Rugby
League Lions
(a
pictorial history of Great Britain Rugby League)
by Les Hoole
Published by Breedon Books
An
illustrated history of the Great Britain (originally England) Rugby
League team since its first home tests in 1907 against the New Zealand
All Blacks (All Golds). This book is loaded with well over 130 pages
of black and white photographs that depict the story of the "Lions"
through the twentieth century.
"Rugby
League Lions" is primarily focused, as its name suggests, on Lions
tours to Australia and New Zealand. However, the author has taken a
broader view of the term "Lions" to include home Tests as
well.
As
a result, the book provides a complete retrospective of Great Britain
in Test rugby league since 1907 against New Zealand, Australia and France.
Each
photograph is accompanied by a well researched paragraph or two providing
details of the players, dates, grounds and other events surrounding
each image.
The
photographs include all touring Lions teams, many home Test teams and
their opponents, game action, training shots, life on tour, souvenier
programmes and individual players.
A
welcome attribute of the Rugby League Lions book is its balance of the
era's covered. The book is divided into seven parts and each is introduced
with a one page commentary of the period including the results of each
Test series, one-off Tests and World Cup events.
While many books are tempted to concentrate on the last quarter of the
century relying on well known stories and photographs, Hoole has taken
the harder path and dedicated the first hundred pages to the Lions pre-1960
period. The book is much more worthwhile, revealing and interesting
thanks to Hoole's endeavours to seek out harder to find content.
There
is arguably no greater honour than playing Test rugby league representing
your country. This book pays a fitting tribute to those who players
who achieved their ambitions and played for the "Lions" in
the 20th century.
Rugby
League Lions
Les Hoole
Published by Breedon Books
ISBN No. 1 85983 252 0
