A good Rugby Book?

todolist

Any recommendations for a Rugby book you enjoyed.

CatFromHue

Trevor Brennan's is good enough.

Swiwi.

todolist wrote: »

Any recommendations for a Rugby book you enjoyed.

Search the forum, there have 2 or 3 such threads in the past which will give u plenty of options.

todolist

Swiwi. wrote: »

Search the forum, there have 2 or 3 such threads in the past which will give u plenty of options.

I did but I could only find one from 2011.I got recommendations for George Hooks bio and Austin Healy's.

aimee1

John Daniell's book is a real eye opener and i read Matt Hampsons book recently which was very good

Pudsy33

Bernard Jackmans book is fantastic.

durkadurka

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Bernard Jackmans book is fantastic.

Ah jaysis

sydthebeat

Any of the Alan English rugby books are good

todolist

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Bernard Jackmans book is fantastic.

Thanks Bernard

vienne86

I haven't read many rugby books, but I enjoyed reading Sexton's book when I was travelling last year. I just found in interesting to hear about camps and some of the stuff that goes on behind the scenes.

I read Rala's book, but found it a bit dull. Lots of talk about pints, fags and sweets!

I have been given a present of BOD's book but have only read some of it - enjoyable so far.

I have been told that Trevor Brennan's book is a great read.

Swiwi.

todolist wrote: »

I did but I could only find one from 2011.I got recommendations for George Hooks bio and Austin Healy's.

Ah sorry. I don't generally like rugby autobiographies, these guys are usually good at rugby, but poor at writing/telling their story, and usually lead (IMO) fairly mundane lives away from the pitch. Brian Moore's book is not bad, and McCaw's biography was actually pretty good, even for a non-Kiwi I would have thought. However, from reading the old forums a while back I have these on my list to read at some stage, might not be your cup of tea, though.

• The final whistle: the Great War in 15 players
• Confessions of a rugby mercenary
• Winter colours
• The rugby war
• The forbidden game

Tim Robbins

vienne86 wrote: »

I haven't read many rugby books, but I enjoyed reading Sexton's book when I was travelling last year. I just found in interesting to hear about camps and some of the stuff that goes on behind the scenes.

I read Rala's book, but found it a bit dull. Lots of talk about pints, fags and sweets!

I have been given a present of BOD's book but have only read some of it - enjoyable so far.

I have been told that Trevor Brennan's book is a great read.

Donnacha O'Callaghan's was good.

Leo Cullen's was terrible. But a brilliant read at the time as I was quite drained from work and just wanted that didn't require any depth of thought on holidays. It was on the level of:

"I said to Drico, let's beat them"
Drico said: "I know we can"
and then we beat them by 6 points.

No depth of thought whatsoever, would seriously put me off sending my children to Blackrock. For 6K a year I'd expect the occasional big word, clever use of language or depth of thought. It was at the intellectual level of teletext.

durkadurka

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Donnacha O'Callaghan's was good.

Leo Cullen's was terrible. But a brilliant read at the time as I was quite drained from work and just wanted that didn't require any depth of thought on holidays. It was on the level of:

"I said to Drico, let's beat them"
Drico said: "I know we can"
and then we beat them by 6 points.

No depth of thought whatsoever, would seriously put me off sending my children to Blackrock. For 6K a year I'd expect the occasional big word, clever use of language or depth of thought. It was at the intellectual level of teletext.

Eh you didn't mention the fifty thousand exclamation marks!!!!

Pudsy33

durkadurka wrote: »

Ah jaysis

What? I really enjoyed it :pac:

durkadurka

Pudsy33 wrote: »

What? I really enjoyed it :pac:

He was apologising for it himself at his own book launch.

