The winter game : rediscovering the passion of rugby

Rugby has been central to the life of New Zealander Todd Nicholls and, indeed, to that of his country.

Yet since the advent of professionalism, it appeared to him that the essence and uniqueness of the game had been lost.

It was now all about money and entertainment rather than the manly endeavour it had once been.

In an effort to discover whether the spirit that made the game great still existed, Todd embarked on a two-year odyssey over both hemispheres that saw him not only rediscover his passion but also uncover why the sport had changed.

During his journey, Todd examines the state of the game in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, the European continent and in Britain and Ireland, and he provides a blistering appraisal of the issues facing rugby today.

Including interviews with past and present rugby giants such as Brian O'Driscoll, Tana Umaga, Sir Clive Woodward, Graham Henry, Lawrence Dallaglio, Richard McCaw, Willie John McBride, Colin Meads, Jack Kyle, Sean Fitzpatrick, Gavin Hastings, Justin Marshall, Dan Carter and Martyn Williams, "The Winter Game" is for anyone who cares about rugby.