any ideas on a good Rugby Book

mad_shopaholic

I want to get my boyfriend a rugby book for his birthday but havent a clue about rugby hes big into munster rugby and has the alan quinlan and ronan o gara book already anyone any suggestions?

Fishooks12

The book about Munster beating the AB's is very good

wicklowwonder

mad_shopaholic wrote: »

I want to get my boyfriend a rugby book for his birthday but havent a clue about rugby hes big into munster rugby and has the alan quinlan and ronan o gara book already anyone any suggestions?

Haven't heard of any but I am sure a few books are lined up to come out post-World Cup and in time for the Xmas Market if you can wait that long? Trevor Brennan's books was a great read which would be enjoyed by all rugby fans if he hasn't already read it.

Junior

Stand up and Fight - Alan English is the book about Munster V AB's

Other books well worth a read are ..
From There to Here - Irish Rugby in Pro Era - Brendan Fanning
Rucks and Mauls - Moss Keane
Axel - Anthony Foley
Never Die Wondering - Eddie O'Sullivan
Time Added on - George Hook

Now what ever you might think about Eddie and George, the books are well worth a read. Rucks and Mauls would be my favourite however.

PJ Maybe

I've just started Confessions of a Rugby Mercenary and it seems quite good.

wixfjord

Matt Hampson's new book, while not all about rugby, is supposed to be brilliant.

Whatever you do, stay away from ROG and BOD's efforts. Awful stuff.

durkadurka

Jackmans is pretty poor too.

wixfjord

durkadurka wrote: »

Jackmans is pretty poor too.

Oh i forgot that one, that's worse than the other two.

Cameron Poe

Jackmans is one of the worst books I've ever read.

Heart and Soul, Trevor Brennans book is really good.

Inis Eoghain

Voices from the Back of the Bus: Tall Tales and Hoary Stories from Rugby's Real Heroes by Stewart McKinney. I really enjoyed this book that is made up of short stories from numerous different players

swordofislam

Rugby wisdom. Good toilet book.

UnknownSpecies

Trevor Brennan's and Moss Keane's are both top class.

CoDy1

+1 on Confessions of A Rugby Mercenary, Great read.

CatFromHue

Inis Eoghain wrote: »

Voices from the Back of the Bus: Tall Tales and Hoary Stories from Rugby's Real Heroes by Stewart McKinney. I really enjoyed this book that is made up of short stories from numerous different players

A friend read this and said it was funny.

When Dallaglio turned up to his first England training session he only had 1 or 2 bags and felt like he'd left a pile of stuff behind when Jason Leonard showed up with a few huge bags. Seemingly cos it was Amatuer the RFU would't pay you but would always clean your gear etc. Leonard had showed up with bags full of his curtains from his house to get the RFU to clean them :pac::pac:

chris85

If hes big into Munster I definitely think you should get him the Leinster Heineken Cup DVD currently in the shops :D:D

Webbs

Brian Moores autobiography Beware of the Dog is a superb book well written and gives an insight into what drives a world class player to the heights he hit. Not your usual rugby book of anecdotes and funny stories

mad_shopaholic

thanks everyone for the suggestions! think its between the munster v all blacks one and the confessions of a rugby mercenary one thanks again!

pappyodaniel

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=61350907

totallegend

I really enjoyed ' Winter Colours' by Donald McRae. Not one for the casual rugby fan though.

I think I always side for Sexton in the out half debate because I read O'Gara's book. Eclipsed only by Jackman...

Clearlier

totallegend wrote: »

I really enjoyed ' Winter Colours' by Donald McRae. Not one for the casual rugby fan though.

I think I always side for Sexton in the out half debate because I read O'Gara's book. Eclipsed only by Jackman...

Have you ever read 'In BOD we trust' - possibly the worst book (not just sporting) that I have ever read. Factual errors and sycophantic rubbish abounded.

Boycey2011

The Rugby War by Peter FitzSimons

http://www.harpercollins.com.au/books/Rugby-War-Peter-Fitzsimons/?isbn=9780732278823

JonnyF

totallegend wrote: »

I really enjoyed ' Winter Colours' by Donald McRae. Not one for the casual rugby fan though.

I think I always side for Sexton in the out half debate because I read O'Gara's book. Eclipsed only by Jackman...

