Product Description

Alun Carter experienced the highs and lows of the Wales national rugby squad throughout his 12 years working for the WRU. During this time, he saw a number of high-profile coaches come and go, and in "Seeing Red" he delivers a brutally honest account of what it was like to work with each of them. From the inspirational successes of the Graham Henry and Mike Ruddock eras to the disappointments and failures of the Steve Hansen and Gareth Jenkins regimes, the reader is given an insider's version of what really went on. Carter does not shy away from controversy, and he pulls no punches in his assessment of the rift between Graham Henry and Sir Clive Woodward, the personal and political situation that led to Mike Ruddock losing his job, and the difficulty of handling the group dynamics within the national squad.The former analyst also provides an informed appraisal of the remarkable 2005 and 2008 Grand Slam victories. "Seeing Red" provides a warts-and-all account of more than a decade of Welsh rugby and is packed with revelations, exclusive contributions and untold stories that will intrigue and delight all fans of the sport.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #66290 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

Review
I devoured this Welsh rugby blockbuster in a day! It's a book that really does do justice to the publisher's puff... The stream of insights makes the book utterly compelling. --Rugby World magazine

Review
This book is terrific stuff, compelling and very revealing. It is a study of treachery and backstabbing worthy of Shakespeare in his darkest mood and I wish it had come out at the time. But come out it had to and it is a powerful insight into the inner workings of international rugby.

Review
I devoured this Welsh rugby blockbuster in a day. The stream of insights make it utterly compelling...

Customer Reviews

Not so Grand!!
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.

BRILLIANT READ!
ALUN CARTER'S SEEING RED IS A REAL PAGE TURNER AND A MUST FOR ANY WELSH RUGBY FAN.IT IS AN HONEST AND WORTS AND ALL ACCOUNT OF THE WRU THE COACHES AND PLAYERS INVOLVED OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS. I HAVE READ MANY RUGBY BOOKS AND NONE OF THEM HAVE COME CLOSE TO IT. IT IS ALSO A GREAT INSIGHT TO THE MODERN GAME OF RUGBY, AND THE PREPARATION OF THE PLAYERS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY AND A VAST BACKROOM STAFF. A BRILLIANT READ!

slammed
A bit of a niche read, this one. Can't imagine anyone who has little interest in the management of the Welsh rugby team in recent years getting much out of it, but for those of us who are interested (like me), it's unputdownable.

Alun Carter was an analyst with the team throughtout the reigns of Graham Henry, Mike Ruddock, Steve Hansen and Scott Johnson, only leaving when Gareth Jenkins told him he was no longer required on the eve of the World Cup in 2007.

Carter began as a flanker at Pontypool, and the convictions instilled there - of hard work, iron discipline and 'tough love' - form the framework of his analysis of the international side's management.

Henry and Ruddock come off well - Ruddock especially so - whilst Hansen is portrayed as limited and Johnson as a drama queen. Gareth Jenkins was, in Carter's view, out of his depth both in the politics of Welsh rugby, but also in his weakness when dealing with playing and coaching staff.

In addition to the political insights, I was particularly struck by the portrayal of a culture of ruthless - and often public - peer criticism that pervades the playing and coaching levels of the international game. And by the intensity of preparation involved in every aspect of playing it.

Weaknesses? There are several repeated passages and anecdotes, and it's clearly not a balanced view. But it's a great read for followers of the Welsh game.