THE eighth World Cup was recently a roaring success but a book chronicling a tournament that can claim to be the first global competition will be launched at Rodney Parade, one of its venues, a week on Monday.
'The King's Cup 1919' has been compiled by Howard Evans and Phil Atkinson and details the tournament that took place after the First World War.
King George V was so enthused by the proposed competition that he agreed to have the tournament named after him.
It featured Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, the Royal Air Force and South Africa while the decision was made to create a 'Mother Country' team rather than field England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
While the final between New Zealand and France was played at Twickenham, fixtures also took place in Swansea and Newport with the Australians and South Africa locking horns in a nip-and-tuck encounter at Rodney Parade.
The book features chapters on all of the teams, details of every fixture and over 140 photos and illustrations.
It is being launched by St David's Press in Association with the Friends of Newport Rugby Trust and the Rugby Memorabilia Society at Rodney Parade at 7pm on Monday, December 14. Those interested in attending should contact kevin.jarvis@ntlworld.com
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