Muddied Oafs : The Last Days of Rugger

Rating:
Summary: Gets to the heart of the game
Review: Beard uses a mixed chronology of his career, having played for a lot of different kinds of clubs in a number of countries, to tell the story of rugby at the nexus of the amateur and professional games. The benefits of professionalism are transparent; more entertaining televised games, higher atheletic standards, etc. But the weakening of the local club in the major rugby playing nations is the focus of the book. The value seen in rugby for building character, and of the clubs in building lasting community, carries over to American rugby quite strongly. Why the game attracts such different, remarkable individuals is summed up well in the passage,

"At the amateur level, rugby sets the players at odds
with society. Doing anything not for money is odd,
but we're doing something seriously and not for money,
with the risk of getting hurt, and not for money."

Beard does touch upon both the good and bad of the amateur game, discussing not just the constant innovation or the outlet it provides young adults, but also topics such as the excess drinking. Overall, "Muddied Oafs" is a nice, well-told story of rugby and why it is such a big deal to so many people.