I sh1t you not

The Lost Sheep

Trevor Brennans very good,
Engage by Paul Kimmage which is the story of Matt Hampson is one of the best around. Hampson broke his neck while training with Englands u21s and book goes through the incident, his attempts to make Leicester 1st xv etc. Fab read
I found Brent Pope's alright in places, bits around his mental health/anxiety issues were very interesting

penybont exile

Rugby: Body and Soul by Bill Samuel

Written by Gareth Edwards PE Teacher. It meshes together the importance of Physical Education in schools and the discovery and early years of a prodigious talent.

Ludikrus

lawrence dallaglio's autobiography 'it's in the blood' is very good. The best rugby bio I've read. I couldn't stand the guy when he played, but a friend kept saying the book was good so I borrowed it. It's a good read.

bkqwerty

Martin johnson's is very good. It would be a few years old now but it's a cracking read. Never really liked him before I read the book but I've a whole other opinion of him now. On one hand he's such a hard man and great leader which we all know but the side we don't know is that he really doesn't take himself too seriously at all and he's genuinely a very funny guy and that really comes across in the book

Losty Dublin

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Trevor Brennans very good,
Engage by Paul Kimmage which is the story of Matt Hampson is one of the best around. Hampson broke his neck while training with Englands u21s and book goes through the incident, his attempts to make Leicester 1st xv etc. Fab read
I found Brent Pope's alright in places, bits around his mental health/anxiety issues were very interesting

I'll second Engage as well. Asides from it being an captivating story, it's also refreshing to read a story that isn't about a player who succeeded; it's excellently ghost writing by Paul Kimmage makes it that bit better.

Bridge93

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Donnacha O'Callaghan's was good.

Leo Cullen's was terrible. But a brilliant read at the time as I was quite drained from work and just wanted that didn't require any depth of thought on holidays. It was on the level of:

"I said to Drico, let's beat them"
Drico said: "I know we can"
and then we beat them by 6 points.

No depth of thought whatsoever, would seriously put me off sending my children to Blackrock. For 6K a year I'd expect the occasional big word, clever use of language or depth of thought. It was at the intellectual level of teletext.

A school that ranks in the top 20/25 in the country and produced plenty of highly educated men yet you use the autobiography of an ex rugby player, which may not have written by himself, as your test of the academic credentials of the place. Funny. Although in fairness Leo Cullen does represent the abilities of every single student to ever come out of Blackrock.
Sure every pupil also possesses a similar rugby ability to Leo too.

Pudsy33

Confessions of a rugby mercenary was a good read too

.ak

Sextons book isn't great but you'll get through it in no time and has some fairly bare opinions about the whole contract saga and insight into the lions camp

SomeFool

the immortals

Stand up and fight (when munster beat the all blacks) by Alan english, absolutely fantastic read

phog

I liked Moss Keane's book (see above) and Rala's book, his book skirted around the games/tournaments and his love of Inisbofin. The book gives a tiny insight into some of the players that we don't see in their role as player on the field.

George Hook's book was a great read, very little about rugby but imho a great read.

padre78

"Legacy" by James Kerr is an excellent book about the philosophy behind the All Blacks. Well worth a read

awec

I only finished BODs book last week and honestly found it a bit boring.

Thought it lacked detail.

We didn't want to lose again.
I scored a try.
We didn't lose again.
We were happy.
I flew back to Dublin.
Had eggs for breakfast.

ROGs was better IMO

todolist

I read a bit of BOD's book.I was curious to see what he thought of Gatland.He actually doesn't tell you very much.I think this isn't his definitive bio.

awec

todolist wrote: »

I read a bit of BOD's book.I was curious to see what he thought of Gatland.He actually doesn't tell you very much.I think this isn't his definitive bio.

Yea, I got the impression that he didn't want to spill anything juicy. Like he's too nice/polite to write a decent autobiography. Books are no craic if all the good stuff stays secret.

I also got the impression that he doesn't want to come across as egotistical, and he tries to avoid writing anything that bigs himself up. Which doesn't really work, because the idea of an autobiography is in itself pretty egotistical (and there's nothing wrong with that).

CatFromHue

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Bernard Jackmans book is fantastic.

