Behind the Lions: Playing Rugby for the British & Irish Lions (Behind the Jersey Series) - Hardcover

Jones, Stephen; English, Tom; Cain, Nick; Barnes, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1909715123 ISBN 13: 9781909715127

Publisher: Birlinn Ltd, 2013

Synopsis

For 125 years the British & Irish Lions have stood out as a unique emblem in world sport. They represent the best of the best from the four Home Nations, coming together every four years under a united badge to take on the rugby greats of the Southern Hemisphere. Lions tours embody a revered legacy that is steeped in tradition yet maintains a vibrant standing in the modern era. The Lions badge is a symbol of the ethics, values and the romance at the heart of Test match rugby. Every four years the rugby world's focus is drawn to a great red pilgrimage as the Lions embark on a brutal and exhilarating tour that challenges the very limits of their rugby ability and the strengths of their characters. They travel to the far reaches of the earth to confront the great powers in the world game - and the weight of history itself. Behind the Lions sees four esteemed rugby writers from each of the Home Nations delve to the heart of what it means to be a Lion, interviewing a vast array of former tourists to uncover the passion, pride and exhilaration experienced when wearing the famous red jersey. It is a tale of heart-break and ecstasy, humour and poignancy that is at once inspirational, moving and utterly compelling. This is the story of the British & Irish Lions - in their own words.

About this title

About the Author

Stephen Jones is a multi award-winning 'The Sunday Times' rugby correspondent and world-renowned rugby expert. He is the author of several books on the sport, including 'Lion Man: The Autobiography of Ian McGeechan', 'Midnight Rugby: Triumph and Shambles in the Professional Era', and 'Endless Winter: Inside Story of the Rugby Revolution' which was the winner of the prestigious William Hill Sports Book of the Year award. Tom English is the award-winning chief sports writer for the 'Scotland on Sunday' and has been voted Scottish Sport's Feature Writer of the Year by the Scottish Press Association for three years running. He has held posts with 'The Sunday Times', 'Sunday Express' and 'The Scotsman'. He won Rugby Book of the Year at the 2010 British Sports Book Awards for his novel, 'The Grudge'. Nick Cain is a rugby columnist for 'The Sunday Times' and chief writer for 'The Rugby Paper'. He edited Rugby World magazine for nine years, and is the co-author of 'The Lions Diary' with Jeremy Guscott and 'Rugby Union for Dummie's. David Barnes is a freelance journalist, covering rugby for various newspapers. He is the co-author of Jim Renwick's autobiography, 'Centre of Excellence', and the co-author of 'Behind the Thistle: Playing Rugby for Scotland', published in 2010.

Tom English is an award-winning BBC Sport writer and broadcaster. He won Rugby Book of the Year at the 2011 British Sports Book Awards for The Grudge, before claiming the prize again in 2016 for No Borders: Playing Rugby for Ireland. He is a co-author of the best-selling Behind the Lions: Playing Rugby for the British & Irish Lions.
David Barnes is a freelance journalist, covering club, pro-team and international rugby for various Scottish newspapers. In 2008, he was shortlisted for Rugby Book of the Year at the British Sports Book Awards for The Accies: The Cradle of Scottish Rugby. He lives in Edinburgh. Peter Burns was born and brought up in Edinburgh and educated at the Edinburgh Academy. He read English at St Andrews University and then returned to Edinburgh to complete a Masters in Publishing. He is now Sports Editor and Digital Deveolpment Manager for Birlinn Ltd.

Peter Burns is the editor for Arena Sport and author of Behind the Thistle: Playing Rugby for Scotland, Behind the Ryder Cup: The Players’ Stories, White Gold: England’s Journey to World Cup Glory and, like Tom, is also a co-author of Behind the Lions: Playing Rugby for the British & Irish Lions.

Review

comfortably the most interesting and entertaining history of the Lions (Irish Times)

utterly compelling (Planet Rugby)

***** (Rugby World)

About this edition

• Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1909715123
• ISBN 13: 9781909715127
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 432