among of my many favorites.... ' empire of the sun' (has anyone mentioned it?) - one of speilberg's best.

It would be long to be sure. I think it would have been a better choice than Clear and Present Danger

Harold Coyle...awesome writer. Ever read Sword Point and Bright Star? Or, the Ten Thousand?

I read or have a copy of every thing Coyle has written. He is second in my book to Clancy. I read all of Clancy's I have to catch up with Coyle.

Coyle:
Team Yankee
Sword Point
Bright Star
Trial By Fire
The Ten Thousand
Code of Honor
Look Away (civil war)
Untill The End (civil war)
Savage Wilderness
God's Children
Dead Hand

Yet to read Against All Enemies, More Than Courage, and They Are Soldiers.

The sport being played was neither rugby or soccer. Its an Irish sport called Gaelic football. Only played in Ireland or cities where there are a lot of Irish (Glasgow, London, Boston, New York, etc.).
Probably the closest sport to gaelic football is Aussie rules. Every year, there is a mixed rules game between Ireland and Australia .. the best players from both leagues are picked. Its the only international level for both sports. No padding rules!!!! :-) :-) :-)

I have three

First is -
the obvious saving private ryan for accuracy and drama with lots of action

Second is -
Harts War, just for the different angle of a war movie

Finally there is -
Platoon for the gut wrenching feeling you get watching it (caused almost entirely by the phenominal soundtrack)