Jackman's book reminded me of Macbeth

dermiestv

The Real McCaw, autobiography of Richie is very good.

Insights not just into the All Black mentality but into a Great All Black mentality.

Funkstard

I thought McCaws book was very bland, to the point of finding it hard to get through.

Of what hasn't been mentioned here:

- Anthony Foleys was good I thought. Good insight into the transition from the amateur to professional era.

- Geordan Murphys is a decent read. He lets fly some opinions on Irish coaches / teams etc.

- John Hayes' is alright. Probably better enjoyed if you're a Munster fan, but good to read back over his career all the same.

I would second the above vote for any Alan English book. Stand up and fight is a great read for any provincial fan.

CatFromHue

Foley's book is good all right. Some good stuff on the amateur game and the transition to the pro game.

Murphy's was good too.

In McCaw's book he used the term "nebulous", I don't know what that means!

awec

CatFromHue wrote: »

Foley's book is good all right. Some good stuff on the amateur game and the transition to the pro game.

Murphy's was good too.

In McCaw's book he used the term "nebulous", I don't know what that means!

It means vague.

dermiestv

Funkstard wrote: »

I thought McCaws book was very bland.

Differing tastes make the world go round but no arguing with his record, which keeps improving as we write.

The Lost Sheep

awec wrote: »

Yea, I got the impression that he didn't want to spill anything juicy. Like he's too nice/polite to write a decent autobiography. Books are no craic if all the good stuff stays secret.

I also got the impression that he doesn't want to come across as egotistical, and he tries to avoid writing anything that bigs himself up. Which doesn't really work, because the idea of an autobiography is in itself pretty egotistical (and there's nothing wrong with that).

I got that as well. Didn't want to impact his pr profile etc by saying nothing that would offend anybody.

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Donnacha O'Callaghan's was good.

Leo Cullen's was terrible. But a brilliant read at the time as I was quite drained from work and just wanted that didn't require any depth of thought on holidays. It was on the level of:

"I said to Drico, let's beat them"
Drico said: "I know we can"
and then we beat them by 6 points.

No depth of thought whatsoever, would seriously put me off sending my children to Blackrock. For 6K a year I'd expect the occasional big word, clever use of language or depth of thought. It was at the intellectual level of teletext.

Really? On the Blackrock thing? How can you imply anything like that about a school from 1 guy who attended there, made a career from rugby and wrote a book on that career?

Tim Robbins

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Really? On the Blackrock thing? How can you imply anything like that about a school from 1 guy who attended there, made a career from rugby and wrote a book on that career?

Ha. You must accept people can engage in some banter. Don't take life so seriously.

vienne86

Swiwi. wrote: »

Ah sorry. I don't generally like rugby autobiographies, these guys are usually good at rugby, but poor at writing/telling their story, and usually lead (IMO) fairly mundane lives away from the pitch......

I'm reading BOD's book.....his life does not strike me as mundane!

Swiwi.

vienne86 wrote: »

I'm reading BOD's book.....his life does not strike me as mundane!

I haven't read the book, but...

Irish lad, born into respectable middle class family, in a respectable middle class Irish suburb in Dublin, goes to respectable Dublin rugby school. Happens to be (very) good at rugby.

Maybe I expect too much...

As someone else said, if you read Dallaglio's bio, that's a bit different.

salmocab

Time to Ruck and Roll, Nick Poppllewells auto/biography think a mate of mine was printing them and swiped one for me, hardly a classic but as I remember it wasn't turgid. Generally find biographies of sports men are sh1t as they are usually a tale of success with exaggerations made about the bad stuff to make them sound interesting, that said Ill read BODs at Christmas when the inevitable present arrives.

thebaz

Swiwi. wrote: »

Irish lad, born into respectable middle class family, in a respectable middle class Irish suburb in Dublin, goes to respectable Dublin rugby school. Happens to be (very) good at rugby.

Maybe I expect too much...

