Chasing a Rugby Dream

Author: James Hook
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
ISBN: 0957507682
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 249

Book Description
Winner of the Telegraph Sports Book Awards Children's Book of the Year Small, skinny and short-sighted . . . and dazzlingly talented. Jimmy Joseph loves rugby. All he dreams about is one day playing for his country in a World Cup, or winning a Test series for the Lions with a last-minute drop-goal. But when he kicks an up-and-under in the schoolyard and accidentally hits the new head of PE, Mr Kane, on the head, he makes a powerful enemy. Jimmy and his best friends – Manu, Scott and Kitty – try to prove their worth on the rugby field, but to no avail. Mr Kane has it out for them, and he's being helped by team captain Mike Green, well known as the school bully. Can Jimmy and his friends overcome the tyranny of Mr Kane and help Mike see the error of his ways? Or will the combination of bullying, pressure and dirty tactics derail the friends' rugby careers before they have even begun? An epic new rugby series begins here!

Chasing a Rugby Dream

Author: James Hook
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
ISBN: 1913538265
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 306

Book Description
'A portrayal of a young person following their dream in the game, a cracking read' – Alun Wyn Jones, Wales and the British & Irish Lions Jimmy Joseph is enjoying a long, hot summer with his friends, counting down the days until he attends his first ever training camp at the Eagles Academy, the youth section of his local pro club. He hopes this is going to be the first major step on his journey to being a professional rugby player ... but a heavy tackle in training and cruel behaviour from his nemesis, Mr Kane, leads to Jimmy suffering a complete loss of confidence. How can he ever regain his love of the game – and fulfil his rugby dreams – if he is too afraid to tackle? In this new rugby adventure for Jimmy and his friends, James Hook and David Brayley examine concussion, tackling, friendship, loyalty and the true bravery that's needed to overcome your fears.

Catching Jordan

Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
ISBN: 1402262272
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 291

Book Description
"Whoever said football and girls don't mix hasn't read Catching Jordan. I couldn't put it down " -- Simone Elkeles, New York Times bestselling author of the Perfect Chemistry series ONE OF THE BOYS What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line? "A beautiful novel with a real and captivating depiction of high school relationships, Catching Jordan shows the same reverence for the human heart that it does for the game of football." --Karsten Knight, author of Wildefire

The Silenced

Author: Claudio Fava
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
ISBN: 1913538303
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 115

Book Description
'A gargantuan, memorable story, a film in the making, ready for global success' – La Repubblica, Italy 'A powerful and heart-breaking story about sacrifice and courage' – Le Monde, France Argentina,1978. President Jorge Rafael Videla's military dictatorship reigns with an iron fist, regularly kidnapping, torturing and murdering political activists and opponents and their families at secret concentration camps. The country is locked in a spiral of fear and chaos – and are soon to host the World Cup. As the cacophony of protest against Videla's government rises, his regime's drive to 'disappear' these troublesome elements accelerates before they can embarrass him in front of the world's media. This is the story of a rugby club that refused to be silenced. When one of their teammates is found dead – assassinated – the Club La Plata first XV took a minute's silence before their next game. The minute ran to two ... to three ... For ten long minutes they stood in furious silence. When the junta learned of this protest it wasn't long before another player disappeared. And then another. Over the course of four years, twenty La Plata players were murdered by the regime: gunned down, assassinated, 'disappeared'' This extraordinary novel is based on interviews with survivors of Argentina's so-called 'dirty war' in the seventies, when tens of thousands of protesters disappeared, many never to be found again. Bold, powerful and heart-breaking, The Silenced is a portrait of astonishing courage and defiance and an examination of the unbreakable bonds forged by a team of rugby players in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Championship Sunday

Author: Joe Jackson
Publisher: LifeWord Publishing LLC
ISBN: 1736391135
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 312

