Irish Rugby, Ambition and the Road Still Ahead
Brendan Fanning looks at Irish rugby’s transformation from struggling professional era to modern contender, while asking what success really means. Insightful and readable, this is a strong pick for rugby fans who want context, personality and a clear-eyed view of the game’s bigger picture.
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Irish Rugby, Ambition and the Road Still Ahead
Brendan Fanning looks at Irish rugby’s transformation from struggling professional era to modern contender, while asking what success really means. Insightful and readable, this is a strong pick for rugby fans who want context, personality and a clear-eyed view of the game’s bigger picture.
- Book Synopsis
-
Ideal for readers who:
- Follow Irish rugby books that go beyond match results
- Are interested in the long pursuit of World Cup breakthrough
- Enjoy sport writing rooted in the rise of modern Irish rugby
- Want an informed, readable look at ambition, pressure and progress
Ireland went to the 2023 Rugby World Cup as the number one ranked team in the world. They had a unique Test series win in New Zealand on their list of achievements; they were the reigning Grand Slam holders; and still they came home early. Getting to the last four has become an obsession.
But is this the only measure of success? This ambition is a country mile removed from the awfulness of Irish rugby as the game went from amateur to professional during the nineties. We were all over the shop, and the men behind the counter were lost and disgruntled. But by the arrival of the Six Nations in 2000, pain gave way to change.
There were real signs of growth. From Eddie O'sullivan, who kicked it off and then was deported to a limbo where he couldn't get a decent job, to men of massive influence like Joe Schmidt and Stuart Lancaster, to David Nucifora - the first tsar of Irish rugby in the pro era - rugby here became unrecognisable from its old days.
But with the clock already counting down to the 2027 World Cup in Australia, where are Ireland on their race to the top? And is glory finally within reach?
- About The Author
- Brendan Fanning has been involved in rugby all of his life as a player, coach and journalist. He was rugby correspondent for the Sunday Independent for almost thirty years up until 2024 and has been reporting on the game since the mid-1980s. From There to Here, the definitive account of Ireland's transition from amateur to professional rugby, was published to critical acclaim. He also wrote Crossing the Line, the bestselling autobiography of Willie Anderson.
- Product Details
-
- ISBN
- 9781804583524
- Format
- Paperback
- Publisher
- Gill Books, (17 October 2025)
- Number of Pages
- 320
- Weight
- 337 grams
- Language
- English
- Dimensions
- 234 x 153 mm
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