This yearbook serves as a definitive record and analytical review of the international and domestic rugby union landscape during the 2001-2002 season. Authors John F. Griffiths and Mick Cleary compile extensive statistical data and expert commentary to document the state of the sport following the 1999 World Cup. The text provides a structured framework for understanding the evolution of professional rugby, balancing high-level international competition analysis with granular domestic club results.

The content provides a dense, data-heavy resource intended for sports historians and dedicated rugby enthusiasts seeking a snapshot of the sport's professionalization era. Its focus on factual accuracy and historical record-keeping makes it a standard reference volume for the period.