Download or read book Behind The Lions written by Stephen Jones and published by Birlinn. This book was released on 2021-03-04 with total page 704 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For over 130 years the British & Irish Lions have stood out as a symbol of the ethics, values and romance at the heart of rugby union. To represent the Lions is the pinnacle for every international player in Britain and Ireland, and the dream of tens of thousands of avid fans who fol-low them. A Lions tour, undertaken every four years to the southern hemisphere, is more than a series of rugby matches played out on foreign fields; it is an epic crusade where the chosen few face a succession of mental and physical chal-lenges on their way to the Test arena, where they do battle with the superpowers of the world game. Behind the Lions sees seven esteemed rugby writers delve to the very heart of what it means to be a Lion, using diaries and letters from those who pioneered the concept, to interviews with a vast array of players who have followed in their footsteps. In so doing they have uncovered the passion, pride and honour experienced when taking up the unique challenge of a Lions tour. This is a tale of heart-break and ecstasy, humour and poignancy that is at once inspirational, moving and utterly compelling. And it is the only story worth hearing: the players' own.
Download or read book 125 Years of the British and Irish Lions written by Clem Thomas and published by Mainstream Publishing. This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Updated edition of the author's History of the British & irish Lions.
Download or read book When Lions Roared written by Tom English and published by Birlinn Ltd. This book was released on 2017-05-11 with total page 349 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By 1971 no Lions team had ever defeated the All Blacks in a Test series. Since 1904, six Lions sides had travelled to New Zealand and all had returned home bruised, battered and beaten. But the 1971 tour party was different. It was full of young, ambitious and outrageously talented players who would all go on to carve their names into the annals of sporting history during a golden period in British and Irish rugby. And at their centre was Carwyn Jones – an intelligent, sensitive rugby mastermind who would lead his team into the game's hardest playing arena while facing a ferocious, tragic battle in his personal life, all in pursuit of a seemingly impossible dream. Up against them was an All Blacks team filled with legends in the game in the likes of Colin Meads, Brian Lochore, Ian Kirkpatrick, Sid Going and Bryan Williams. But as the Lions swept through the provinces, lighting up the rugby fields of New Zealand the pressure began to mount on the home players in a manner never seen before. As the Test series loomed, it became clear that a clash that would echo through the ages was about to unfold. And at its conclusion, it was obvious to all that rugby would never be the same again.
Download or read book The British and Irish Lions the Official History written by Greg Thomas and published by . This book was released on 2020-11-12 with total page 536 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Authorative, comprehensive, all encompassing and the last word on the history of the British & Irish Lions - this book is essential reading for dedicated followers of the team that best represents the spirit of rugby - The British & Irish Lions is one of the most storied teams in rugby history - and this is their only official history. - Over 130 years of Lions rugby is chronicled in this authoritative and lavishly illustrated book which was originally written by Clem Thomas, (Lion #386), up to the 1993 Tour and then carried on by his son Greg and renowned rugby writer, Rob Cole. - With over 500 pages of content the book is simply the most comprehensive and thorough re-telling of Lions' history - Each tour is covered in detail - Over 400 illustrations, including photographs, paintings, scrapbooks & memorabilia - A foreword by Lions Chairman, Jason Leonard #644 - A 75 page statistics section that includes: the score and team makeup of every Test played by the Lions, full lists of every Lion by A-Z and by order of appearance (from #1 Jack Anderton to #835 Finn Russell), records against each country, appearances, points, tries and so much more.
Download or read book Donal Lenihan written by Donal Lenihan and published by Random House. This book was released on 2016-09-22 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As player, manager, and pundit, Donal Lenihan has seen it all in the world of rugby - and done much of it too. A victorious captain of Munster Junior and Senior Schools, he went on to skipper the Ireland team at the inaugural Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 1987 and was a fixture in the second row for over a decade, winning two Triple Crowns and three Five Nations championships. Selected for three British & Irish Lions tours, he was famous for skippering the unbeaten side nicknamed 'Donal's Doughnuts', before taking charge of both Ireland and the Lions as manager. From such a stellar position at the heart of the rugby world, Donal Lenihan has a wealth of stories to tell from both on and off the pitch, from raucous antics on tour to the sometimes difficult fellowship of players in a time of Troubles. He delves deeply into Cork and Munster culture and the influence on his career of his family. And as a much-respected analyst, Donal is also not short on voicing his opinion on the rights and wrongs of the modern game, and how the transition from the amateur to the professional era has affected the heart and soul of rugby. Full of wit, insight and emotional sincerity, this is a rugby book for the ages by a sporting great.
