Product Description

Starting out with home-town team Pontypridd, it didn't take the ginger-haired flanker long to make his mark on the national game. He made his Wales debut aged just 20 and won the Welsh league title with Ponypridd the following year, repeating the feat in his first season after joining Cardiff, who he went on to captain for three years. Twice a British Lion, he took an award-winning role in Wales' Six Nations championship Grand Slam of 2005 and then came out of international retirement to seal a second Slam in 2008. Martyn speaks for the first time about the controversial departure of Mike Ruddock as coach of the national team, the drinking culture in Welsh rugby in the early years of professionalism, the infamous Battle of Brive and why he turned down the chance to captain Wales at the 2003 World Cup. He also gives his views on the influx of southern hemisphere coaches like Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Warren Gatland, what went wrong at the 2007 World Cup and why he came out of retirement. Featuring the inside story of the 2008 Grand Slam and revealing portraits of his team-mates and opponents, this honest, witty, informative and entertaining autobiography is a must for fans and any sports lover.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #130783 in Books
• Published on: 2009-01-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 266 pages

Customer Reviews

In 7 heaven
I purchased this book for my brother-in-laws birthday but started to read and could not put it down.it was as gripping as watching him play

Golden Nugget Shares Insights on Life and Rugby
This is an excellent book that I could not put down once I began reading it. Williams has been through so much both in his rugby career where he is a Welsh legend after having now played a key part in two Grand Slam teams (although this book was written before Warren Gatland had persuaded him to come out of retirement and play in the historic 2008 Six Nations campaign), and in life where he has lost his beloved mother and brother. What you get with Martyn is an honest evaluation of the highs and lows, the emotions of euphoria and heartache that he has experienced in his life both on and off the pitch. We get some fascinating insights into his take on some of his fellow rugby legends, including Gareth Thomas, Stephen Jones, Colin Charvis, Gethin Jenkins, Shane Williams, Neil Jenkins, Robert Howley, Dwayne Peel, Tom Shanklin, Iestyn Harris, Gavin Henson, and Jonah Lomu (who played a season with him at the Blues). Equally riveting is his take on the numerous coaches he has worked with, and the enormous debt he owes to two of them. Having read his book I have a much better understanding of the circumstances leading up to Mike Ruddock's shock resignation in February 2006, and how all the hype and irresponsible speculation in the press at that time could not destroy the bond of friendship and loyalty that he and the other senior members of the national team had built up over several years of lows and highs in Welsh fortunes. Reading the book only reinforced my opinion that the modest lad from Pontypridd truly deserves the accolade of "The Magnificent Seven".