Byrne Identity, The - The Sensational Rugby Autobiography

Lee Byrne and Richard Morgan

ISBN 10: 1784614610 / ISBN 13: 9781784614614

Published by Y Lolfa Cyf, 2017

Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. Though second-hand, the book is still in very good shape. Minimal signs of usage may include very minor creasing on the cover or on the spine. Seller Inventory # CHL3395197

Synopsis:

Charting his unlikely route from humble beginnings on a tough Bridgend estate and working on building sites to the top of world rugby as a Grand Slam winner and Test Lion, Lee Byrne's frank and powerful autobiography lifts the lid on off-field rifts and sheds new light on one of the brightest talents to grace the Welsh game.

Byrne talks frankly about the joy of playing at the highest level for Scarlets, Ospreys, Wales and the Lions, as well as his off-field antics. He gives an insider's glimpse into Welsh rugby under Warren Gatland and the tactics and psychology employed. He reveals for the first time the true story behind the end of his international career and his struggles with depression following his forced retirement from the game after injury, and discusses his dyslexia, a condition which has caused issues throughout his life. He also lifts the lid on some of the famous names he shared a dressing room with at the Liberty Stadium, on the rift between Mike Ruddock and senior players within the Wales team, on the infamous Ospreys 'tour' to Ireland during the title-clinching Magners League run in of 2010, on run-ins with Rob Howley, and on how the death of his good friend Jerry Collins affected him.

About the Author: Lee Byrne is a former international rugby union player who won 46 caps for Wales and one for the British and Irish Lions. He signed his first professional contract with the Scarlets at 22, at the onset of regional rugby in Wales. He'd previously played as an amateur with Bridgend Athletic and Tondu, while working on building sites and in warehouses. He won a Celtic League Title with the Scarlets in 2004 and in 2006 he joined the Ospreys, where he added another two domestic titles and the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2008. It was while with the Ospreys that he played his best rugby for Wales, featuring in the Grand Slam-winning campaign of 2008. The following summer he was selected for the British and Irish Lions' tour of South Africa, where he played in the first test before having to return home with an injury. He played his final match for Wales in the Rugby World Cup in 2011, before signing a three year deal with French club Clermont Auvergne. During his time in France, he played in the Heineken Cup Final, with Clermont losing narrowly to Toulon. He joined the Dragons in 2014, before being forced to retire from the game due to injury in 2015. Lee now runs rugby camps for young players, and pursues a number of business interests. He is also an ambassador for Tomorrow's Generation, a dyslexia charity based in Cardiff.

Co-author Richard Morgan is a television journalist who spent eight years working as a sports reporter. He has covered three Wales Grand Slams and two world cup campaigns, including Wales' run to the semi-final in 2011. He also covered the British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in 2005, and produced ITV Wales' 2015 World Cup highlights programmes.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Byrne Identity, The - The Sensational Rugby ...
Publisher: Y Lolfa Cyf
Publication Date: 2017
Binding: Paperback
Condition: Used; Very Good