Books about Rugby for children and teens
Rugby books for children and teens go beyond matches. The strongest titles use the sport to explore pressure, friendship, confidence, family and belonging. Some are picture books, some explain rules and tactics, and some use fiction or biography to show ambition and resilience. Rugby gives these books clear structure and momentum, which helps hold attention and makes them appealing to a wide range of young readers.This list features books by Patrick Ness, Alice Oseman, Tom Palmer, Shamini Flint, Adam Hargreaves, Chloe Walsh, Maggie Alphonsi, Rob Burrow, Johnny Sexton, and Gordon D’Arcy.
Rugby themed books for children and teens – our recommendations
Rugby picture books
Let’s Play Rugby! by Gordon D’Arcy and Paul Howard
Gordon D’Arcy and Paul Howard bring rugby to life in this interactive picture book, with vibrant illustrations by Ashwin Chacko. Instead of just reading, kids jump into the action – passing, scrummaging, and scoring as they follow the story. It’s a fun way to pick up the basics of the game while staying active. Released alongside the Six Nations Championship, this book is perfect for little rugby fans (and their energetic families) keen to get stuck in!
Mr Men Little Miss: The Rugby Match by Adam Hargreaves
It is match day for the Mr Men Little Miss rugby team, and Mr Strong needs every player to pull together. Mr Greedy, Mr Tickle and Mr Rush have talents that might help, but Mr Forgetful, Mr Jelly and Mr Bounce bring plenty of comic mishaps to the pitch. It’s a bright, fun introduction to rugby for 3-5 year olds who enjoy familiar characters.
Peppa Plays Rugby by Peppa Pig
Peppa and her friends are ready to learn rugby, with Mummy Rabbit and Miss Rabbit showing them how to catch, pass and kick the ball. Indoors, Daddy Pig and Daddy Rabbit are still watching a match on television, so the question is whether they will make it outside in time to cheer everyone on. A simple, sturdy board book for preschoolers with a cheerful sporting twist.
Rugby books for 7-12 year olds
Diary of a Rugby Champ by Shamini Flint and Sally Heinrich
Marcus Atkinson would rather use his brain for maths than his body for sport, but his endlessly encouraging dad has other ideas. In this illustrated diary story, Marcus is pushed towards rugby and records every misunderstanding, bruise and unlikely breakthrough in his own dryly funny way. A good pick for readers who like sport served with embarrassment, cartoons and a reluctant hero.
Wheelchair Rugby Rush by Jake Maddox
Robinson first tries wheelchair rugby at Super Sports Saturday, but has to move when his family relocates to help his injured grandmother. A new team at an organisation called the Shore gives him another chance to learn the sport and adjust to change at home. Ideal for 9+ year olds, this accessible short-chapter book offers an immersive route into disability sport and resilience. Highly recommended.
Ireland’s Sporting Legends: Ireland’s Call by Paul O’Flynn
Paul O’Flynn recounts Ireland’s 2024 Six Nations campaign for young readers, following the team after World Cup disappointment and the end of Johnny Sexton’s playing career. Perfect for KS2 libraries, it answers the questions facing a changing squad as they try to become back-to-back Six Nations champions. It is a timely and pertinent non-fiction read for rugby fans who want recent results presented as a clear, accessible non-fiction narrative.
Keep Smashing It: Be Strong, Be Brave, Be Confident! by Jodie Ounsley and Becky Grey, illustrated by Dane Thibeault
Jodie Ounsley, famous for her time on Gladiators and in rugby, brings us Keep Smashing It, a guide to boosting self-belief and resilience. Co-written with Becky Grey, the book shares Jodie’s personal journey, packed with advice on tackling challenges, embracing who you are, and chasing your dreams. Her experiences as a profoundly deaf individual add depth to the message of strength, confidence, and persistence in the face of obstacles. Perfect for anyone looking to break barriers and keep going!
Sports Academy: Rugby by Clive Gifford
Clive Gifford explains rugby skills, equipment, rules and major competitions through clear text and step-by-step illustrations. Perfect for 9+ year olds, it is useful for children who want to understand passing, tackling and match structure, and helps them to understand what they are watching or playing. Practical rather than flashy, it gives new players the vocabulary and confidence to follow the game with real knowledge.
The Story of Irish Rugby by Gerard Siggins, illustrated by Graham Corcoran
Rules, history, the four provinces, international tournaments and legendary players are set out in a large-format illustrated guide to Irish rugby. Ideal for 9-12 year olds, it gives young sports fans a clear way into the game’s roots, famous matches and place in Irish life, with Graham Corcoran’s bright artwork keeping the immersive spreads lively and accessible.
