Jerome J. Rahilly "Rugby Football" 1904

I love old rugby books !

This one is an early coaching and training book written by Jerome J.Rahilly, captain of London Irish Rugby F. C., published in 1904.

Fifteen chapters... but only one illustration except this fine cover... I- History of the Game. II- The Style of Play. III- The Player. IV- Full Back. V- Threequarters. VI- Half Backs. VII- Forwards. VIII- The Captain. IX- Kicking. X- Passing. XI- Training for Football. XII- The Referee. XIII- Rules. XIV- List of Winners. XV- The Game in Other Countries.

Lot of technical stuff but also interesting dietary recommendations for rugby players..."Tea : consists of eggs, fish or poultry, toast or crust of bread. The crumb should always be toasted and the crust eaten stale, not new. Watercress is allowed, but very little if any butter" or "Spirit drinking I do not believe in, but beer does no harm, if taken at regular times, and with meals. It is indiscriminate or excessive drinking at odd times that does the mischief with the footballer".

Comments

[PaulHP]

Hi, have you managed to get a copy of this very expensive book? Also what is the picture inside of?

[Frederic (www.rugby-pioneers.com)]

Yep Paul, I received this book... last week...

The only illustration inside is a verybbasic sketch of a rugby ground to indicate dimensions and lines... Frustrating if, like me, you like pictures and illustrations but the text is very interesting and well written...

[PaulHP]

Thanks Frederic. I was hoping that it would have a London Irish picture or two in it. It's one of the books I keep hoping that one day I'll find cheap in a second hand book shop. Cheers Paul

[Frederic (www.rugby-pioneers.com)]

Theres one copy for sale on eBay at the moment at a reasonable 150£. Cf link for detailshttp://cgi.ebay.fr/1904-RUGBY-FOOTBALL-by-Jerome-J-RAHILLY-Sport-History-London-Irish-/250934487868

[PaulHP]

Thanks for the link, unfortunately it is the wrong time of year for me to spend £150 on a book.
Does it say in the book what Jerome's profession was?

[Frederic (www.rugby-pioneers.com)]

I can surely understand !

Back to your question : theres nothing personnal about Rahilly in this book... nor anything about London Irish FC...

btw, did you check that earlier story about London Irish FC playing in Paris in 1899 http://rugby-pioneers.blogs.com/rugby/2011/05/1899.html ?

[PaulHP]

Thanks for looking.

I certainly did; and I also included the link to it (and some other newspaper articles) in an email about London Irish playing in France to the LI press department, in an attempt to get them to change the clubs website history section. As of yet they still haven't amended it.

From what I can work out they played a match in England on the Saturday, travelled overnight, and played Racing on the Sunday (and did so until at least 1911).