Winter Colours is one of my favourite books fullstop. Really well written and a great look at the game and what it tries to represent.

bamboozle

JonnyF wrote: »

Winter Colours is one of my favourite books fullstop. Really well written and a great look at the game and what it tries to represent.

Winter Colours
Diary of a rugby mercenary
From There to Here - Irish Rugby in Pro Era - Brendan Fanning

i've read a fair few sports/rugby books and the 3 above are by far the best I've read

some of the autobiogrophies are dreadful.

JonnyF

O'Gara's book is one of the worst sports books I've ever read. Murder.

GerM

Clearlier wrote: »

Have you ever read 'In BOD we trust' - possibly the worst book (not just sporting) that I have ever read. Factual errors and sycophantic rubbish abounded.

In fairness, that was a biography piggy backing on BOD's popularity. He wasn't involved in it.

I've recently finished Matt Hampson's book. Gut wrenchingly sad whilst also inspiring. No punches pulled and not a sob story for himself. Kimmage did a very good job.

Moss Keane's book was a very good read too. ROG's book was good; a typically honest account of himself so much so that he doesn't necessarily always paint himself in a good light at times. Trevor Brennan's book is another decent read but it does get lost a bit in the working class hero guff and that it was him against the world. Martin Johnson's book, avoid. Dull as dishwater. Dallaglio's is somewhat better, not great. Jackman's book can be condensed into about 50 pages, the rest is just filler but those 50 pages are very interesting.

GerM

Webbs wrote: »

Brian Moores autobiography Beware of the Dog is a superb book well written and gives an insight into what drives a world class player to the heights he hit. Not your usual rugby book of anecdotes and funny stories

Will definitely have to get that. I'm a massive fan of Moore. He's a bit of a focal point for many people to vent their spleen but you have to have the utmost respect for the man and just how far he has come in his life within the game and personally.

Clearlier

GerM wrote: »

In fairness, that was a biography piggy backing on BOD's popularity. He wasn't involved in it.

I've recently finished Matt Hampson's book. Gut wrenchingly sad whilst also inspiring. No punches pulled and not a sob story for himself. Kimmage did a very good job.

Moss Keane's book was a very good read too. ROG's book was good; a typically honest account of himself so much so that he doesn't necessarily always paint himself in a good light at times. Trevor Brennan's book is another decent read but it does get lost a bit in the working class hero guff and that it was him against the world. Martin Johnson's book, avoid. Dull as dishwater. Dallaglio's is somewhat better, not great. Jackman's book can be condensed into about 50 pages, the rest is just filler but those 50 pages are very interesting.

Apologies if I gave the impression that BOD was involved. I wouldn't expect him to be involved in such rubbish in a million years. Incidentally if/when he does do his own definitive book (he did a diary of a year a few years ago I think) I'm not sure it'll be that interesting to read.

Just remembered that I have Axel's book, there's a reason that I forgot about it though..., might be ok for a Munster fan bit like I enjoyed Jackman's book but can see why non-Leinster fans wouldn't be interested. Ditto Paddy John's although that might be tough going even for the Ulster fans.

If we move beyond Irish books then Nigel Owens book is worth a read. Will Greenwood's is total rubbish, very disappointing from a man who comes across as quite thoughtful. Phil Vickery's book is almost as bad as 'In BOD we trust'. Woodward does give insight into his mindset if you can get past the ego. I really enjoyed George Gregan's book 'Half Back, half forward'. I knew almost nothing about him before I read it so found it pretty interesting

GerM

Clearlier wrote: »

Just remembered that I have Axel's book, there's a reason that I forgot about it though..., might be ok for a Munster fan bit like I enjoyed Jackman's book but can see why non-Leinster fans wouldn't be interested. Ditto Paddy John's although that might be tough going even for the Ulster fans.

Foley's is very chip on the shoulder stuff. You can see why he was at the centre of the great Munster side that won the first HEC. It's very much the view that the world is against Munster and that nobody is going to help them but themselves. Not a great book but not the worst one I've read.

