Naas by Griffiths, Edward
Naas: The Definitive Profile of South African Rugby’s Outspoken Genius
An Intimate Chronicle of the Brilliance, Tactics, and Controversies of Naas Botha
An Intimate Chronicle of the Brilliance, Tactics, and Controversies of Naas Botha
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Naas
- Author: Edward Griffiths
- Publisher: Leo Publishers, Pretoria
- Publication Date: 1989
- ISBN-10: 0620132248
- ISBN-13: 9780620132244
- Edition Details: First Edition, First Printing. Original English Text Edition.
- Binding: Original publisher’s premium cloth-bound hardcover casing with white title stamping along the spine.
- Physical Format: Octavo (8vo), 256 pages. Thoroughly enhanced with iconic black-and-white match action shots, intimate family archive frames, and full-page color plates capturing milestone career achievements.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
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The Book: Used - Very Good (VG)
- Exterior / Boards: The black cover boards remain exceptionally flat, square, and structurally robust with minimal shelf wear restricted to the bottom shelving edges. The binding is notably tight, strong, and unyielding, showing no vertical spine-lean, crushing, or core degradation.
- Interior: The text block is robustly bound and remarkably clean throughout. The internal pages are entirely free of user underlying, permanent owner name ink stamps, dog-ears, or common dealer pencil markings. A highly presentable copy that has been carefully shelved over the decades.
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The Dust Jacket: Used - Very Good (VG)
- Condition Detail: The original illustrated dust jacket is completely intact and entire, retaining its vivid color contrast. The jacket face panels and spine show light, superficial shelf-rubbing consistent with standard vintage handling, but remain clean, bright, and completely free of heavy edge tears or sun fading.
Synopsis & Historical Value
Published in 1989 right as his extraordinary playing career approached its final chapters, Naas stands as the definitive, contemporary exposure of South African rugby's most phenomenal and polarizing icon: Naas Botha. No other fly-half in the history of the sport has dominated the tactical kicking game so thoroughly, commanded the scoreboard with such ruthless drop-kick precision, or generated as much intense public adoration and fierce controversy.
Acclaimed sports journalist Edward Griffiths captures the essence of this outspoken genius both on and off the field. Bypassing modern retrospective changes, the biography delivers an immediate, raw window into Botha’s complex persona. It carries deep conviction by weaving personal reflections directly from Botha himself with revealing, unfiltered commentary from his family, Northern Transvaal teammates, international rivals, and coaching staff. For rugby historians and collectors of classic Africana sports literature, this first-edition hardcover collectible copy is a critical archive mapping the mind of a legendary general who fundamentally altered how rugby was played.
Author Profile: Edward Griffiths
Edward Griffiths is a highly distinguished South African author, executive administrator, and veteran sports journalist. Throughout his illustrious career, he has authored multiple best-selling biographies of monumental sports personalities, including his seminal work on the history of South African rugby captains. His sharp narrative pacing and investigative depth ensure his profiles cut through standard media cliches to present complex figures with clarity and academic honesty.
Griffiths’ literary talent later paved the way for senior executive roles within global sports bodies, notably serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) during the transformative 1995 Rugby World Cup era, and later heading up administrative structures for elite European clubs like Saracens. His unique inside understanding of rugby politics adds profound strategic depth and professional credibility to this early masterpiece.
naas botha biography edward griffiths used collectible book rare rugby books south africa 1989 leo publishers first edition hardcover northern transvaal springboks 9780620132244 #
