin Francis was the tallest player in the football league. And so said every newspaper article and programme feature written about him throughout his career. He's now a long distance lorry driver.
Submitted by: JacquesClaw