OTHER BOOKS
Lee Byrne - Byrne Identity (Y Lolfa Cyf, £9.99)
Likeable book from one of the best full-backs of the modern era, a player who was surely dropped too soon by Wales. Doesn’t pull any punches and is honest about his spikey relationship with Rob Howley and the fall-out between Mike Ruddock and the Wales team so soon after their splendid 2005 Grand Slam. Also talks about his dyslexia and his depression after being forced to retire through injury. Writes movingly – and amusingly – on his great mate Jerry Collins, with whom he struck up a firm friendship at the Ospreys and whose death in a motor accident in 2015 stunned the rugby world. Rating:
Warren Gatland - In the line of Fire (Headline, £9.99 paperback)
An old-fashioned Tour diary and none the worse for it, Gatland and his ghost Gerry Thornley take you through the build-up and the Tour itself. The title sets the tone. He could have opted for something like “One point from glory” but completed soon after the tour finished Gatland’s emotions were running high and it was the constant pressure of trying to beat the world’s best in their own backyard, and the rough and sometimes purile treatment of the Kiwi Press that most occupies his mind. Don’t let that put you off, this is a valuable front row view of an historic tour.
Rob Andrew - The Game of My Life (Hodder and Stoughton, £20)
Rob Andrew’s second autobiography and although there are interesting moments it is slightly underwhelming. He was so intimately involved at the sharp end of England rugby for so long – from the Brian Ashton era to managing the controversial 2008 tour of New Zealand, to the appointment of Martin Johnson and then the selection of Stuart Lancaster when big hitters like Nick Mallett and Clive Woodward had expressed an interest – that you feel there is more to be said. As has been widely acknowledged there were some major personal triumphs, not least the complicated but successful agreement with the Premiership clubs.
Into the Wind - The Life of Carwyn James (Y Lolfa Cyf, £14.99) By Alan Gibbard
Exhaustive and comprehensive 432 page look at the life of the enigmatic Carwyn James, right down to listing the books he left in his flat in Italy which ranged from A Hemingway Selection to the superb forgotten masterpiece,
A Writers Notebook by Somerset Maugham. No stone is left unturned – educational, rugby, politics and his sexuality – but the author skilfully avoids appearing unnecessary intrusive. Perhaps lacks the snap shot intimacy of Alun Richards’ Carwyn reprinted a few years back – which majors on his stay in Italy but a wonderful book nonetheless.
Wrecking Ball, Billy Vunipola (Headline, £20 or £9.99 paperback)
At the age of 25 with his best years still hopefully to come it might seem a tad early to be penning an autobiography but alas Billy V has had a stack of time on his hands this year through various injuries and one way of countering that was to tell the story so far – and actually it’s rather good. Eloquent in that softly spoken humble way of his plus he has a rich and varied story to tell. This book is very good on his loving Tongan family and the strength he derives from that and his early years in Wales where both he and brother Mako first learned the game. Indeed they supported Australia on that fateful day in 2003 that England won the World Cup. How times have changed.
When Lions Roared (Arena Sport £17.99) by Peter Burns and Tom English
Excellent fly on the wall look at the fabled 1971 Lions tour to New Zealand through the voices of those at the sharp end. Suffers ever so slightly in that the 71 Lions Tour has been picked over like none before or since but still lots of new insight and some unexpectedly sharp words. England centre John Spencer – this year’s Lions manager – clearly didn’t appreciate being shunted onto the wing for the midweek team by Carwyn James and is one of the few players over the years to be less than complimentary about the Lions coach. That’s fine, all contributions were genuine and honest and everybody’s experience was different.