3 Tell-All Rugby Books That Die-Hard Fans Should Read

With the Rugby World Cup on, what better time to dive into some good rugby reading? Thankfully, the book world has been treated to some solid paperback entries that you can indulge in, whether you’re looking for a deep dive into the psyche of the sport’s superstars, or something a little more lighthearted.

Rassie

By Rassie Erasmus with David Sullivan

There’s no doubt that everyone in South Africa (and the world, for that matter) wants to know what’s going on inside the head of enigmatic former Springbok coach and now director of rugby at SA Rugby, Rassie Erasmus. His tell-all book chronicles his rugby adventures and misadventures, and how they’ve intertwined with his personal life, including him dealing with his alcoholic father and growing up in the conservative town of Despatch. From his playing career to his coaching methods that helped galvanise the Springboks in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Rassie is full of interesting insights, anecdotes, and life lessons that translated onto the rugby field (and visa versa). Anyone with the slightest inkling of rugby curiosity and the evolution of the Springboks will want to pick this one up.

Who Am I?

By Danny Cipriani

Former England, Sale, Gloucester, Melbourne Rebels and Wasps flyhalf Danny Cipriani’s new book Who Am I? is an interesting deep-dive into the world of the once desperately sought-after playmaker. The book is a more introspective look at how Cipriani’s mentality has changed over the years, starting out as a more head-first, overly confident junior in the England squad, his departure to play in Australia in order to hide from the scrutiny of the English media, and his personal troubles that helped him find new meaning with rugby and life. The book takes a closer-look at the the lad culture (and its flaws) that clearly still exists at the top level of rugby, and also Cipriani’s self-reflective desire to find an identity outside of what everyone else created for him.

Mavericks

By Luke Upton

The author of the bestselling Hard Men of Rugby gives us the thrilling stories of 20 of the greatest rugby mavericks from the last 80 years. Featuring exclusive player interviews, this lively book brings some of rugby’s craziest moments, biggest characters and most remarkable stories to life. It features a lot of input from former Australian star (and self-proclaimed goosestep inventor) David Campese, and explores the approach to rugby and nuances from the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Finn Russell, Christophe Dominici, and others.

Photo cred: Facebook / Springboks