Grand Slam: How Ireland Achieved Rugby Greatness In The Players' Own Words

Ireland's grand slam in the 2009 Six Nations championship was the triumphant culmination of a decade of near-misses for the players of the 'golden generation', brilliantly aided by a crop of young players who had long awaited their chance to crack the side. This book tells the story of the grand slam in the players' own words. Based on exclusive interviews by Alan English with the members of the Ireland squad - O'Driscoll, O'Connell, O'Gara and the rest - "Grand Slam" is the complete story of how they did it. The thrilling last-second victory over Wales was only the last in a series of thrilling, physically brutal, and nail-bitingly close matches in which the Irish confirmed their class and answered those who doubted their heart. The players and coaching staff talk about all the key moments in the five matches - the thriller against France, the win in Rome after a difficult first half, the one-pointer over England, the grinding victory at Murrayfield, and finally the extraordinarily intense grand slam clincher at the Millennium Stadium - as well as the crucial moments in between: in the dressing room and on the training pitch. And they talk about how they raised themselves, after poor performances in the 2007 World Cup and the 2008 Six Nations, to this year's glorious heights. Lavishly illustrated with match photos by the Inpho team, and by Billy Stickland's stunning and exclusive behind-the-scenes shots, "Grand Slam" is the ultimate account of an achievement that brought joy to the nation.

Alan English is editor of the Limerick Leader and the author of Munster: Our Road to Glory (also with Billy Stickland) and Stand Up and Fight: When Munster Beat the All Blacks. Billy Stickland is the founder and head of the Inpho sports photographic agency.