As someone else said, if you read Dallaglio's bio, that's a bit different.

Maybe I'm missing something, but was Dallagios upbringing not the similar path, except in London ?

Buer

Dallaglio's sister was killed in the Thames River disaster when he was a teenager. It deeply affected him and he went off the rails. He nearly blew his entire career in the ensuing years.

It's not a classic but it's definitely not the run of the mill rugby bio.

Swiwi.

thebaz wrote: »

Maybe I'm missing something, but was Dallagios upbringing not the similar path, except in London ?

See Buer's response.

I dunno, just because someone plays rugby it doesn't make their biography interesting for me. Far and away the best sports autobiography I have read was Andre Agassi's, but obviously not a rugby book.

NB: just so it's clear, I'm not having a dig at BOD at all, just in general. Some of the NZ rugby biographies I have read have been as dull as dishwater.

vienne86

Swiwi. wrote: »

I haven't read the book, but...

Irish lad, born into respectable middle class family, in a respectable middle class Irish suburb in Dublin, goes to respectable Dublin rugby school. Happens to be (very) good at rugby.

Maybe I expect too much...

As someone else said, if you read Dallaglio's bio, that's a bit different.

Well I've just been reading his description of being landed in jail.......

Flipper22

Bridge93 wrote: »

A school that ranks in the top 20/25 in the country and produced plenty of highly educated men yet you use the autobiography of an ex rugby player, which may not have written by himself, as your test of the academic credentials of the place. Funny. Although in fairness Leo Cullen does represent the abilities of every single student to ever come out of Blackrock.
Sure every pupil also possesses a similar rugby ability to Leo too.

:pac: Were/are you in Blackrock, perchance?

todolist

A couple I've put on the list to read are:Simon Shaw-The hard Yards.
Size Doesn't Matter-Neil Black.
They received pretty good reviews.

thebaz

Swiwi. wrote: »

See Buer's response.

I dunno, just because someone plays rugby it doesn't make their biography interesting for me. Far and away the best sports autobiography I have read was Andre Agassi's, but obviously not a rugby book.

NB: just so it's clear, I'm not having a dig at BOD at all, just in general. Some of the NZ rugby biographies I have read have been as dull as dishwater.

fair eneogh - Eamon dunphy's first book on his life as a struggling pro at Milwall is brilliant , and I'm an incredibly slow/dyslexic reader.

would be interested in reading Sony Bill story , admire his dedication & adaption across sports.

Funkstard

Swiwi. wrote: »

Ah sorry. I don't generally like rugby autobiographies, these guys are usually good at rugby, but poor at writing/telling their story, and usually lead (IMO) fairly mundane lives away from the pitch. Brian Moore's book is not bad, and McCaw's biography was actually pretty good, even for a non-Kiwi I would have thought. However, from reading the old forums a while back I have these on my list to read at some stage, might not be your cup of tea, though.

• The final whistle: the Great War in 15 players
• Confessions of a rugby mercenary
• Winter colours
• The rugby war
• The forbidden game

I just read Confessions of a Rugby Mercenary. I'd add it to the quite good list. It's a surprisingly interesting and funny account of a year in a mid-tier French club in 2005, written by a self confessed journeyman at the end of his career. It gives a good insight into French rugby and what a career at the dawn of professionalism was like.

leakyboots

Sports bios can be very hit and miss.

ROG's one is goddawful. 'We won the game, I was happy'. Sounds like BOD's is in a similar vein.

Alan Quinlan's was a bit better. Think I might have read Mick Galwey's one, the fact that I'm not sure I have says it probably wasn't great!

Stand Up And Fight by Alan English is a must read, one of my favourites.

Trevor Brennan's is very good, softened my view of the man. Fair play to him for upping sticks to France too, probably should have gotten more international recognition in the latter end of his career.

Moss Keane's one is fantastic, giant of a man in every sense.

TimRiggins

Donnacha O'Callaghans is great. Comes across really well in it, with a few good stories as well.