Academic conference : 11鈥�12 September 2015

The academic conference of The World in Union Global Rugby Summit: Past, Present and Future was organised by The Centre of Sport, Tourism and Leisure Studies and The Centre for Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine.

Welcome reception and Bloomsbury Press book launch

All delegates to the academic conference were invited to a book launch reception 6–7.30pm at the Falmer Sports Pavilion on 10 September 2015.

Tony Collins is Professor of the Social History of Sport at Leeds Metropolitan University. He is the author of Rugby's Great Split; Mud, Sweat and Beers: A cultural history of sport and alcohol; Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain; A Social History of English Rugby Union; and 1895 and All That.

Keynote speakers

Keynote details
Name	Organisation	Title of presentation
Professor Tony Colliins	De Montfort University	Rugby Union and Rugby League: From Embattled History to Professionalism
Dr Farah R. Palmer	Massey University, New Zealand	The impact of rugby on cultural identity, wellbeing and leadership: A case study of the Māori All Blacks

Academic conference feature speakers

Speaker details
Title of presentation	Speaker
Rugby Union and Rugby League: From Embattled History to Professionalism	Professor Tony Collins, De Montfort University
The Impact of Rugby on Cultural Identity, Wellbeing and Leadership: A Case Study of the Maori All Blacks	Farah Palmer, Massey University, New Zealand
Amateurism : The 20-Year Hangover	Huw Richards, Award-Winning Rugby Journalist
The Rugby World Cup As Global Mega Event	Kamilla Swart, Cape Peninsula University of Technology
The World Rugby Museum as a Global Research Resource	Michael Rowe, World Rugby Museum, Twickenham
The Emergence of Rugby Union in Brazil 1891-1933	Victor Sa Ramalho Antonio, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil
Samoan Rugby: Culture as Strength	Julien Clement, Musee du quai Branly, France
Touch Rugby and Progressive Politics in South Africa's Transition from Apartheid to Democracy: A Durban Case Study, 1985-2000	Robert Morrell, University of Cape Town
On a Wing and a Prayer: Exploring the Interface Between Professional Rugby and Religion in Afrikaner Society in South Africa	Albert Grundlingh, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
The Impact of the Professional Era on Pacific Islands Rugby	Robert Dewey, DePauw University, USA
Celebrating Heroes and Legends: Sports Halls of Fame	Professor Terry Stevens, MD Stevens & Assoc. and 黑料吃瓜网
Cows in the Heartland: New Zealand Rugby and Rural Change in the Professional	Professor Greg Ryan, Lincoln University, New Zealand
On a Wing and a Prayer: Exploring the Interface Between Professional Rugby and Religion in Afrikaner Society in South Afri Dr Robert Dewey, DePauw University, USA ca	Professor Albert Grundlingh, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
The Impact of the Professional Era on Pacific Islands Rugby	Dr Robert Dewey, DePauw University, USA