The team behind LineoutCoach.com have assembled an unrivalled squad of the top players and coaches ahead of the Rugby World Cup to produce “Rugby Revealed” the definitive guide to the game.
Using quotes from the over 100 featured professional players and coaches throughout the book, the co-authors Gavin Hickie and Eilidh Donaldson break down the responsibilities and key skills for each position and show how these work together as a team in defence and attack. Rugby Revealed acts as an introduction to the game for those new to the sport as well as offering those already playing and coaching a way to develop their skills and reach their rugby potential.
Using quotes from the over 100 featured professional players and coaches throughout the book, the co-authors Gavin Hickie and Eilidh Donaldson break down the responsibilities and key skills for each position and show how these work together as a team in defence and attack. Rugby Revealed acts as an introduction to the game for those new to the sport as well as offering those already playing and coaching a way to develop their skills and reach their rugby potential.
“Rugby Revealed is about today’s winners inspiring the future generation of champions,” said co-author Gavin Hickie, former professional player turned coach. “Our book isn’t theory or drills, this is practical advice. It is about players talking to players and coaches talking to coaches, like they would on the training field, sharing their insights and advice based on their own experience.”
For those who want to learn how to pass the ball like Aaron Smith, read the game like Johnny Sexton, scrummage like Cian Healy or Marcos Ayerza, tackle like Sean O’Brien, run lines like Jamie Roberts, or be coached by top names like the All Blacks Mike Cron or Mick Byrne, England’s Stuart Lancaster, or legendary kicking coach Dr Dave Alred – Rugby Revealed delivers them all and more.
“Having such great names involved gives the book a real edge and that’s the message we are getting from those who have seen the book. They want to know how to play the game like the pros and with Rugby Revealed they can,” added co-author Eilidh Donaldson, a life-long rugby fan.
“We wanted to explain the game in a really simple and engaging way,” explained Eilidh. “People love the format which uses action shots of the players featured in the book and simple checklists to help players remember key points. We both hope it will act as a blueprint for the modern game which delivers new and improved players and coaches to the sport.”
With over 100 top players and coaches giving their insights on how to play the modern game, Rugby Revealed is a game changer in rugby and a unique milestone in any professional sport.
“You wouldn’t expect Messi and Ronaldo to feature in the same book, or Peyton Manning and Tom Brady but that’s the equivalent of what Rugby Revealed does. For me having 14 nationalities and 32 clubs represented in a single publication is the essence of rugby,” explains Gavin Hickie. “No budget could have bought our contributors list, and not one of the 100+ names you see listed in the book ever asked for money to talk to us. Whether it’s the fact that rugby is still in its relative infancy as a professional sport or it is down to the culture of the game, we firmly believe only rugby could have shared the knowledge of a generation of players to help inspire those who follow.”
For those who want to learn how to pass the ball like Aaron Smith, read the game like Johnny Sexton, scrummage like Cian Healy or Marcos Ayerza, tackle like Sean O’Brien, run lines like Jamie Roberts, or be coached by top names like the All Blacks Mike Cron or Mick Byrne, England’s Stuart Lancaster, or legendary kicking coach Dr Dave Alred – Rugby Revealed delivers them all and more.
“Having such great names involved gives the book a real edge and that’s the message we are getting from those who have seen the book. They want to know how to play the game like the pros and with Rugby Revealed they can,” added co-author Eilidh Donaldson, a life-long rugby fan.
“We wanted to explain the game in a really simple and engaging way,” explained Eilidh. “People love the format which uses action shots of the players featured in the book and simple checklists to help players remember key points. We both hope it will act as a blueprint for the modern game which delivers new and improved players and coaches to the sport.”
With over 100 top players and coaches giving their insights on how to play the modern game, Rugby Revealed is a game changer in rugby and a unique milestone in any professional sport.
“You wouldn’t expect Messi and Ronaldo to feature in the same book, or Peyton Manning and Tom Brady but that’s the equivalent of what Rugby Revealed does. For me having 14 nationalities and 32 clubs represented in a single publication is the essence of rugby,” explains Gavin Hickie. “No budget could have bought our contributors list, and not one of the 100+ names you see listed in the book ever asked for money to talk to us. Whether it’s the fact that rugby is still in its relative infancy as a professional sport or it is down to the culture of the game, we firmly believe only rugby could have shared the knowledge of a generation of players to help inspire those who follow.”
About the Authors
Founder of popular rugby website, LineoutCoach.com, Gavin Hickie is passionate about helping young players and coaches reach their rugby potential. Head Coach of Dartmouth College and Head Coach of the USA Rugby All Americans, Gavin has over 25 years’ experience in the sport, including a decade at the top of the game as a professional player for Leinster, London Irish, Worcester and Leicester Tigers, along with representing Ireland at various levels in 15s and 7s. In addition to coaching, Gavin shares his expertise as an analyst for leading rugby publications.
“Rugby Revealed is about today’s winners inspiring the future generation of champions. This isn’t theory, this is practical experience earned on the field. It’s about players and coaches teaching aspiring players and safeguarding the game which we love.”
Eilidh Donaldson is the creator of sports news hub Tweetsport, regular blogger, passionate rugby supporter and an integral part of the LineoutCoach team. Her consultancy Ginger Midget helps grow businesses in the sports sector.
“We have been humbled and overwhelmed by the positive reaction of all those involved in rugby and their outstanding support, honesty, and generosity. Their passion for the sport has been truly inspiring. To see the idea of the rugby family put to the test and pass with flying colours is the most satisfying part of writing the book.”
