Fancy a quiet read when The Sound of Music is on again? Get stuck into this pile of literature…

(going left to right…)

1. Union, The Heart of Rugby,
Stunning photography and insightful interviews with five giants of the game £25 VSP

2. World Rugby Records 2012,
Chunky and colourful and bursting with rugby records. One for the grandchildren £19.99 Carlton

3. RugbyWorld Yearbook 2012,
Celebrate the winners of 2011 with the popular yearbook in aid of charity Wooden Spoon £20 G2 Entertainment

4. Southern Comfort,
A tribute to the rugby passion of the Scottish Borders, and men like Telfer and McLaren £16.99 Birlinn

5. Jonny Wilkinson – My Autobiography,
Get heavy with the planet’s most famous player. The life story of a tortured soul £20 Headline

6. Michael Owen – My story,
Ex-Wales captain Michael Owen comes to terms with injury after a sparkling career £17.99 John Blake

7. Rugby World Cup 2011,
The story of RWC 2011 as it unfolded. You can still hear the sighs of relief in New Zealand! £20 G2 Entertainment

8. Alun Wyn Jones’s World Cup Year
Relive Wales’ heroic World Cup campaign through the eyes of lock master Alun Wyn £16.99 Gomer Press

9. More Thoughts on Chairmin Moore,
The irrepressible Brian Moore shares his sporting opinions – and wages war on a stalker £18.99 Simon & Schuster

10. Chris Ashton – Splashdown,
From Wigan to Wonderman. Ash the Splash talks tries, dives and RWC heartache £18.99 Simon & Schuster

11. The Springboks and the Holy Grail,
Dan Retief relates South Africa’s journey from outcasts to double world champions £15.99 Zebra Press

12. Higgy – Matches, Microphones and MS,
Alastair’s Hignell’s rollicking ride in sport and broadcasting – and his battle against MS £18.99 Bloomsbury

13. The Greatest Welsh XV ever,
Eddie Butler takes on the impossible task – selecting the best all-time Wales XV £16.99 Gomer Press

14. Boots & Spikes,
The first biography of Welsh legend Ken Jones – 60-odd years after he raced to glory £18.99 Sports Books

15. Mad Dog – An Englishman,
Regrets? I’ve had a few. England’s World Cup skipper on his rumbustious rise  £20 Hodder & Stoughton

16. Engage – The Rise and Fall of Matt Hampson,
Tiger burning bright – Matt Hampson’s unforgettable account of life in a wheelchair £16.99 Simon & Schuster

17. A Question of Sport Quiz book,
You’ve seen Matt Dawson, now put your money where your mouth is. Questions galore! £9.99 BBC Books

18. The Rugby Lovers Companion,
Jocular fun in a quick read designed for the Christmas stocking. Less than a tenner  £9.99 Summersdale

19. Joking Apart,
Test rugby is no cakewalk – Ireland star O’Callaghan lets us in on the frustrations £18.99 Transworld Ireland

20. World Cup rugby Tales,
Laughs and confessions from the World Cup in Dallaglio’s sequel to his 2009 best-seller £18.99 Simon & Schuster

This article appeared in the January 2012 issue of Rugby World Magazine.

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