Download or read book Becoming a Lion written by Johnny Sexton and published by Penguin UK. This book was released on 2013-09-23 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Johnny Sexton - the man who pulled the strings for the Lions - gives an intimate insight into the rugby life in Becoming a Lion. With three Heineken Cups and one British and Irish Lions tour victory under his belt, Johnny Sexton is by some distance the leading fly-half in the northern hemisphere. Over the course of the Lions' first victorious Test series in sixteen years, Sexton was the man pulling the strings. His try in the third test was the decisive blow, and his joyous celebrations after scoring were echoed in homes across Britain and Ireland. Becoming a Lion is an intimate portrait of life at the highest levels of the professional game - at Leinster, with Ireland, and on tour with the Lions. 'Bracing and fascinating in equal measure' Malachy Clerkin, Irish Times 'Riveting ... Opens a remarkable window into the stresses, hurts and insecurities of a professional life in rugby' Vincent Hogan, Irish Independent 'Captures all the jagged edges that make Sexton one of Irish sport's most compelling characters' Sunday Times 'Sets a great benchmark for sports autobiographies, given that it is so honest' Matt Cooper, Today FM 'Engrossing' Rugby World Ireland 'If you crave an insight into the life of a professional rugby player ... Becoming a Lion is a must' Donal Lenihan, Irish Examiner 'Intensely revealing' Irish Daily Mail
Download or read book The History of the British Lions written by Clem Thomas and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Lion of Ireland written by Morgan Llywelyn and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2010-04-01 with total page 447 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: King, warrior, and lover Brian Boru was stronger, braver, and wiser than all other men-the greatest king Ireland has ever known. Out of the mists of the country's most violent age, he merged to lead his people to the peak of their golden era. His women were as remarkable as his adventures: Fiona, the druidess with mystical powers; Deirdre, beautiful victim of a Norse invader's brutal lust; Gormlaith, six-foot, read-haired goddess of sensuality. Set against the barbaric splendors of the tenth century, Lion of Ireland is a story rich in truth and legend-in which friends become deadly enemies, bedrooms turn into battlefields, and dreams of glory are finally fulfilled. Morgan Llywelyn has written one of the greatest novels of Irish history. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Download or read book Lions Triumphant written by Sam Warburton and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2013-11-07 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the British and Irish Lions set out for Australia in late May, they knew they faced a daunting task. Since the war, only four Lions sides had returned victorious, the last in 1997. In the modern era of professional rugby, some even questioned if the Lions concept still had a place. How could a mixture of of northern hemisphere nations come together and take on the might of one of the southern giants? Under coach Warren Gatland and captain Sam Warburton, the Lions of 2013 looked to overcome the doubters and to show they could still make the Lions roar. As captain, Warburton himself had to face questions over his form and fitness, but he emerged to lead his side to a stunning 23-21 victory in the first Test in Brisbane. The second Test was lost by the narrowest of margins, but the Lions bounced back to record an epic 41-16 triumph to seal the series. In this book, Warburton relives the entire Lions experience, from the moment he learned he had been chosen to captain the side to the time he got to raise the trophy at the end of the tour, and the huge welcome that greeted the squad when they returned home. Packed with insight and revealing details about the Lions preparations, this is the definitive inside account of one of rugby's greatest moments.
Download or read book The Lions When the Going Gets Tough written by Ian McGeechan and published by Hodder & Stoughton. This book was released on 2017-05-18 with total page 442 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sir Ian McGeechan is the 'Ultimate Lion'. Nobody's name resonates louder with the Lions than his. In 2017 the British and Irish Lions face one of the toughest tours in history - taking on the All Blacks in New Zealand, where they have only won one of their last 12 Tests. In this unique and fascinating book Sir Ian McGeechan uses his own coaching notes to provide insight and background into what it means to be a Lion, and how the most successful Lions teams in history were built. He will also delve into his rich collection of anecdotes to bring alive the characters involved, and it will undoubtedly be a book that even Warren Gatland will want to read.
Download or read book Lion Man written by Ian McGeechan and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2010-04-01 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In an era when even the finest rugby coaches have a drastically short shelf-life, Ian McGeechan's longevity and adaptability is staggering. In his 20 years at the highest level of the game he has been at the centre of almost every major story in UK rugby and has worked alongside some of the greatest rugby figures of the era. McGeechan began his career as a player -- winning more than thirty caps for Scotland and twice touring with the Lions. As coach to the Scottish national team, he led his country to a famous Grand Slam victory in the 1990 Five Nations tournament. Continued success in management earned him an appointment as head coach to the Lions on four separate occasions, more than any other, and he will again take charge on their 2009 tour to South Africa. Most recently, as coach of Wasps, McGeechan has guided the team to complete dominance in the club game. Now, in this frank and engaging memoir, Ian McGeechan shares his unrivalled insight into the triumphs and tribulations of British rugby and of the progress of the sport over the past two decades. Lion Manoffers a unique glimpse into the past, present and future of British rugby from one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport.