Rugby Revealed is an engaging new guide to Rugby Union which features over 100 of the top players and coaches in the sport today sharing their experience. If you want to play the game like Johnny Sexton, Jamie Roberts, Aaron Smith, or George Ford and be coached by Stuart Lancaster, Dr Dave Alred, or the All Blacks Mick Byrne and Mike Cron then with Rugby Revealed you can.
With full colour illustrations of the featured players in action throughout, the authors bring the modern game to life using the insights and advice from those playing and coaching at the very highest level. The book will help new players gain an understanding of the game while showing experienced players how to improve their skills.
List of Contributors
| Players Prop Cian Healy (Ireland & Leinster) Dan Cole (England & Leicester Tigers) Jack McGrath (Ireland & Leinster) Marcos Ayerza (Argentina & Leicester Tigers) Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy & Toulon) Mike Ross (Ireland & Leinster) Owen Franks (New Zealand & Crusaders) Hooker Ben Kayser (France & Clermont Auvergne) Bismarck du Plessis (Springboks & Sharks) Corey Flynn (New Zealand & Toulouse) Keven Mealamu (New Zealand & Blues) Schalk Brits (Springboks & Saracens) Lock Devin Toner (Ireland & Leinster) | Coaches Aaron Mauger (Leicester Tigers) Alex King (Northampton Saints) Alex Magleby (USA & Dartmouth College) Ben Herring (Forwards & Defence Coach) Brendan Venter (Sharks) Conor O’Shea (Harlequins Director of Rugby) Daryl Gibson (NSW Waratahs) Dave Hewett (Crusaders) Eddie Jones (Japan Head Coach) Gary Gold (Sharks Director of Rugby) Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers) Graham Rowntree (England Forwards Coach) Gregor Townsend (Glasgow Warriors Head Coach) Les Kiss (Ireland Assistant Coach) Mark McCall (Saracens Head Coach) Mike Catt (England Attacking Skills Coach) Mike Cron (New Zealand Forwards Coach) Mike Ford (Bath Director of Rugby) |
| Eben Etzebeth (Springboks & Stormers) Geoff Parling (England & Exeter) George Robson (England & Harlequins/Oyonnax) Jamie Cudmore (Canada & Clermont Auvergne) Jim Hamilton (Scotland & Saracens) Joe Launchbury (England & Wasps) Marco Bortolami (Italy & Zebre) Flankers Jacques Burger (Namibia & Saracens) Kelly Brown (Scotland & Saracens) Sam Warburton (Wales & Cardiff Blues) Scott Lavalla (USA & Stade Français) Sean O’Brien (Ireland & Leinster) Shane Jennings (Ireland & Leinster) Steffon Armitage (England & Toulon) Tom Wood (England & Northampton Saints) No 8 David Denton (Scotland & Edinburgh) Duane Vermeulen (Springboks & Stormers/Toulon) Juan Leguizamon (Argentina & Lyon) Jerome Kaino (New Zealand & Blues) Todd Clever (USA & OMBAC) Tyler Ardron (Canada & Ospreys) Scrum half Aaron Smith (New Zealand & Highlanders) Ben Youngs (England & Leicester Tigers) Mike Blair (Scotland & Newcastle Falcons/Glasgow Warriors) Rory Kockott (France & Castres) Ruan Pienaar (Springboks & Ulster) Fly half Andy Goode (England & Wasps) Beauden Barrett(New Zealand & Hurricanes) Felipe Contepomi (Argentina) George Ford (England & Bath) Handre Pollard (Springboks & The Bulls) Ian Madigan (Ireland & Leinster) Johnny Sexton (Ireland & Leinster) Ruaridh Jackson (Scotland & Wasps) Centre Conrad Smith (New Zealand & Hurricanes/Pau) Gordon D’Arcy (Ireland & Leinster) Jamie Roberts (Wales & Racing Metro) Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand & Hurricanes/Toulon) Manu Tuilagi (England & Leicester Tigers) Nemani Nadolo (Fiji & Crusaders) Rene Ranger (New Zealand & Montpellier/Blues) Wing Blaine Scully (USA & Leicester Tigers) Brett Thompson (USA & Edinburgh) | Mike Tolkin (USA Head Coach) Paul Burke (Backs Coach) Rob Hoadley (Defence Coach) Rob Howley (Wales Back Coach) Scott Lawrence (Life University) Sir John Kirwan (Head Coach) Stuart Lancaster (England Head Coach) Specialist Coaches Kicking Dr Dave Alred (Elite Performance Coach) Greg Hechter (Stormers’ Kicking Coach) Performance Billy Millard (Cardiff Blues) Isa Nacewa (Blues) S&C John Dams (Harlequins) Ollie Richardson Stephan Du Toit (Stormers) Skills Mick Byrne (All Blacks Skills Coach) Nick White (Blues Set Piece Coach) Simon Hardy (RFU Specialist Coach) |
| George North (Wales & Northampton Saints) Horacio Agulla (Argentina & Bath) Marland Yarde (England & Harlequins) Tommy Bowe (Ireland & Ulster) Full Back Andrea Masi (Italy & Wasps) Chris Wyles (USA & Saracens) Rob Kearney (Ireland & Leinster) Willie Le Roux (Springboks & The Cheetahs) Kickers Leigh Halfpenny (Wales & Toulon) |
