Attacking the Space
Inside Rugby's Tactical and Data Revolution - 'Illuminating' Eddie Jones
Published on 29. January 2026
Book
Hardback
384 pages
978-1-3996-2509-8 (ISBN)
Description
A FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE WEEK
'Illuminating' Eddie Jones
'Fantastic, a must-read for rugby fans' Ben Youngs
'Essential reading... reveals rugby's secrets' Financial Times
'Well written, insightful and thought-provoking' The Guardian
'Quite literally, the book on data in rugby' Irish Times
______________________________
Does it matter which foot your fly-half kicks with? How can teams win matches when the clock stops? Why don't wingers actually play on the wing? Does having more possession increase a team's chances of winning?
Leading data analyst Sam Larner lifts the lid on international rugby, using his decade of experience at the professional level to reveal the tactical and data revolution that has taken the sport by storm. Sharing ground-breaking insight into the modern game, Sam explores the exciting innovations players and clubs are currently using to improve their gameplay. He analyses the metrics by which teams succeed and fail in their attempts to win metres, tries and matches, as well as why recent law changes are so important for rugby's development and what a data-driven future holds for the sport.
With each chapter focusing on a different match, such as France facing the All Blacks in 2023 and Wales' remarkable comeback against England at the 2008 Six Nations, Attacking the Space is revolutionary in its approach as the first book to tackle rugby's new obsession with data and tactics. It takes readers on a fascinating tour of modern rugby to offer a twenty-first century overview of one of the world's most exciting sports. This is rugby as you've never seen it before.
'Illuminating' Eddie Jones
'Fantastic, a must-read for rugby fans' Ben Youngs
'Essential reading... reveals rugby's secrets' Financial Times
'Well written, insightful and thought-provoking' The Guardian
'Quite literally, the book on data in rugby' Irish Times
______________________________
Does it matter which foot your fly-half kicks with? How can teams win matches when the clock stops? Why don't wingers actually play on the wing? Does having more possession increase a team's chances of winning?
Leading data analyst Sam Larner lifts the lid on international rugby, using his decade of experience at the professional level to reveal the tactical and data revolution that has taken the sport by storm. Sharing ground-breaking insight into the modern game, Sam explores the exciting innovations players and clubs are currently using to improve their gameplay. He analyses the metrics by which teams succeed and fail in their attempts to win metres, tries and matches, as well as why recent law changes are so important for rugby's development and what a data-driven future holds for the sport.
With each chapter focusing on a different match, such as France facing the All Blacks in 2023 and Wales' remarkable comeback against England at the 2008 Six Nations, Attacking the Space is revolutionary in its approach as the first book to tackle rugby's new obsession with data and tactics. It takes readers on a fascinating tour of modern rugby to offer a twenty-first century overview of one of the world's most exciting sports. This is rugby as you've never seen it before.
Reviews / Votes
The game of rugby has changed. Scrums take longer, we no longer ruck, and 9s put the ball into the second row. But it's still as intoxicating as ever. Attacking the Space is an illuminating description of how this has happened and where we go next. * Eddie Jones, Australian Rugby Coach * It's not just that Sam is a rugby expert. It's that he can explain the game to fans, both new and old, in a way very few can. This is a brilliantly insightful read for anyone interested in rugby. * Paul Williams, author of Rugby Has F***ing Laws, Not Rules & Rugby Was F***ing Better When... * If you love rugby and always wonder why players/teams are playing certain ways, then this is a must read. Sam's detail and understanding of the game will open your eyes to see how we as professional players play the game. * Jimmy Gopperth, New Zealand Rugby Player * Sam is one of the brightest minds in rugby, and it's no surprise that he has produced this invaluable book - a brilliant resources for anyone interested in rugby at the highest level. * Bernard Jackman, Irish former rugby union player * Fantastic insight into how the game has evolved, a must-read for rugby fans. * Ben Youngs, former England rugby player * A compelling new book... examines the type of processes which will go into players like regular wing Tommy Freeman and dynamic newcomer Noah Caluori * Metro * '[Larner] has a brain the size of a planet... [Attacking the Space] is well written, insightful and thought-provoking... Yorkshire-based Larner is a child of the digital generation. He loves data and knows the value of a box kick to the nearest decimal point... Very interesting.' * Robert Kitson, The Guardian * Attacking the Space is part of a trend aiming to satisfy sports fans' demand for more rigorous, statistical pundity. It's also the first book from a major publishing house to explore data in rugby... it is a book for those who want to understand what really happens on the pitch. Ahead of the Six Nations, it is also essential reading... Larner's book reveals rugby's secrets, and distils why the sport has never been better. * Daniel Rey, Financial Times * Sam Larner has, quite literally, written the book on data in rugby. * The Irish Times, Counter Ruck Podcast *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Product notice
Trade binding
Illustrations
Integrated Images
Dimensions
Height: 237 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 39 mm
Weight
588 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3996-2509-8 (9781399625098)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Sam Larner
Attacking the Space
Inside Rugby's Tactical and Data Revolution - 'Illuminating' Eddie Jones
E-Book
01/2026
Seven Dials
€16.99
Available for download
Persons
Sam Larner is a rugby journalist, analyst and coach. He has written for Rugby World, Rugby Pass, The Six Nations, and the Rugby World Cup. He has also presented Beyond80, an analysis and data show for World Rugby at both the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and the 2024 Six Nations. He uses data and analysis to uncover what really happens in rugby matches, working with pro players and teams to help them understand what the data is saying and ultimately improve their chances of success. But, he gets just as much pleasure helping a newcomer to the sport pick their way through what can, on the surface, appear a complex game!
Attacking the Space is his first book.
Attacking the Space is his first book.