Rugby Academy by Tom Palmer
Borderlands First XV want to become the best school rugby team in the world, but many of the boys are also worried about parents serving overseas. A great choice for 9-12 year olds, this exciting trilogy follows Woody, Rory and Owen through thrilling tournament pressure, team conflict and family anxiety, with compelling rugby action written in a dyslexia-friendly style. Highly recommended.
Deadlocked by Tom Palmer
A World Championship trip to New Zealand should be the Borderlands team’s biggest moment, but splits in the squad and fears for their Forces parents leave the boys shaken. For 9-12 year olds, this final Rugby Academy story keeps the match pressure tension high while Owen tries to challenge Jesse and strives hold the team together. A gripping read for upper primary children.
Rampaging Rugby by Robin Bennett, illustrated by Matt Cherry
Cartoons, jokes, player tips and practical explanations make the laws of rugby feel less like a rulebook and more like a lively storyline to the game. Perfect for 7-11 year olds, this Stupendous Sports title covers the spirit of rugby as well as scrums, rucks, tactics and match-day buzzwords.
Ultimate Rugby Superstars by Matt Oldfield and Maggie Alphonsi
Fifty short rugby biographies introduce major union players through true stories, facts and stats, from Siya Kolisi and Jonny Wilkinson to Ellie Kildunne, Antoine Dupont, Emily Scarratt and Brian O’Driscoll. Accessible and easy to dip into for 7-12 year olds, it offers a broad mix of players from different eras, teams and competitions. Highly recommended.
Incredible Rugby by Clive Gifford
Real rugby stories, records and oddities from the men’s, women’s and para games sit alongside famous players, historic matches and stranger moments from the sport’s past and present. It’s a lively and exciting choice for 7-10 year olds – perfect for dipping into, for trivia fans and for less confident readers who like non-fiction they can browse in short bursts.
Gordon’s Game by Gordon D’Arcy and Paul Howard
A rugby-mad boy becomes far less ordinary once he has a ball in his hands, playing for Wexford Wanderers while dreaming of one day wearing the Ireland jersey. Ideal for 9-12 year olds who enjoy funny sports fiction, this lively story follows Gordon’s talent, wild streak and one extraordinary chance to live his biggest rugby dream. Perfect for primary school libraries.
Chasing a Rugby Dream by James Hook, David Brayley
Small, short-sighted Jimmy Joseph dreams of playing for his country, but when an up-and-under in the schoolyard accidentally hits the new head of PE, Mr Kane, his teacher turns into a powerful obstacle. More confident 12+ readers can follow Jimmy’s fight for a fair chance on the rugby field, with bullying, pressure and dirty tactics driving the gripping storyline.
Blowing the Whistle by Gerard Siggins
A new rugby club in Ballyknockshinny gives Kevin, Fiona and their friends a summer project, but an abandoned factory and adult warnings soon turn the story towards mystery as well as sporting excitement. It’s a lively and rewarding pick for 9+ year olds, combining grassroots team-building with a mystery that the town is desperately trying to hide.
With You Every Step by Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield
Friendship, loyalty and support are gathered into a small illustrated gift book to treasure – shaped by the public bond between two rugby league figures and their work around MND. A thoughtful choice for 7+ year olds to share and discuss at home or school, it uses short reflective text and artwork by Rob Biddulph, Reggie Brown, David Litchfield, Gill Smith and Sam Usher. Highly recomended.
Scrum! by Tom Palmer
Steven loves Rugby League because it is tied so closely to his dad, but his mum’s remarriage and a move south leave him facing a new family setup and the unfamiliar world of Rugby Union. This concise and highly readable story for 8+ year olds is ideal for rugby fans who want a dyslexia-friendly read about divided loyalties, two homes and a difficult sporting decision. Highly recommended.
Rugby by Satu Hämeenaho-Fox
Clear photographs and accessible step-by-step graphics comprehensively explain passing, scrums, mauls, lineouts, rugby union, rugby league, tag and touch rugby. Perfect for 7-9 year olds, this chunky visual DK guide helps children understand the rules, skills and major competitions before or after they watch or play a match. It’s a must-have for KS2 and KS3 libraries.
