Dragons and All Blacks

Wales v. New Zealand - 1953 and a Century of Rivalry

Huw Richards

Buy from…

Mighty Ape

Find local retailers

‘The Bounce of the Century’ they called it. A ball kicked across Cardiff Arms Park in the dying minutes of a match between two of international rugby’s fiercest rivals. The world’s two greatest wingers waited as it bounced towards them, knowing that whoever caught the ball would score and win the match for his country.Dragons and All Blacks tells what happened when Wales played New Zealand in 1953. The story is written from contemporary accounts and the memories of the men who played that day, including Bob Stuart and Bleddyn Williams, for many of whom the match was the highlight of a career.The book retells the stories of the two teams and the men who played for them, and charts the events of their lives: how they got to that meeting point in Cardiff in December 1953 and what has happened to them in the half-century since.Dragons and All Blacks examines the remarkable relationship between two countries on opposite sides of the world, brought together by a mutual passion for rugby with few parallels elsewhere. It shows how their rivalry has developed over a century – from perhaps the greatest of all rugby matches in 1905 to the single-point thriller of 2004 – and looks to its future in the aftermath of the 2005 Welsh Grand Slam and Lions tour of New Zealand.

Published: 15 November 2005
ISBN: 9781845960261
Imprint: Mainstream Publishing
Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 240
RRP: $34.99

Categories:

Sport

Share…

About the author

Huw Richards

Huw Richards, who assisted Robert Jones in the writing of this book, is the rugby correspondent of the Financial Times and has co-edited Heart and Soul and More Heart and Soul, two critically acclaimed collections of essays on Welsh rugby heroes.

Also by Huw Richards

See all

Praise for Dragons and All Blacks

'Magnificent . . . meticulously researched' - Book of the Week, Daily Telegraph

'Certain to be regarded as a classic in the future' - The Independent

'One of the best sports books of the year' - The Guardian

'You know you've enjoyed a book when you don't want it to end. This is one such book' **** - Rugby World

'I was left in awe of the huge amount of research Richards has put into this book . . . he can write, and write well' - Rugby Times

'A superb exploration of what rugby means in Wales and New Zealand . . . heartily recommended' - Evening Standard

'A brilliant exploration of the two countries on opposite sides of the world who share a fervent passion for rugby . . . a warm and perceptive account' **** - Western Mail