Routledge Rugby Union and Professionalisation Book

Explore the deep history and evolution of rugby through this academic study from Routledge. This book examines how the sport transformed from a 19th-century folk game played by the working class into a recreational activity for public schoolboys. It traces the journey of rugby union as it became a way for gentlemen to demonstrate masculinity and physical prowess. As the sport moved into the modern era, it reflected changing global attitudes toward professional sport. This text provides a look at how rugby union grew into a major international sport that represents the nation. Readers gain insight into the transition from amateur roots to the professional era through the lens of elite player perspectives. This addition to the Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society series is ideal for those interested in the social and cultural shifts within the world of rugby.