Rugby Redzone by Gerard Siggins
Kim and her friends are training at the mysterious Sports Academy, where eccentric coaches help talented children improve their chosen sports. Amazon UK gives the ebook reading age as 9-12 years, and this second Sports Academy story sends Kim towards Japan and the Rugby World Cup while the group searches for enough players to form a team.
Rugby Spirit by Gerard Siggins
A new school, a new sport and a mysterious boy called Brian leave Eoin with plenty to work out when he starts somewhere everyone seems to care about rugby. Ideal for 10+ year olds, this is the first title in the popular Rugby Spirit series that mixes school sport, bullying, rugby resilience, family questions and a ghostly thread.
Rugby Flyer by Gerard Siggins
Rugby action collides with mystery sleuthing in this exciting adventure book series. Eoin is chosen for a Junior development squad and spends the summer at a Dublin rugby school before travelling with new friends to Twickenham to play and watch rugby. There he meets the ghost of Prince Obolensky, the Russian-born England player remembered for a famous try against New Zealand before his death in the RAF during the Second World War. The fourth Rugby Spirit thriller explores teamwork, friendship, and determination. Highly recommended for less confident readers.
Rugby books for teens
Remarkable Rugby Grounds by Ryan Herman
Eighty rugby grounds take readers around the world, from major international venues to local pitches and club grounds in striking settings. A strong choice for less confident 14+ readers and rugby fans, this illustrated photographic guide includes grounds in New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Argentina and the Six Nations countries, with archive images adding history as well as atmosphere. Thoroughly absorbing stuff.
Who Framed William Webb Ellis by Tony Collins
Rugby’s origin story becomes the starting point for a lively investigation into the myths, arguments and oddities behind the game. Ideal for 14+ year olds KS4 and sixth-form readers, it explores William Webb Ellis, the split between union and league, the British Lions, drop-goals, scrums and the cultural stories that pervade the world of rugby.
Different for Boys by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Tea Bendix
Ant Stevenson is trying to understand desire, friendship and the questions people rarely answer plainly for boys who like boys. A punchy choice for 14+ year olds, this moving story follows Ant’s complicated relationships with Charlie, Jack and Freddie while exploring sexuality, prejudice, toxic masculinity and the visceral pull of the rugby team.
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
When Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson are made to sit together at school, a friendship grows into something more complicated as Charlie falls for Nick and Nick begins to understand his own feelings. Perfect for 13+ readers, this sensitive LGBT graphic novel uses school, rugby, friendship and first love to begin Nick and Charlie’s story. A modern classic.
Winger by Andrew Smith
Fourteen-year-old Ryan Dean West is two years younger than his classmates, stuck in Opportunity Hall at Pine Mountain and playing wing for the school rugby team. A strong KS4 choice for 14+ readers, this illustrated boarding-school novel mixes rugby, comic embarrassment, first love and friendship before exploring more hard-hitting sporting themes.
Stand-off by Andrew Smith
Senior year brings Ryan Dean West the rugby captaincy, the stand-off position once played by Joey and a new 12-year-old roommate, Sam Abernathy. Suitable for 14+ year olds, this rip-roaring sequel keeps the boarding-school rugby setting while examining grief, anxiety, friendship and Ryan Dean’s fear of losing Annie too.
Rugby books for sixth-formers
Binding 13 by Chloe Walsh
Shannon Lynch arrives at Tommen College after years of bullying and violence at home, while Johnny Kavanagh is a 17-year-old rugby player dealing with injury and pressure. This long, intense and addictive romance seethes in an Irish secondary-school setting with difficult and relatable relationship dynamics. The ideal sixth-form rugby binge-read.
Game Changer by Ellie Kildunne
Ellie Kildunne tells her gripping and moving life story of starting rugby at six in a boys’ team in Yorkshire, then finding a pathway into girls’ rugby through local U15 trials. Her page-turning autobiography covers prejudice, injury, ADHD, elite training and the drive behind her England career. Ideal for 14+ readers, it is a grounded choice for students interested in women’s sport, ambition and what high-level rugby demands. Highly recommended.
Tackled by Trouble by Beatrice Bradshaw
Brodie MacRae is a rugby player trying to repair his career after an old gambling scandal, while new agent Charlie Harrington is the woman he blames for the damage. Their contract forces them into a volatile professional relationship in a thrilling Scottish rugby setting. It’s a great binge read for more mature adult sixth-formers who enjoy passionate enemies-to-lovers sports romance.
