What great news arrived in the office yesterday, we have won the Rugby Book of the Year with The Final Whistle by Stephen Cooper. I was very excited about this announcement, as a passionate rugby fan, of Gloucester, England and the Lions, I'll watch and go to any games I get the opportunity to go to. It doesn't really matter who is playing, as this game is such a great sport full of friendly fans and players all around the world.
It's great to see a book that isn't a autobiography win this prize. This book contains it all - history, passion, sadness of these great players and soldiers being taken before their time. These players have played for their country, the Barbarians and the Lions, plus the common tie of Rosslyn Park RFC. I think this weekend and coming months is a great time to remember these players and soldiers, with two headline games at Twickenham this weekend, the premiership final and then England v Barbarians, The Lions in Australia and the summer tours that our nations rugby teams will be on.
The 15 biographies of this book are a poignant reminder of all those that fight for our country. It's sad that these fifteen are not remembered by a memorial at the club, with the centenary of WWI coming up next year, these 15 players and soldiers will be remembered, along with all the other soldiers that fought for our countries.
If you are part of the rugby family - fan or player past or present this book is a great read and a reminder of what was given up for us. It would be amazing to see this wonderful book as The Times Sports Book of the Year. If you purchase a copy and have a read, I'm sure you won't be disappointed, remember to vote for this historic rugby story to win.
