Rugby aplenty at the booksellers

Press, 1 July 1978, Page 10

Rugby aplenty at the booksellers

Literally speaking, rugby followers have never had it so good. They now have a choice of two weekly publications, the well established “Rugby News’’ and the new Grant Batty brainchild, “Rugby Review.”

Batty, however, is not a man to do things by halves. His Tauranga-based company is also producing a monthly magazine, entitled “New Zealand Rugby,” which has just reached the bookstands — a month late after some teething problems.

One certainly has to admire Batty and his colleagues for their courage in stepping out so boldly into a publishing area which is notorious for its amount of quicksand, most of it of the dollars and cents variety. It is to be sincerely hoped that the twin ventures survive and flourish, for the sport not only needs an informative and interesting press, but in terms of public following, is fully entitled to one. “New Zealand Rugby,” judging by issue one, shows undoubted promise. A talented stable of writers has been recruited, although the honorific of “Mr” might sit uneasily with some of them, and the subject matter is appealingly diverse. There are no fewer than six profiles in the 64 pages, amid other articles of general and topical interest. The past is not forgotten, either, and a story on Lancaster Park is one of three with an historical flavour.

The lay-out, the type and the choice of pictures, including some in colour, are all first-rate and while there must be doubts that at $1.95 “New Zealand Rugby” is going to be a runaway best-seller, the true aficianados should consider the outlay worthwhile. —K.J.M.