Product Description

Simon Shaw has played more professional matches than any other player in English rugby history, which is remarkable given that he didn't pick up a rugby ball until he was 16. With a World Cup winner's medal in 2003, a runners-up medal in the 2007 competition, fifty England caps and ten trophies won with London Wasps, the ultimate Lion, Shaw is one of the biggest names in rugby. Yet he has experienced his fair share of disappointments. Sir Clive Woodward delivered the lowest blow, dropping him from the World Cup squad in 2003, although he'd been named man of the match in the final warm-up fixture against Wales. Shaw eventually joined the England squad in Australia, replacing the injured Danny Grewcock, and was subsequently handed a winner's medal in Sydney. But while Shaw partied with the rest of the players, he couldn't forget that he was merely a late addition who hadn't played for a single minute during the tournament. In Simon Shaw - The Hard Yards: My Story, the 6 ft 9 in. lock forward recounts his bittersweet memories of that time and charts his eventful rise to the top, from the early days playing for Bristol to lasting success at both club and international level. He talks openly about his England career, reveals why he believes he was a better player than his arch-rival for the England number 4 jersey, Martin Johnson, and takes us inside the England and Wasps dressing-rooms armed with his razor-sharp sense of humour and cutting put-downs. Simon Shaw is a big man with an even bigger story to tell, and no stone is left unturned in this candid autobiography.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #837 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

About the Author
Simon Shaw was born in Kenya in 1973 and his family settled in England in 1988. After a spell at Cranleigh Youth Club, he went on to play for Bristol Rugby (1990-1997) and London Wasps (1997 to present). He has been awarded 50 caps for England and has played for both the British and Irish Lions and the Barbarians.

Customer Reviews

Great book by a great player
Simon Shaw is one of my favourite rugby players of all time. He's an absolute legend and this book does him justice. Some of his stories about the teams he's played in the tours he's been on are hilarious, taking you right into the mix of the banter between the players. Also, the insights he gives into the game are intelligent and interesting. In the book, Shaw comes over as a top bloke who loves rugby and has enjoyed his career, having a lot of laughs along the way. He's obviously passionate about Wasps and England and the chapter on the Lions tour to South Africa this year is amazing. One of the best sport autobiographies I've ever read and a great rugby book which fans of the game will love. And Shawsy, none of us will ever forget what you did for the Lions this year. Legend.

His Uncle Bernard would have been proud.....
...clearly not his real uncle but the Irish playwright would have appreciated the humour and honesty that runs through the book. Shaw loves his rugby and he has played at the highest level as the amateur game was left but not forgotten. The relatively brief synopsis of a career threatening ankle injury (others would have written a book on the subject) is eclipsed by the farcical way the medics treated the big man ending in a truly comical moment with a nurse.
What really comes across in the book is the joy the game of rugby brings, the friends you meet on the way and the woeful selection policy of certain cowardly, paranoid and narrow-minded selectors.

Steven Jones was quite right; 10/10

Simon Shaw: The Hard Yards
A enjoyable read - offers some good insights into the England and Wasps set-up. Lots of anecdotes and opinions which are good for enhancing sporting autobiographies. A good read but pales as a rugby read in comparison to Ian McGeechan's Lion man.