Matt Dawson: Nine Lives

Biography & Memoir, Sports, Nonfiction
Cover of the book Matt Dawson: Nine Lives by Matt Dawson, HarperCollins Publishers
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Matt Dawson ISBN: 9780007438259
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Publication: March 29, 2012
Imprint: Willow Language: English
Author: Matt Dawson
ISBN: 9780007438259
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication: March 29, 2012
Imprint: Willow
Language: English

The most capped England rugby scrum-half of all time, a captain of his country, and a two-times British Lions tourist, Matt Dawson’s career story is a colourful tale spiced with controversy, from club rugby at Northampton to England winning the Rugby World Cup in Australia. The boy from Birkenhead learnt the game the hard way, working as a security guard and an advertising salesman in his formative years, in the days when rugby players found relief in an active and alcoholic social life. (Dawson: ‘The drinking started on Saturday night, continued all Sunday and most nights until Thursday.’) Despite the frequent visits to the operating theatre and the physio’s table, hard graft for his club Northampton eventually heralded international recognition. Dawson talks about the influential, and occasional obstructive figures in his blossoming career: the likes of John Olver, Will Carling, Ian McGeechan and, more recently, Wayne Shelford, Kyran Bracken and Clive Woodward. In typically opinionated mode, he also reflects on the successes and failures of the England team and, famously, the Lions in Australia in 2001. After speaking out against punishing schedules, disenchanted players and lack of management support in a tour diary article, Dawson was almost sent home in disgrace. He revisits that bitterly disappointing period in his life and is still not afraid to point out where everything went wrong. Following England’s Rugby World Cup 2003 success, Dawson provides a first-hand account of all the dressing room drama – including a troubled Jonny Wilkinson – and the memorable final itself, followed by the stunning reaction to this historic win back home. And in a new updated chapter for this paperback edition, he reveals how the World Champions have overcome the retirement of key players, reviews the 2004 Six Nations, and looks at his own future in the game.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The most capped England rugby scrum-half of all time, a captain of his country, and a two-times British Lions tourist, Matt Dawson’s career story is a colourful tale spiced with controversy, from club rugby at Northampton to England winning the Rugby World Cup in Australia. The boy from Birkenhead learnt the game the hard way, working as a security guard and an advertising salesman in his formative years, in the days when rugby players found relief in an active and alcoholic social life. (Dawson: ‘The drinking started on Saturday night, continued all Sunday and most nights until Thursday.’) Despite the frequent visits to the operating theatre and the physio’s table, hard graft for his club Northampton eventually heralded international recognition. Dawson talks about the influential, and occasional obstructive figures in his blossoming career: the likes of John Olver, Will Carling, Ian McGeechan and, more recently, Wayne Shelford, Kyran Bracken and Clive Woodward. In typically opinionated mode, he also reflects on the successes and failures of the England team and, famously, the Lions in Australia in 2001. After speaking out against punishing schedules, disenchanted players and lack of management support in a tour diary article, Dawson was almost sent home in disgrace. He revisits that bitterly disappointing period in his life and is still not afraid to point out where everything went wrong. Following England’s Rugby World Cup 2003 success, Dawson provides a first-hand account of all the dressing room drama – including a troubled Jonny Wilkinson – and the memorable final itself, followed by the stunning reaction to this historic win back home. And in a new updated chapter for this paperback edition, he reveals how the World Champions have overcome the retirement of key players, reviews the 2004 Six Nations, and looks at his own future in the game.

More books from HarperCollins Publishers

Cover of the book Bruce’s Cookbook by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book The Power of Kindness by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book Goodly and Grave in A Bad Case of Kidnap (Goodly and Grave, Book 1) by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book Brothers in Arms by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book As They Say In Zanzibar by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book Making Divorce Work: In 9 Easy Steps by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book Kashmir the Vajpayee Years by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book The Professor by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book Being Pakistani: Society, Culture and the Arts by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book Guilt by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book The Ingredients for Happiness by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book The Lawman of Silver Creek: (A Novella) (The Men of Fir Mountain, Book 2) by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book Neil Lennon: Man and Bhoy by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book The Professor (Collins Classics) by Matt Dawson
Cover of the book The Snake in 2014: Your Chinese Horoscope by Matt Dawson
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy