any ideas on a good Rugby Book

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.

totallegend

I know it's been out for a while but I just finished 'Engage' by Matt Hampson, well worth a read and on a different planet to most rugby biographies that get churned out.

And he was wise to Jimmy Saville long before everyone else!

jamiedav2011

Anything else rugby related worth picking up this Xmas?

CatFromHue

totallegend wrote: »

And he was wise to Jimmy Saville long before everyone else!

How do you mean?

GerM

CatFromHue wrote: »

How do you mean?

Saville's best known charity work was in relation to Stoke Mandeville Hospital which is the specialist spinal unit where Hampson spent many months. Can't recall the specifics of the book but they would have crossed paths in there.

ShamFeen

Lewis Moody's book is supposed to be one of the best yet. But I suppose the English pres would say that. Supposed to be a great insight into his career, what with all his injuries etc.

masalbeagdubh

John Hayes book is excellant. You end up reading it in a couple of days because its so enjoyable and some great stories in it. Just got McCaw`s book but I would think it will be completely different. Sounds like a good read though.

totallegend

CatFromHue wrote: »

How do you mean?

Nothing about his alleged predilection for children, just that he was a creepy lecherous old man who did nothing to cheer up the patients and was more interested in the nurses.

CatFromHue

Any chance you could give me a rough page number for this?

For no reason of course, certainly not so I can go into the book shop and read those specific pages or anything like that as I don't want to read the whole book!

ekevosu

If you haven't read "the grudge" then do, fantastic read.

Also the book about Mandela and the 95 world cup is a fantastic book, name escapes me now but there was a film made about it. Book is 10 times better.

Deano7788

ekevosu wrote: »

If you haven't read "the grudge" then do, fantastic read.

Also the book about Mandela and the 95 world cup is a fantastic book, name escapes me now but there was a film made about it. Book is 10 times better.

Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation. Brilliant book. The movie was Invictus and some of the copies of the book have that as the title instead now, with the original name as a sub-title.