Art of Coarse Rugby

Art of Coarse

by Michael Frederick Green

"One of the funniest books about any game". - Sunday Express This best-selling classic, now updated for the Coarse Rugby player of the 1990s, includes all of the truly fine points of the game.

Genres: Humor, Sports

Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Michael Frederick Green ( 2 January 1927 - 25 February 2018) was a British journalist and author of humorous books. He is best known for The Art of Coarse Rugby, The Art of Coarse Acting and other books with similar titles.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gentle and amusing look at the lower level games of rugby that occur on various windswept fields during the winter months in England. Quick read, some chortles, mild entertainment.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, written at a time when swearing wasn't the "in thing" as it so unnecessarily is today. And the book doesn't need it, just ones imagination. If you enjoy rugby Union at all levels you'll enjoy this book.

[Matthew Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have the 9th impression given to my dad by my mum in 1963. She signed it with love from a secret admirer! Very funny book and loved by my dad a veteran of the old Albanians. He gave up when his boss told him he needed to chose between rugby and his career as a solicitor.

[Paul Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

It spawned a series of Art of Coarse books but it has not really stood the test of time. He was an excellent journalist in his day and a very engaging individual.

[Peat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book far too much but it never ceases to amuse and in some cases, amaze. In the decade or so I've been playing 2s rugby the level of seriousness has increased hugely but even so, some parts still feel uncannily true. Other parts don't but I don't doubt them.

In any case, this is a book both detailing what it was like to play very lower level rugby back in the godknowswhens, and how to win. The latter is mainly about clever ways to cheat and demoralise your opponents; the former is mainly corroborating evidence for Oscar Wilde's statement about 30 bullies. Or the t-shirt legend that my drinking club has a rugby problem. The topic should largely determine the audience, but even non-rugby fans will probably get a few laughs out of Green's descriptions.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely splendid look at rugby as played by any number of people for friendly matches. Wheezes like getting the other team drunk or impressing them into losing are given and funny incidents reported. Rules? Well he seems to know them, but they are better seen in the breach than the observance.
The only funnier book about rugby you'll find is Even Coarser Rugby.

Green's strength is his sporting guides and try Art of Coarse Sailing for a pleasantly contrasting great read.

[Mark Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely appealed to my British sense of humor. Found myself laughing out loud a lot. One of the few books I have read multiple times.

[Graham Mcmillan-cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant. Even clear to one who still cannot spot fouls, infringements et al.....