The Rygbimogion — Peter Murphy

Rugby is a minority sport in the US, but one growing in popularity. The US also has a minority population who trace their descent to Wales. This book is about Welsh rugby. But you don't need to be in the minority to enjoy it. The Rygbimogion is a spoof, a send-up, though a loving and gentle one, of Arthurian tales of derring-do in general, and of the Mabinogion, the great Welsh Arthurian-style tales, in particular.The author claims to have discovered a long-hidden cache of tales, which prove that rugby was played in Wales in those remote Arthurian times. Those were the days before the English came, the days when every Cartref in Wales had its rugby teams, the days when young men won the love of maidens by their prowess on the rugby field rather than the battle field, often aided by benevolent animals and the magical talents of the maidens themselves.As Nigel Owens, one of the greatest rugby referees of all time, puts it: 'Imagine the Mabinogion with rugby instead of battles, rugby stars instead of knights errant, famous feats on the rugby pitch instead of deeds of knightly derring-do. But imagine, too, that there is still a full quota of dragons, other mystical creatures, magicians, bards, and maidens with extraordinary gifts. You've just imagined the Rygbimogion. Pedr ap Rhys gives us delightful, affectionate stories of Welsh rugby in Arthurian times. We all know that Wales is the true home of rugby – we just didn't know how far back it goes.'