The Only Way I Know by Andy Farrell
Andy Farrell’s frank autobiography traces a remarkable sporting life, from making his Wigan Warriors debut at 16 to becoming a major figure in both rugby codes. He writes about early responsibility, the move from league to union, family life and the leadership lessons behind his coaching career with Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. For sixth-formers, it offers a clear route into how elite sport is shaped by character and mentality, as well as tactics.
Maggie Alphonsi by Maggie Alphonsi and Gavin Mairs
This fascinating autobiography follows Maggie Alphonsi’s rise in women’s rugby, including her place in the England side that won the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Written with rugby journalist Gavin Mairs, it also addresses the racism, sexism and prejudice she faced while becoming one of the sport’s leading players. It’s a strong sixth-form choice for students interested in women’s sport, leadership and barriers within elite competition. Highly recommended.
Into Touch by Nigel McCrery
Nigel McCrery records the lives of 130 rugby internationals who died during the First World War. Linking their sporting careers with military service, it allows readers to understand the scale of wartime loss through real named players rather than statistics alone. Ideal for 14+ year olds, it is a serious, moving and detailed non-fiction read for students interested in rugby history, remembrance or the wider social impact of the Great War.
Obsessed: the Autobiography by Johnny Sexton
Johnny Sexton’s accessible and highly readable autobiography looks back over a career that helped change expectations for Leinster and Ireland, including European Cups, Six Nations titles, Grand Slams and a World Player of the Year award. He writes about childhood, early setbacks, key teammates and coaches, and the demanding mindset behind his success. Best suited to older teens, it is a substantial and rewarding read for students interested in elite performance, leadership and the pressure of high-level rugby.
Scrum Queens by Ali Donnelly
Ali Donnelly traces women’s rugby from the 1880s to the modern professional game and the Olympic sevens era. The book covers key milestones, including early players, the first Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991 and rugby sevens at the 2016 Olympics. Best suited to older teen readers, it gives clear historical context to a long-established part of the sport. Highly recommended.
The Original Rules of Rugby by Jed Smith
This comprehensive compact history reproduces the first rules drawn up at Rugby School in 1845 and the first Rugby Football Union rules from 1871. Jed Smith’s introduction explains how the early laws developed, supported by manuscript images and nineteenth-century illustrations of the game. Ideal for secondary school libraries, it is a fascinating source book for students who want to see how modern game of rugby grew and developed.
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Rugby resources for teachers
- The England Rugby Rugby in Education hub is a strong starting point for schools. It brings together School of Ruck for pupils aged 5 to 16, alongside interactive activities and primary resource packs.
- World Rugby Passport’s T1 Rugby Schools Curriculum is especially useful for staff who want a non-contact route into the sport. The resources were created by World Rugby and the RFU, and are designed by teachers for teachers and young leaders, including those with no previous rugby experience.
- The England Rugby Schools page includes the England Rugby Young Leaders Award, which PE staff can deliver to students over a short series of sessions. It is a practical option for schools that want to build pupil leadership as well as participation.
- For literacy work, the National Literacy Trust’s Rugby Reading Champions programme is well worth using with upper KS2. It is a 10-week reading intervention for children aged 9 to 11, built around reading comprehension, confidence, enjoyment and the core values of rugby.
- Tom Palmer’s literacy resources include free PowerPoints and photocopiable classroom materials, and his rugby literacy pack adds interviews, storylines, quizzes and extract-based activities linked to Rugby Academy and Scrum!.
- Premiership Rugby Champions is a curriculum-based teachers’ resource aimed at primary schools. Premiership Rugby describes it as a free set of interactive, rugby-themed, project-based lesson plans that can be accessed online or through the app.
- Scottish Rugby’s Schools Week resources include separate primary and secondary teacher packs. The primary pack includes game cards and example six-week session plans, while the secondary pack makes clear that previous rugby knowledge is not necessary and that rugby can be delivered in non-contact, touch, tag or tackle formats.
- World Rugby’s online learning modules are one of the best background resources for staff. World Rugby lists more than 32 free modules, including safeguarding, coaching children, first aid in rugby, concussion management and the laws of the game.
- England Rugby’s Activate page is the one to bookmark for warm-ups and injury prevention. The Activate Kids section gives U7 to U12 coaches a framework and ideas for building the programme into training and pre-match preparation.
- For schools delivering contact rugby, or moving older pupils towards it, England Rugby’s age-grade contact training, match load and recovery guidance provides a framework for planning sessions and scheduling game time more safely and sensibly.
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