Book Description
From his earliest memories, Joe Jackson dreamed of playing in the National Football League and being somebody great—a champion. But growing up in a family of seven in a Cincinnati suburb during the turbulent times of the 1960s didn’t look promising. It took hard work, discipline, and good coaching to become a champion in the world’s eyes in the NFL. But the most significant change didn’t take place on a football field, but in his heart when he gave his life to Jesus Christ. Only then did his dream of playing in the NFL and the Super Bowl become a reality. In the pages of this fascinating biographical account, Joe Jackson recounts how he tackled challenge after challenge in life, and reveals how football opened the door to a place where the giants of fear and a low sense of self-esteem roamed freely. In Championship Sunday, Joe shares an uncut version of his life story and reveals that true champions are never satisfied with titles won on a particular day, but it’s the battles we win as a believer that matter the most as we walk out our own salvation with fear and trembling. His story encourages everyone to push past their fear and insecurity to become the champion that is hidden inside.

Champion of Champions

Author: David Brayley
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780993510199
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 192

Book Description

When Lions Roared

Author: Tom English
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
ISBN: 0857903438
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 349

Book Description
By 1971 no Lions team had ever defeated the All Blacks in a Test series. Since 1904, six Lions sides had travelled to New Zealand and all had returned home bruised, battered and beaten. But the 1971 tour party was different. It was full of young, ambitious and outrageously talented players who would all go on to carve their names into the annals of sporting history during a golden period in British and Irish rugby. And at their centre was Carwyn Jones – an intelligent, sensitive rugby mastermind who would lead his team into the game's hardest playing arena while facing a ferocious, tragic battle in his personal life, all in pursuit of a seemingly impossible dream. Up against them was an All Blacks team filled with legends in the game in the likes of Colin Meads, Brian Lochore, Ian Kirkpatrick, Sid Going and Bryan Williams. But as the Lions swept through the provinces, lighting up the rugby fields of New Zealand the pressure began to mount on the home players in a manner never seen before. As the Test series loomed, it became clear that a clash that would echo through the ages was about to unfold. And at its conclusion, it was obvious to all that rugby would never be the same again.

Running to Glory

Author: Sam McManis
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1493041533
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 279

Book Description
The runners from Eisenhower High School have every justification to fail. They’re from low income families, many of whom are migrant workers. With little time to devote to their passion, they give everything they have to their quest for the Washington State High School Cross Country Championship. Running to Glory is a celebration of grit, perseverance, and the American Dream. It follows the cross country team from Eisenhower High in Yakima, Washington, through a tumultuous and challenging season with excitement, suspense and pathos. Despite enormous economic disadvantages, the Eisenhower runners compete with affluent schools in the Seattle-Tacoma area, where parent involvement is strong and funds are readily available. Their coach Phil English knows how his runners feel. He grew up poor in rural Ireland in the 1960s during The Troubles and emigrated to the U.S. for a college track scholarship. Over 37 years coaching in Yakima, Coach English won 11 state titles, and sent more than 100 kids to college with scholarships for running. Author Sam McManis crafts a compelling narrative, which follows the team from summer workouts in the blistering sun to the state championship meet in the bitter cold. Readers will discover how these young men and women overcome their environment or succumb to it—on the course and in the classroom.

Gordon's Game

Author: Paul Howard
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 1844884694
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 384

Book Description
A rugby-mad boy. A huge game. And a chance for an epic win . . . or an epic fail! Gordon D'Arcy is an ordinary boy, but he's not so ordinary once he gets a rugby ball in his hands. He's the star player for Wexford Wanderers and dreams of one day wearing the Ireland jersey. A dream like that means hard work, raw talent and never losing sight of your goals. But Gordon has a wild streak that often lands him in trouble. Mum and Dad think that if he can just channel his energy, all will be well. Then something utterly mad happens and he gets a chance to live his biggest dream. Can he stay on his game and do everyone proud? Or will trouble follow him . . . like it usually does? Gordon's Game is a funny and inspiring adventure for rugby lovers of all ages! 'A cracking read . . . which will appeal to all the family' Irish Country Magazine

Blindsided

Author: T. A. Chase
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press LLC
ISBN: 9781640803992
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
When rugby player Liam and Melbourne lifeguard Matty go from friends to lovers, they're both caught off guard. Can two men with no relationship experience navigate their way to steady ground?