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Donal Lenihan

Author: Donal Lenihan

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2016-09-22

Total Pages: 304

ISBN-13: 1473540011

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.

No Borders

Author: Tom English

Publisher: Birlinn

Published: 2018-10-04

Total Pages: 506

ISBN-13: 0857908448

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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.

Roars from the Back of the Bus

Author: Stewart McKinney

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2012-09-06

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 1780571488

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Roars from the Back of the Bus is an absorbing, amusing and at times moving collection of tales that give a rare insight into the camaraderie that exists between players at the top of their game, showing that relationships forged through experiences on a Lions tour last a lifetime. From the first Tour in 1888, it showcases characters with immense personality who fought together in wars or on rugby pitches in foreign lands, and who shared a bond developed through touring as representatives of the home nations. Despite the changes to the game after the advent of professionalism, the experiences of Jamie Heaslip, Brian O’Driscoll and Joe Worsley are still similar in some ways to those of earlier intrepid tourists like Blair Mayne, Lewis Jones, Sir Carl Aarvold or David Rollo. Containing defining memories and private insights from across the tours and the decades, Roars from the Back of the Bus shows that the Lions ethos remains strong at the heart of every team.

Lions of Ireland

Author: David Walmsley

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2012-03-16

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 1780574622

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Look for a Lions legend and the chances are you will find an Irishman. Throughout the touring team's history, the heroes of Irish rugby have been at the heart of the Lions' finest hours - on and off the pitch. Look at the Lions record books and you will find Irishmen at the top of almost every list, from Willie John McBride and Tony O'Reilly to Ronnie Dawson. No nation has provided more leaders of the Lions. In Lions of Ireland, these greats tell their stories of life on some of the longest, hardest roads in sport. Those featured include world-class players and characters who have contributed to Lions folklore, such as Karl Mullen, Jack Kyle, Fergus Slattery, Tom Kiernan, Mike Gibson and Syd Millar - and the account is brought up to date with contributions from the likes of Keith Wood. This book includes a complete reference section featuring every Irish player to have represented the Lions in Tests since the first united tour of 1910. It recalls the powerful personalities and relives the most dramatic deeds in the Lions' long history - from the 1971 groundbreaking triumph against the All Blacks and success against the odds in South Africa in 1997 to the 2005 tour of New Zealand.

Legacy of the Lions

Author: Gavin Hastings

Publisher: Polaris

Published: 2021-08-11

Total Pages: 348

ISBN-13: 1913538389

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Legacy of the Lions explores leadership lessons learned in one of the most challenging environments in the sporting world: touring with the British & Irish Lions. Drawing on the author’s own experiences – and those of other tourists and managers – Gavin Hastings examines what lessons can be transferred from this elite, pressurized environment to other aspects of business and life. Based on interviews with an array of past and present greats of the game – including Sam Warburton, Warren Gatland, Brian O’Driscoll, Martin Johnson, Finlay Calder, Gareth Edwards and Willie John McBride, plus many others – Legacy of the Lions discovers what leadership lessons have been learned in one of the most pressurized environments in world sport – and how they can be made to work for you.

