No Helmets Required author Gavin Willacy is heading to two major US colleges Stanford and USC to promote his American All Stars book.

The book tells the remarkable story of 20 young American footballers - most of whom hailed from the two Californian colleges - and how they were convinced by former USC Trojan Mike Dimitro to to fly off to compete against Australia, New Zealand and France at rugby league, despite most of them never having heard of the game.

Miraculously, the American All Stars competed with the best Australia, New Zealand and France had to offer, and shocked the locals with some stunning victories.

Yet beyond the media circus and celebrity adventures, the All Stars had fights and flings, suffered tragic illness and farcical court cases.

Dimitro's mission to establish rugby league in the United States failed in spectacular fashion - though one All Star went on to win the Super Bowl, one became a Hollywood stuntman and another an Olympic champion. One player founded a church; another was murdered.

The book has received critical acclaim in the UK from the BBC, several national newspapers and magazines and many rugby league columnists and commentators.

Willacy will be at Stanford Bookstore (519 Lasuen Mall, Stanford, CA 94305) on Wednesday 5th March at 6pm - and a week later he will visit the USC Bookstore on Thursday 13th March, also at 6pm

Alongside Dimitro the following USC Trojans also feature in the book: Al Abajian, Bob Buckley, Edwin Cheldin, Ed Demirjian, Landon Exley, Harold Han, Al Kirkland, Sol Naumu, Tony Rappa, Leon Sellers, Norm Stocks and Harry Taylor.

Hall of Fame inductee Gary Kerkorian is the most famous Stanford alumni, while Al Kirkland, Pat Henry, Jack Bonetti,  Vince Jones and Sam Grossman also feature.

Click here for more information on No Helmets Required.