Jake White's book is a very good read too now that I remember it. It's astounding to read some of the politics he had to deal with in his time in charge of S.A. The best story I recall was the announcement of the training squad for the 2007 WC when he put together a panel of 35 names for the squad. One of the top brass in the SARU read the squad out at the press conference and called out the 35 before quickly adding in Luke Watson in addition to White's squad. White just sat there listening in shock; he had never put Watson in the squad and had no idea that this was going to happen.

justdoit

GerM wrote: »

In fairness, that was a biography piggy backing on BOD's popularity. He wasn't involved in it.

I've recently finished Matt Hampson's book. Gut wrenchingly sad whilst also inspiring. No punches pulled and not a sob story for himself. Kimmage did a very good job.

Moss Keane's book was a very good read too. ROG's book was good; a typically honest account of himself so much so that he doesn't necessarily always paint himself in a good light at times. Trevor Brennan's book is another decent read but it does get lost a bit in the working class hero guff and that it was him against the world. Martin Johnson's book, avoid. Dull as dishwater. Dallaglio's is somewhat better, not great. Jackman's book can be condensed into about 50 pages, the rest is just filler but those 50 pages are very interesting.

+1 for Engage by Paul Kimmage (the storty of Matt Hampson). Very moving, and a great insight in to life at Leicester, the politics that exist within the RFU etc.

nameandanumber

'100 Irish Rugby Greats' by John Scally is a good book that you can dip in and out of. Each player gets between 2/3 pages with a funny/interesting story...

Link

EKClarke

How about This Sporting Life its a book as well as a movie with Richard Harris. Its about rugby and he was nominated for an Oscar. Great movie.

totallegend

Just finished Leo Cullen's book. If you want to know about Leinster's HC 2011 run in great detail, read it. If you want to know anything else, skip it. It's not Cullen's memoirs; his time in Leicester gets about two pages, HC 2009 gets maybe one page, so it's definitely not one for non-Leinster supporters.

durkadurka

He made a bags of describing the HEC final though, with the exception of half time.

bricky06

george hooks book is a bit of a curve ball here, but its a great read

phog

bricky06 wrote: »

george hooks book is a bit of a curve ball here, but its a great read

It's not really a rugby book but I found it a great read - he was very honest and open in it. I still dont like him as a rugby analyst though.

Teferi

Leo Cullens book is possibly the worst written book I have ever read. They would have been better off getting a ghost writer for it, or even a decent editor. Some of it is truly horrible to get through but there are some very interesting parts. Borrow it or get it cheap but don't lay down much money for it.

bamboozle

Teferi wrote: »

Leo Cullens book is possibly the worst written book I have ever read. They would have been better off getting a ghost writer for it, or even a decent editor. Some of it is truly horrible to get through but there are some very interesting parts. Borrow it or get it cheap but don't lay down much money for it.

just started it over the weekend.

danthefan

Saw there in the Indo today that BOD is doing a book with Paul Kimmage, that'll be released after he retires. Kimmage is a superb writer, might actually be worth reading.

I was given Jackman's book for Xmas last year, it was pretty crap. Wouldn't be bothered with buying any others.

totallegend

Teferi wrote: »

Leo Cullens book is possibly the worst written book I have ever read. They would have been better off getting a ghost writer for it, or even a decent editor. Some of it is truly horrible to get through but there are some very interesting parts. Borrow it or get it cheap but don't lay down much money for it.

I don't think I've ever read a book with more exclamation marks in it.

I'm glad that Kimmage has come out and said that BOD's book won't be released until after he retires, the Sunday Times were saying it would be out in October of this year. I really dislike this practice of guys writing a book while still playing, you're never going to get the full story.

BOD, unlike a lot of other sports stars, actually has a story worth telling and if he's honest and open, it's going to be a cracking book. Kimmage as ghost writer should help as well. I, for one, can't wait to hear what REALLY happened between him and Glenda Gilson

bricky06

phog wrote: »

It's not really a rugby book but I found it a great read - he was very honest and open in it. I still dont like him as a rugby analyst though.

Yeah that's what I meant by curve ball - was in too much of a rush to explain myself further.

I agree, I don't hold his rugby opinion in much regard but to be fair I get great enjoyment out of the banter on the RTE panel.

Junior

justdoit wrote: »

+1 for Engage by Paul Kimmage (the storty of Matt Hampson). Very moving, and a great insight in to life at Leicester, the politics that exist within the RFU etc.

