Making the Rugby World

"Recent developments such as professionalization, globalization and the Rugby World Cup have altered the game forever but, as this volume shows, the process of change has been going on for over a century. This book seeks to understand what has happened to rugby as it has moved from the private realm of the English public school to the global realm dominated by Rupert Murdoch and other media entrepreneurs. It explores rugby and issues of race in the Empire/Commonwealth, rugby in non-British societies, women's rugby, homophobia and rugby, and nationalism and rugby, before turning to the massive impact that globalization, professionalization and commercialization have had on the sport."--BOOK JACKET.