Download or read book The Guinness Book of Rugby Facts Feats written by Terry Godwin and published by . This book was released on 1981 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe written by C.S. Lewis and published by Wyatt North Publishing, LLC. This book was released on 2018 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: C. S. Lewis was a British author, lay theologian, and contemporary of J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia.
Download or read book Centre Stage written by Jamie Roberts and published by Hodder & Stoughton. This book was released on 2021-11-11 with total page 423 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a nation of rugby heroes, Jamie Roberts has become a legend. Jamie Roberts is your quintessential hard man: a 6 foot 4, 17 stone slab of rippling muscle, conditioned to run hard into other huge men in an arena where physical dominance is the prime currency. Yet away from rugby, he's a mild-mannered and thoughtful man - a qualified doctor with a thirst for knowledge and a curiosity about the world around him. It's an intriguing contradiction. In his first full season with the Cardiff Blues he was picked by new Wales coach Warren Gatland in the Grand Slam-winning side of 2008. He was still establishing his position in the national team when he toured with the 2009 Lions, emerging as Player of the Series. He went on to win 97 Test caps and play for clubs in Paris, London and Cape Town, yet his career has seldom been straightforward. A fractured skull was one of many injuries he had to overcome, and from the start he had to juggle the competing demands of university life and professional rugby. The joy of Six Nations success with Wales was balanced by heartbreak in the World Cup and disappointment against southern-hemisphere teams, while major trophies at club level proved frustratingly elusive. In this colourful and frank account of a sterling career, Jamie Roberts reveals all about life on tour, in boot camps and in dressing rooms filled with once-in-a-generation characters such as Mike Phillips, Andy Powell, Shaun Edwards, Martyn Williams, Brian O'Driscoll and Johnny Sexton. He also shares his views on concussion in rugby, the failings of the professional structure in Wales and the vital role of old-school team-bonding.
Download or read book No Borders written by Tom English and published by Birlinn. This book was released on 2018-10-04 with total page 506 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fully updated to include Ireland's historic victory over the All Blacks and their 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam. From Jack Kyle's immortals to Brian O'Driscoll's golden generation, this is the story of Irish rugby told in the players' words. Celebrated rugby writer Tom English embarks on a pilgrimage through the four provinces to reveal the fascinating and illuminating story of playing test rugby in the emerald green of Ireland - all the glory of victory, all the pain of defeat, and all the craic behind the scenes.But this is more than just a nostalgic look back through the years, it is a searing portrait of the effects of politics and religion on Irish sport, a story of great schisms and volatile divisions, but also as story of the profound unity, passionate friendships and the bonds of a brotherhood. With exclusive new interview material with a host of Ireland rugby greats, No Borders unveils the compelling truth of what it means to play for Ireland at Lansdowne Road, Croke Park and around the world. This is the ultimate history of Irish rugby - told, definitively, by the men who have been there and done it.
Download or read book Chasing a Rugby Dream written by James Hook and published by Birlinn Ltd. This book was released on 2020-10-01 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winner of the Telegraph Sports Book Awards Children's Book of the Year Small, skinny and short-sighted . . . and dazzlingly talented. Jimmy Joseph loves rugby. All he dreams about is one day playing for his country in a World Cup, or winning a Test series for the Lions with a last-minute drop-goal. But when he kicks an up-and-under in the schoolyard and accidentally hits the new head of PE, Mr Kane, on the head, he makes a powerful enemy. Jimmy and his best friends – Manu, Scott and Kitty – try to prove their worth on the rugby field, but to no avail. Mr Kane has it out for them, and he's being helped by team captain Mike Green, well known as the school bully. Can Jimmy and his friends overcome the tyranny of Mr Kane and help Mike see the error of his ways? Or will the combination of bullying, pressure and dirty tactics derail the friends' rugby careers before they have even begun? An epic new rugby series begins here!
Download or read book Willie John written by Willie John McBride and published by Piatkus Books. This book was released on 2005-02-03 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Willie John McBride is a rugby legend - the boy from Ballymena in Northern Ireland who became captain of the Ireland rugby team and captain of the British Lions for their unbeaten tour against South Africa in 1974. He has remained at the centre of rugby life ever since. During an international career lasting from 1962-75, Willie John played 17 tests for the Lions and was capped 63 times (12 as captain) by Ireland. He was awarded the MBE for services to rugby football in 1971 and later coached and managed the Lions and Ulster. Willie John reveals a man who loves his rugby, love, life, and loves to tell a good story. Despite his amazing success on the rugby field, his life was not always as happy and straightforward. He recounts and reveals details of his life from family tragedies to how he had to sleep with two bodyguards outside his door during the Troubles. The book also includes are many of Willie John's wonderful stories, for which he is justly famous.