Lions of England

Author: Peter Jackson

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2012-12-07

Total Pages: 337

ISBN-13: 1780577737

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England has contributed some of the greatest players and most colourful characters to the rich history of the Lions, and never more so than in recent years. During the course of little more than a decade, a golden era for the Red Rose yielded four Grand Slams en route to the thrilling climax of the World Cup victory in Sydney, a triumph which has catapulted some of the side's stars to a higher plane in the nation's affections. It is not surprising, therefore, that English players have dominated the last four Lions tours in a way which none of the home countries has done before. Lions of England presents the country's most famous players in a series of revealing portraits, each telling a fascinating story woven around monumental Test matches. Rich in previously untold anecdote and humour, these accounts illustrate the lives and times of the greats spanning three-quarters of a century - from one pre-war knight of the realm, Carl Aarvold, to a more recent one, Clive Woodward. All the evocative names of English rugby are featured here, from Dickie Jeeps to Martin Johnson, Jeff Butterfield to Jason Robinson, Dean Richards to Lawrence Dallaglio. Other chapters are devoted to Peter Jackson (a rather better player than the author), John Pullin, Roger Uttley, Fran Cotton, David Duckham, Bill Beaumont, Peter Wheeler, Jeremy Guscott, Rob Andrew, Jason Leonard and, of course, Jonny Wilkinson. Peter Jackson, the Daily Mail's award-winning rugby writer, has drawn on all his experience and eye for the unusual to give the reader an insight into what makes these talented players tick as people, the early influences which shaped their careers and the momentous events which made them household names. Bang up to date with the inclusion of the summer 2005 series against the All Blacks and a comprehensive records appendix, Lions of England is sure to inform and entertain rugby lovers of every generation in equal measure.

Legends of Irish Rugby

Author: John Scally

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2012-04-13

Total Pages: 301

ISBN-13: 1780574630

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Based on exclusive interviews with 40 celebrated players, past and present, Legends of Irish Rugby is a veritable who's who of the sport. Immortals such as Jack Kyle, Willie John McBride, Tony Ward, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy and Paul O'Connell bare their souls to reveal themselves as men of vision, passion and dedication - men who, through their glories, disappointments and dramatic deeds, have inspired others to realise their dreams. In this engrossing and entertaining account of the bittersweet history of Irish rugby, these powerful personalities offer startling insights into some of the sport's most controversial moments - from the assault on Ronan O'Gara during the 2001 Lions tour to Gary Ella's tenure as Leinster coach. They also express their opinions on the most important issues facing the game today - from Brian O'Driscoll's hair to the role of the coach and the future of the sport itself. Their take on the times is often as comical as it is insightful. Compelling, informative and humorous, Legends of Irish Rugby is by far the most revealing volume yet on one of the country's favourite sports.

The White Heat – My Autobiography

Author: Tomás Ó Sé

Publisher: Gill & Macmillan Ltd

Published: 2015-10-16

Total Pages: 311

ISBN-13: 0717169324

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'I went as hard as I could for as long as I could'When Tomás Ó Sé retired from the Kerry senior panel in 2013, he did so as one of the longest-serving players in intercountry history and one of its most prolific winners. 'Tomás epitomised everything that Kerry football is all about. His commitment, determination and never say die attitude were plainly visible every time he took to the pitch. He was a warrior and the best wing back that I have seen play the game.'Éamonn Fitzmaurice, Kerry senior team managerBut his drive and determination weren't forged in a vacuum: they came from growing up in a family and place where Gaelic football was all that mattered. For Tomás and his brothers Marc and Darragh, football always came first – each of them inspired by the larger-than-life personality of their uncle Páidí, the talisman of Kerry's fabled team of the early 1980s.In his memoir, an account of his upbringing and time in the Championship cauldron competing alongside and against the sport's modern greats, Tomás writes candidly about life as a member of Ireland's greatest sporting dynasty: the victories and disappointments, the rivals and roguery, the clashes and confrontations ... not to mention the tremendous responsibility that came with donning the green and gold of Kerry.Moving, thrilling and frequently hilarious, The White Heat is an exploration of what it means to eat, sleep and bleed Gaelic Games.

Behind The Lions

Author: Stephen Jones

Publisher: Birlinn

Published: 2021-03-04

Total Pages: 704

ISBN-13: 0857905295

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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.

More Than A Game

Author: Con Houlihan

Publisher: Liberties Press

Published: 2013-02-25

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 1907593926

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Con Houlihan was, quite simply, one of Ireland's finest sports writers. Over a lengthy career, Con covered many of the greatest Irish and international sporting events, from classic Gaelic football and hurling finals to the soccer and rugby World Cups, the Olympics and memorable race meetings at home and abroad. He also covered sport's biggest stars, from George Best to Muhammad Ali. More Than A Game gathers together the finest examples of his sports journalism from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s. Let Con be your guide to some of the greatest moments - and characters - in Irish and world sport.