This volume investigates the historical development of rugby union in Australia and the individual contributions of the athletes who defined the sport. Jack Pollard, a noted sports historian and journalist, compiles extensive records and biographical sketches to document the evolution of the game from its colonial origins to the mid-1980s. The work serves as a comprehensive reference, utilizing archival data and player profiles to map the growth of the sport within the Australian national consciousness.

The text functions as a dense, archival resource that provides a foundational look at the sport's early professional era. Its focus on historical documentation and player statistics makes it a useful reference for those researching the origins of Australian rugby union.