No Helmets Required: The Remarkable Story of the American All Stars by Gavin Willacy

57 in stock

241mm x 165mm x 22mm

Pages: 256

The remarkable story of 20 young American football players, convinced to compete internationally in rugbyGÇöa game theyGÇÖd never heard of

In 1950s Los Angeles, entrepreneur Mike Dimitro convinced a group of young American athletes to fly around the world playing rugby league, a game that was entirely new to them. Miraculously, the American All Stars competed with the best Australia, New Zealand, and France had to offer, and shocked the locals with some stunning victories. This story tells not only of the media circus and celebrity adventures, but also the All StarsGÇÖ fights and flings, tragic illnesses, and farcical court cases. DimitroGÇÖs mission to establish a rugby league in the United States failed in spectacular fashionGÇöthough one All Star went on to win the Super Bowl, one became a Hollywood stuntman, and another an Olympic champion. The emergence of their remarkable story coincides with the United StatesGÇÖs first ever qualification for the Rugby League World Cup, in 2013.