After the Final Whistle: The First Rugby World Cup and the First World War

Bought as a special gift for my rugby-loving husband who played and coached the game for many years. This book explains why this sport builds character, team spirit and lasting relationships in its players.

Having listened to Stephen give a talk on the First World War I wanted to read his books myself. This is the follow-up to his 2013 award winning book and is equally as good with the main focus being the First Rugby World Cup. It was an engrossing read covering all the countries who participated and is a timely reminder that rugby is a universal game and so it war. The sacrifice from all countries needs to be recognised and this book does it superbly with a wealth of detail that has the power to fascinate and inspire. You certainly don't have to be a rugby fan to appreciate this book because it is about people, and often some of the very best.

This is a brilliant book and a must for all rugby fans to see how the rugby fraternity were so enthusiastic to serve their country and the poignant stories of the tragic loss of life that resulted. I recommend this to anyone associated with the game and to spare a thought for the players who gave their life and indeed everyone who gave their lives in this War.

I bought Stephen Cooper's excellent previous award-winning book (The Final Whistle - The Great War in Fifteen Players) and this one surpasses it for breadth and depth of research, narrative sweep and the themes the author brings to the surface. With this scale of detail it would be easy to become bogged down in facts but Mr Cooper's approachable writing style navigates the danger with aplomb. From a modern perspective it can sometimes be difficult to appreciate the prevailing social attitudes of a century ago - e.g. that some regarded war as little more than sport carried on by another name and that team games, particularly rugby, were seen as promoters of potential martial leadership and esprit de corps more than others - but they set a context in which the willingness of rugby players to volunteer and set an example was inevitable. With his latest work Stephen Cooper has not only done rugby - and indeed all sports - fans a great service but again reminded us of the poignancy of the millions of lives lost in the First World War.

Given as a gift enjoyed by recipient!

My daughter bought me the first book and I just had to have this one.