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Grav in His Own Words

Rugby's Strangest Matches: Extraordinary But True Stories from Over a Century of Rugby (Strangest)

Excellent read - short stories of Rugby through the ages, 2001-12-13
An entertaining book of funny short stories. The type of book that you can 'dip' into night after night.
Although meant for fans of the game, it can be enjoyed by non-rugby fans.
It starts from the early days of Rugby Union with the (dis) organisations trying to set up a world-wide game in the days when travelling was long and difficult. It takes us through to the professional era with stories about the modern teams & players we all know.
We meet the "characters" of the rugby world throughout this book.
My personal favourite is the Scottish player who won his first cap just before going off to fight in WWII. After the war he was invited to play again - it was expected that he would have brought the jersey he had worn 6 years peviousily! (washed of course!)

Rugby Union Manual: The Official Guide to Playing the Game

Players, Parents, Coaches and Officals - A essential part of your rugby toolkit!, 2008-10-30
After reading lots of rugby related books as a player, coach and ref I can honestly recommend this one as essential reading. How they got so much info into 200 odd pages is testiment to the Haynes formulae of providing clear and informative information and to the authors love and authorative grasp of the game. Bang upto date with current rugby stars views, ELV's explored, great colour pictures and even a section to cover the refs signals... its got something for everyone. Even Martin Johnson a man known for using few words is gushing in his introduction...and you know what he's dead right...even if he is still the scary man in the changing rooms! Enjoy.

Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation

Forging a National Consciousness through Mutual Respect, 2008-09-29

Playing the Enemy is a very timely book. In these days when nations are often more divided than before, Nelson Mandela's instinct to show respect, friendliness, and common purpose with those who saw him as an enemy is a beacon that lights up the potential for all people to come together to accomplish more. John Carlin has used the Rugby World Cup imaginatively to illustrate the essence of President Mandela's approach. Mr. Carlin is a wonderful story teller, and you'll feel chills as you read the many great moments he brilliantly captures in Playing the Enemy.

Leaders have always used foreign enemies to bring their purpose together. Who realized that this could be done at the level of sport rather than through war as a way to unify a country where people were deeply suspicious (even paranoid) about one another?

I was glad to see that Mr. Carlin provided lots of background about how someone imprisoned for decades became the leader of a reconstituted nation in South Africa and went on to accomplish things that not even the most optimistic would have expected. President Mandela's story is one for the ages, and this way of telling the story makes it easier to understand for those who never saw South Africa during the Apartheid regime.

Although I had long studied and worked to help change the government in South Africa from the inside and outside, the political impact of the international boycott of the South African rugby team had been lost to me. I hope those who would like to encourage governments to behave more appropriately towards their people will remember this example.

Bravo, Mr. Carlin!

Tackling Life

Ronan O'Gara: My Autobiography

A rare insight into the mind of a modern great, 2008-12-30
Ronan O'Gara is something of a rugby enigma, a player of superb quality who has become synonymous with the Heinekken Cup and yet also the victim of unjust criticism and doomed never to receive the recognition he is due.

This autobiography is a great opportunity for a true rugby fan, whether a Munster or Ireland supporter, a Neutral or a grudging admirer, the book offers a chance to really get an insight into this great players life. I say life, because the work bucks the trend of recent sporting biographies to focus purely on the players career and instead provides a warts and all account of life as a professional player. The work is refreshingly honest and Ronan is quick point out his mistakes and regrets as his is to highlight his greatest moments.

For a career that has spanned so long a period there are dozens of choice moments and periods to read on, from his on-field rivalry with David Humphries, to the Munster saga that underpins his professional career, the World Cup in 2007 and more.

The work only gets 4 stars as I felt it has been written a little prematurely, Ronan still has several playing years left and one would hope plenty more stories to tell, and the suspicion is that with Ronan being so private an individual he won't write them down for a second volume. That aside this is a fantastic read and is a must have for fans of rugby.

Rugby Wit: Quips and Quotes for the Rugby Obsessed (Humour)

400 rugby quips ...., 2007-12-27
Two hundred pages with an average of two quotes per page makes this a quick read; you'll be through it in just a couple of hours.

It is on the whole light-hearted, interesting and entertaining. Any rugby fan will enjoy it.

Worth a read, but not at the full cover price.

England Rugby (Square) 2009 Calendar

Seeing Red: Twelve Tumultuous Years in Welsh Rugby

Not so Grand!!, 2008-11-10
Alun Carter gives a real insiders view as to some of the more remarkable comings and goings on the episodes of Welsh rugby over the last 12 years. He does not pull many punches on his opinions of those who he feels have somewhat let the national team down during his spell as an analyst. He is very critical of the likes of Steve Hansen, Scott Johnson, Gareth Jenkins and Gareth 'Alfie' Thomas whilst he sings the praises of Graham Henry, Mike Ruddock and Clive Griffiths.

Carter gives a damning indictment on the player power that ultimately led to the resignation of a Grand Slam winning coach in Ruddock and tells of how some players were not willing to undertake tasks that were being asked of them by coaches who had a proven track record at domestic level.

Welsh rugby has seen some explosive episodes in the last few years and Carter tells it as he has seen it from the inside. This is a book that may not go down too well with some within the rugby hierarchy of Wales but for the genuine fan of the Welsh national team who has been dismayed with the events of recent years this is an account well worth reading.

My Story

A really good read, 2008-10-13
As a Welshman and a huge rugby fan I obviously think Shane Williams is some sort of god. However, when I got this book as a gift I was just thought "why?" how interesting could it really be?! I read the first chapter about the recent tour to South Africa, which was brilliantly written, but i thought it was just what i had expected, Shane Williams writing about rugby. But after this there isn't really much talk of rugby, well, there obviously is, but not in the manner you would've thought. The route that he took to get to be the superstar he is today is not a clear-cut as you would think.
Once i picked the book up, i read it for literally hours on end. It really is a fantastic book. I would highly suggest if you're a rugby fan like me.....except yours will not be as good as mine because mine is signed by the man himself: P