The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records by John Griffiths
The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records
The Uncompromised, Definitive Statistical Compendium of International Rugby History and the Inaugural 1987 World Cup
The Uncompromised, Definitive Statistical Compendium of International Rugby History and the Inaugural 1987 World Cup
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records
- Author: John Griffiths
- Publisher: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd / Phoenix House, London
- Publication Date: 29 October 1987
- ISBN-10: 0460070037
- ISBN-13: 9780460070034
- Edition Details: First Edition, First Printing. Highly coveted vintage reference compilation.
- Binding: Original publisher's premium blue cloth-bound hardcover casing with crisp gold-stamped spine lettering.
- Physical Format: Quarto (4to), 640 pages. Extensively formatted with comprehensive data matrices, historical point logs, national match records, and definitive player caps layout templates.
- Language: English [1, 2, 3, 4]
Official Condition Report
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The Book: Used - Very Good (VG)
- Exterior / Boards: Die oorspronklike blou hardebandvleuels is in 'n baie goeie toestand. Dit vertoon plat, skoon en vierkantig, met slegs ligte, oppervlakkige stoor- of rakrywing (slight shelf wear) langs die onderste rante, heeltemal in lyn met 'n gerespekteerde naslaanwerk van amper veertig jaar oud. Die rugkant is heeltemal stewig, perfek reguit en toon geen tekens van vertikale bindingverslapping nie.
- Interior: Die interne teksblok is skoon, deeglik onderhou en baie stewig gebind. Al 640 hoëgehalte-bladsye is heeltemal skoon en volledig intact, sonder enige potloodmerke, moderne eienaarsinskripsies, inkvlekke, biblioteekstempels of gevoude bladsyhoeke. [1]
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The Dust Jacket: Used - Very Good (VG)
- Condition Detail: Die oorspronklike geïllustreerde papierstofomslag is volledig teenwoordig en toon slegs minimale rakslytasie en ligte hanteringsmerke langs die rante weens jarelange veilige bewaring op die rak. Die kleure bly helder en dit is heeltemal vry van ernstige sonverbleiking of groot oop skeurmerke. [1]
Synopsis & Historical Value
Published in 1987—released in the immediate, historic aftermath of the groundbreaking inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia—The Phoenix Book of International Rugby Records stands as the absolute "holy grail" of vintage rugby reference literature. This massive, 640-page masterwork acts as the ultimate statistical time capsule, meticulously archiving the complete, raw history of the international game from its very inception in the 19th century up to the dawn of the modern tournament era.
Compiled by the world's premier rugby statistician, John Griffiths, this book strips away narrative fluff to deliver a dense repository of unparalleled rugby data. It breaks down every official Test match, team line-up, historical scorer, and points matrix spanning the Home Nations, the southern hemisphere giants, and emerging rugby frontiers. Crucially, its detailed documentation of the 1987 World Cup—where the New Zealand All Blacks captured the first Webb Ellis Cup—elevates this volume into an essential primary historical record. For rugby union purists, sports historians, and serious collectors of classic antiquarian and vintage sports memorabilia, this first-edition hardcover collectible copy is a wonderful resource book that remains unmatched in its bibliographic context and structural depth.
Author Profile: John Griffiths
John Griffiths is an exceptionally distinguished British author, rugby historian, journalist, and widely recognized as the world's absolute premier statistician on international Rugby Union. Renowned globally for his encyclopedic knowledge of sports mechanics and his long-standing role as the lead compiler for ESPNscrum, Griffiths has authored numerous monumental reference volumes, including The Book of English International Rugby and multiple editions of the amptelike IRB International Rugby Yearbook. [1, 2]
Griffiths’ rigorous archival research methodology, unmatched precision with numeric data, and devotion to cross-checking primary source logs ensure his compilations carry absolute authority. His technical insights and structured data frameworks translate over a century of chaotic, cross-continental match summaries into a highly polished, definitive historical record that forms the bedrock of modern sports trivia indexing.
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