Product Description

Gareth Edwards is the most famous player ever known to the game. He won 53 consecutive caps for Wales between 1967 and 1978, scored 20 international tries and represented the British Lions on three tours. He remains a household name and is universally respected. In his autobiography he speaks frankly about the changes rugby has undergone over recent years with the arrival of professionalism, and compares the rugby world of his time with that of today. Offering fascinating anecdotes about the characters and events in the game and talking about his glittering career, this is the autobiography of a rugby superstar.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #232204 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review

During my time in the game, it always used to fascinate me the way England would have eight forwards, the smallest one being bigger than anyone in our pack, often dominate possession and still not beat us.

If you're expecting the cosy, pipe and slippers approach, the "great times, great mates" school of autobiography, from one of rugby's most recognisable and respected characters, then you're in for a surprise.

Of course, the legends--JPR Williams, Barry John, Serge Blanco, David Campese, those historic trys--all figure in Gareth Edwards' recollections of the great Wales, Lions and Barbarians sides at the hearts of which he played. Any sports fan will relish this insider's view of the matches and players that epitomised an era of free-flowing brilliance in the Union game, but Edwards is at his most passionate and opinionated when observing his beloved sport as it is today.

For him, the pride of playing for your country is real, not something that you put on and take off with the shirt. That sensibility and a fierce commitment to plain speaking is brought to bear on the issues of the modern game. Rule changes, the roles of the national Unions, professionalism and the failings of England all come in for an uncompromising examination.

Whether looking back at his own career, including involvement in Apartheid-era tours of South Africa or looking to the future beyond the1999 World Cup, Edwards' honesty and insight make for refreshing reading. --Alex Hankin

Express
'Combines...charm with forthright views on rugby'

Review
'Combines...charm with forthright views on rugby' (Express )

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Customer Reviews

Truly Misnamed as an Autobiography
A truly disappointing book from Gareth Edwards and "Peter Bills" the ghost writer of this inappropriately named book "The Autobiography". The narrative form is a stream of opinions and comments obviously based on conversation with little editing. By way of example the chapter described as The 1999 World Cup drifts aimlessly into the issue of nationality and Gareth competing in a schools track meet for England - all within the 13 pages designated to the topic. So for those hoping for a true autobiographical look at one of the greats and life with JPR, JJ and Barry - This book is a mess and best ignored

Deeper and more honest than the average rugby autobiography.
More than any of the other autobiographies of famous rugby players, this book seems the most open and the most honest. The others tell stories and tales of who did what on tour or how things were when the writers were children, who liked who and who hated who, but Gareth opens up his mind completely, tells you exactly how he feels on a subject, even knowing that in some circumstances he will be severely criticised for his views. The man has ever been such an open person, naive in some respects (his word not mine) I would prefer the words honest and refreshing. Obviously Gareth devotes space to the demise of the Welsh game that he held almost as a religion. The players of the successful 70's teams wanted to help or add to the unsuccessful teams of the 80's but were shut out, in this case for writing a book and therefore becoming a nasty professional! He writes passionately about this phase of history and I would remind him that it in the centre of Cardiff's premier shopping centre there is a statue of Gareth Edwards and not one of the Welsh Rugby Union - enough said on the point. Where I fall out with Gareth, but still applaud his honesty, is during the passages relating to touring South Africa. Some of us at home felt let down by the tourers. Here we were boycotting the apartheid regime and there were our sporting heroes apparently supporting it. Whatever your politics, and remembering that these actions are now thankfully buried in the past, I cannot believe Gareth's statements along the lines that he was that naive politically that he didn't know what was going on. He is six years older than me and I was, with my contempories, fully aware of the protests that were going on at the time. That said, this book is not just a recollection of matches and tours, it has the added benefit of Gareth's philosophy on life and is a great insight into the man. I never got round to buying the hardback version of this book and understand that this soft back has been updated to include the 1999 World Cup. It is a book that I would thoroughly recommend and one that I am presently reading for the second time. Thank you Gareth for the entertainment that you provided on the field of play and now for an excellent read.

The book was incredible
The book was a great story of his life and career. He was the Micheal Jordan of rugby.