GerM wrote: »

I've recently finished Matt Hampson's book. Gut wrenchingly sad whilst also inspiring. No punches pulled and not a sob story for himself. Kimmage did a very good job.

I'm reading Hampson's book at the moment, but I'm finding the style of the book very difficult to get into, it's stopping, starting, back forward - it really does read like a screenplay..

Cool_CM

totallegend wrote: »

I really dislike this practice of guys writing a book while still playing, you're never going to get the full story.

I really dislike the practice of guys having one "good" season and "writing" a book about it.
Exhibit A
Exhibit B

I got my dad Tom English's book "The Grudge" for Christmas. Really interesting book focusing on both the lead up to and the Calcutta Cup/Grand Slam match between Scotland and England in 1990 from both a sporting and social/political/class perspective. Gives a great insight into characters such as Will Carling, Brian Moore, Jim Telfer and Ian McGeechan and is well worth a read.

osiri

Anyone read The Bull: My Story by John Hayes yet? Is it worth picking up?

I didn't think Jackman's autobiography was as bad as some here are making out. It gave a good insight into the start of pro rugby in Ireland. It was interesting to read about how he went from pro back to amateur and then back to pro again.

O'Callaghans Joking Apart was an easy read, though I thought it would have a few more stories about acting the ham. He makes out that Hayes is a bit of a character in it so I was thinking his book might be worth the read.

Third_Echelon

I read Donncha O'Callaghans there a few weeks ago while on holiday. Blitzed through it in a day or two. I thought it was very enjoyable.... Well worth a read.

Haven't read any of the others, but was thinking about picking up Jackmans. Might wait until it's bargain bin price going on some of the accounts here

Geordan Murphy's book that is just out this past week or so is meant to be excellent. A few mates have read it and thought it was a really good read.

phog

Bull Hayes is on the Late Late tonight promoting his book.

maroondog

GerM wrote: »

Foley's is very chip on the shoulder stuff. You can see why he was at the centre of the great Munster side that won the first HEC. It's very much the view that the world is against Munster and that nobody is going to help them but themselves. Not a great book but not the worst one I've read.

Jake White's book is a very good read too now that I remember it. It's astounding to read some of the politics he had to deal with in his time in charge of S.A. The best story I recall was the announcement of the training squad for the 2007 WC when he put together a panel of 35 names for the squad. One of the top brass in the SARU read the squad out at the press conference and called out the 35 before quickly adding in Luke Watson in addition to White's squad. White just sat there listening in shock; he had never put Watson in the squad and had no idea that this was going to happen.

Read Foleys book too, its ok far from the worst rugby book. Gives an insight into how Munster rugby was before professional era & when Heineken Cup became the be and end all. The fact Foleys father played for Munster too gives some extra background into what the game was like in amateur days. Think his father played v all black in famous win in 70's.

Foley really has a chip on shoulder over never getting a Lions call up.

JustinDee

Read 'The Forbidden Game'.
All about the effing about with rugby league during the 'shamateurism' days of rugby union with tawdry accounts of ostracisation, theft and skullduggery not often seen. Particularly galling is the pilferage by the French union of rugby league assets and facilities during and after the Vichy regime's years. League was thriving in France at the time.
An amazing book and one of the best sports books I've ever read.

JustinDee

Here's an Independent article from 2007 discussing the book and French rugby during the Vichy years.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/badge-of-dishonour-french-rugbys-shameful-secret-401557.html

Swiwi

Rugby players (at least NZ ones) are usually as thick as 2 planks (there are exceptions, such as Conrad Smith), so good memoirs are few & far between. In general I steer clear. However, Nick Farr Jones' biography wasn't bad. Unlikely to appeal to the lady's Munster boyfriend, however Outside of rugby, I really enjoyed Andre Agassi's biography.

totallegend

Anybody read either Hayes' or Murphy's books yet?

Swiwi

Richie McCaw's biography has just been released. I realise his name tends to elicit a variety of comments both negative & positive, but excerpts of the book are available on the web and it looks quite interesting, with comments on Deans, Cooper, Henry, 2007, 2011 etc. Given he's not an Irish player, it's unlikely to appeal to the average Joe Bloggs, but should make an interesting read for more dedicated rugby fans.