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Rugby Union and Professionalisation: Elite Player Perspectives (Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society) - Softcover

Book 94 of 139: Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society

Rayner, Mike

 
9780367408916: Rugby Union and Professionalisation: Elite Player Perspectives (Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0367408910 ISBN 13: 9780367408916
Publisher: Routledge, 2020

Synopsis

The game of rugby has changed significantly in the course of its history. In the early part of the 19th century it evolved from a folk game played by the working class to a recreational activity for public schoolboys. From the 1820s rugby represented an opportunity for gentlemen to demonstrate physical prowess and masculinity and in more recent times it has developed into an activity that reflects the changing attitudes towards professional sport. For the most part of the last one hundred years, rugby union became an important international sport that represented the nationalistic ideals of a number of countries. However, a number of developments, including the increasing influence of a business ethos within sport during the latter decades of the twentieth century, exposed rugby union to the realities of commercialism and all the factors associated with it, especially the demands of a more diverse spectating public.

Drawing on interview material with forty-eight elite level rugby union players from England, Wales, Scotland, France, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia who participated in elite level rugby union either before, in the overlapping period or after the declaration of professionalism, this book traces the evolution of attitudes towards professionalism from a players’ perspective and develops a critical review of the impact that professionalism has had upon the sport of rugby union.

Rugby Union and Professionalisation: Elite Player Perspectives is fascinating reading for all students and scholars with an interest in rugby union, sport history, sport policy, sport management and the sociology of sport.

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About the Author

Mike Rayner is a Senior Lecturer in Sports Management in the Department of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Portsmouth, UK

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Routledge
Publication date
2020
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0367408910
ISBN 13 
9780367408916
Binding
Paperback
Edition number
1
Number of pages
196