The First XV A Selection of the Best Rugby Writing

A collection of biographical, anecdotal, and literary essays on Britain's consuming passion for rugby, this account describes the exploits of the people's heroes from Gould to Gareth Edwards. The beauty and exhilaration of the game is vividly recaptured in classic prose, as are the emotions and expectations of the most passionate rugby aficionados in the world. From the humorous to the erudite, this selection features work from the likes of Richard Burton, Frank Keating, John Morgan, Dylan Thomas, Alan Watkins, and Harry Webb.

Gareth Williams has written and broadcast extensively on the sporting and musical history of South Wales. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including Fields of Praise, Valleys of Song, and Wales and its Boxers, and a former history professor and director of the Center for Modern and Contemporary Wales at the University of Glamorgan. Gerald Davies is one of the acknowledged greats of Welsh rugby, playing for Cardiff RFC and London Welsh. He is also a journalist for the Times and a chairman of the Wales Youth Agency.