We are always trying to find ways of getting our sport to a bigger audience, I might be bias because I am a writer myself, but I think one way would be to increase the number and quality of the books on Rugby League out there. That got me to thinking about the books that are already out there, has anyone read any Rugby League books they would particularly recommend? Other than biographies are there that many books out there???

Aside from the Autobio's, no I haven't...a gap in the market perhaps? Id like to write a book on RL...a view from the stand sort of thing...but Id have no idea where to start!

Has anybody read inverting the pyramid?

I would be interested to read an RL equivalent.

rugbyleaguebooks.com/ You may find this site useful pal.

rugbyleaguebooks.com/ You may find this site useful pal.

I've got it on my book shelf but not read it yet, yeah it would be interesting to do an RL equivalent as to how tactics have changed and often no doubt come full circle.

My book 'Spirit of 55' sounds like the sort of thing you mean, I wrote it from the point of view of a Wire fan. Last season I wrote reports on each Wire match and the local paper published them on their website, these reports formed the basis of the book, but I added plenty of chapters on comments on RL in general and life as a Wire fan, I also looked at other sports teams who have had to suffer incredibly long waits for the ultimate success. That book was published early this year and this season my reports appear in the local paper itself. It might be an idea for you to contact your local paper and see if they'll put your reports on the website, they should be able to monitor how many people are reading them.

I wanted to get Gordon Tallis' book for my dad for Christmas last year, but couldn't find it anywhere - not without paying a fortune to get it shipped over from Oz, anyone have it or seen it anywhere to buy in the UK?

Roamin the range together: Part one - living in the shadow of giants (1950- 1980)
Roamin the range together: part two - going down the boulevard (1980 - 2005)

Both good reads

Up & Over by Dave Hadfield - which follows his 2003 charity trek to visit different rugby league towns is a good read.

At the George by Geoffrey Moorhouse - a collection of interesting essays about RL, albeit was written in 1989.

This Sporting Life by David Storey - well worth a read along with seeing the film.

Its also worth a look at London League Publications Ltd(llpshop.co.uk) who have a wide variety of titles covering historic aspects of RL.

Not sure if it's still available, but the "Chris Joint's involuntary tackle" thread was a cracking read

As well as London League Publications already mentioned, THE place where Rugby League books are taken seriously is Scratching Shed Publications [urlhttp://www.scratchingshedpublishing.com/[/url.As well as the excellent Forty-20 magazine there is a real drive to publish a wide variety of books on our game, run by people who really love the game.

I'm led to believe this is quite good : ) www.totalrl.com/shop/criticalhistory.html

I'm led to believe this is quite good : ) www.totalrl.com/shop/criticalhistory.html

It is excellent, really enjoyed it.

Thanks for this. Very helpful. Definitely worth looking into.

Thank you! (if you were referring to my book...)

I have no idea whether it is any good, but I did hear one author promoting his book called 'No Helmets Required'. The description reads....

Sixty years on from 1950s Los Angeles, No Helmets Required tells the story of 20 young American footballers convinced by entrepreneur Mike Dimitro to fly off around the world playing rugby league - a game they'd never even heard of. Miraculously, the American All Stars competed with the best Australia, New Zealand and France had to offer, and shocked the locals with some stunning victories. Yet beyond the media circus and celebrity adventures, the All Stars had fights and flings, suffered tragic illness and farcical court cases. Dimitro's mission to establish rugby league in the United States failed in spectacular fashion - though one All Star went on to win the Super Bowl, one became a Hollywood stuntman and another an Olympic champion. One player founded a church; another was murdered. The emergence of their remarkable story coincides with the USA's first ever qualification for the Rugby League World Cup, in 2013.

Sounds interesting to me.

Try the Forbidden Game.

Not so much an 'RL book' but Tawera Nikau's Standing Tall is a cracking read.

The only one I can think of that wasn't a biography as such was "Rugby League, The Family Game" . It was basically accounts of what used to happen in the 70's/80's in the stands and it was quite an enjoyable read.

'The Mighty Bev' All about Brian Bevans Career, and a really enjoyable read.

20k plus packed into Wilderspool each week ? 102k at Odsal ? 30k at Hilton Park ?

The game must have gone downhill in its appeal since, thats for sure !

The Forbidden Game was a bit heavy going for me.

Up and Over by Dave Hadfield is excellent.

Ive got one about the Super League split in Oz called 'The Super League War' which I bought in Oz about 12 years ago which is excellent.

Don't Die With The Music In You by Wayne Bennett