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

Cover Page; Title Page; Copyright Page; BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCES; CONTENTS; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; INTRODUCTION: CRUSADERS; CHAPTER ONE: PATHFINDERS 1888; CHAPTER TWO: CHAMPAGNE AND TRAVEL 1891; CHAPTER THREE: GENTLEMEN IN ALL CLASSES 1896; CHAPTER FOUR: MANLY PLAY 1899; CHAPTER FIVE: HERALD OF DARK DECADES 1903; CHAPTER SIX: THE KIWI ROVER 1904; CHAPTER SEVEN: TEMPERANCE NATION 1908; CHAPTER EIGHT: PUPIL TURNED MASTER 1910; CHAPTER NINE: BENNIE'S BOOT 1924; CHAPTER TEN: PLAYING TO THE LAWS 1930; CHAPTER ELEVEN: TWILIGHT OF THE SPORTING GODS 1938; CHAPTER TWELVE: THE FLYING LION 1950.;This new edition will include stories, anecdotes, interviews and images from the 2013 Lions tour, the controversial and hugely exciting Test series that witnessed the Lions greatest triumph for 16 years. For 125 years the British & Irish Lions have stood out as a peerless emblem in world sport. This unique account of the best from the four Home Nations examines every tour in the Lions' history, including the victorious 2013 tour to Hong Kong and Australia, told in the players' words. 'Behind the Lions' sees four esteemed rugby writers from each of the Home Nations delve to the heart of what it. ‘comfortably The Most Interesting And Entertaining History Of The Lions’ – The Irish Times ‘a Magical History’ – Daily Telegraph ‘fascinating . . . Both Heart-warming And Enthralling’ – The Sunday Times For Over 130 Years The British & Irish Lions Have Stood Out As A Symbol Of The Ethics, Values And Romance At The Heart Of Rugby Union. To Represent The Lions Is The Pinnacle For Every International Player In Britain And Ireland, And The Dream Of Tens Of Thousands Of Avid Fans Who Fol-low Them. A Lions Tour, Undertaken Every Four Years To The Southern Hemisphere, Is More Than A Series Of Rugby Matches Played Out On Foreign Fields; It Is An Epic Crusade Where The Chosen Few Face A Succession Of Mental And Physical Chal-lenges On Their Way To The Test Arena, Where They Do Battle With The Superpowers Of The World Game. Behind The Lions Sees Seven Esteemed Rugby Writers Delve To The Very Heart Of What It Means To Be A Lion, Using Diaries And Letters From Those Who Pioneered The Concept, To Interviews With A Vast Array Of Players Who Have Followed In Their Footsteps. In So Doing They Have Uncovered The Passion, Pride And Honour Experienced When Taking Up The Unique Challenge Of A Lions Tour. This Is A Tale Of Heart-break And Ecstasy, Humour And Poignancy That Is At Once Inspirational, Moving And Utterly Compelling. And It Is The Only Story Worth Hearing: The Players’ Own. Cover Page Title Page Copyright Page BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCES CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION: CRUSADERS CHAPTER ONE: PATHFINDERS 1888 CHAPTER TWO: CHAMPAGNE AND TRAVEL 1891 CHAPTER THREE: GENTLEMEN IN ALL CLASSES 1896 CHAPTER FOUR: MANLY PLAY 1899 CHAPTER FIVE: HERALD OF DARK DECADES 1903 CHAPTER SIX: THE KIWI ROVER 1904 CHAPTER SEVEN: TEMPERANCE NATION 1908 CHAPTER EIGHT: PUPIL TURNED MASTER 1910 CHAPTER NINE: BENNIE'S BOOT 1924 CHAPTER TEN: PLAYING TO THE LAWS 1930 CHAPTER ELEVEN: TWILIGHT OF THE SPORTING GODS 1938 CHAPTER TWELVE: THE FLYING LION 1950. CHAPTER THIRTEEN: LORDS OF AFRICA 1955CHAPTER FOURTEEN: KINGS OF RUGBY 1959 CHAPTER FIFTEEN: DECLINING FORTUNES 1962 CHAPTER SIXTEEN: LAND OF THE LONG DARK CLOUD 1966 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: LEARNING THE LESSONS 1968 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: THE HISTORY BOYS 1971 CHAPTER NINETEEN: THE INVINCIBLES 1974 CHAPTER TWENTY: HISTORY IN REVERSE 1977 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: EXTERNAL PRESSURES APPLY 1980 CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: MONTHS OF MELANCHOLY 1983 CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: THE COMEBACK KINGS 1989 CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: THE TWILIGHT OF THE AMATEUR 1993 CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: GLORY DAYS 1997. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: THE NEARLY MEN 2001CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: BLACKOUT 2005 CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: OLD SCHOOL VALUES 2009 CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: WARBURTON'S WARRIORS 2013 ABRIDGED HISTORY STATS AND RECORDS. 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. This new edition will include stories, anecdotes, interviews and images from the 2013 Lions tour, the controversial and hugely exciting Test series that witnessed the Lions greatest triumph for 16 years. For 125 years the British & Irish Lions have stood out as a peerless emblem in world sport. This unique account of the best from the four Home Nations examines every tour in the Lions' history, including the victorious 2013 tour to Hong Kong and Australia, told in the players' words. '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 and current players 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. This enhanced edition contains match footage highlights from every tour from 1955 to 2009, additional photographs and text, as well as a statistical section and an abridged history of the Lions. This is the history of the British & Irish Lions? in their own words. For 125 years the British & Irish Lions have stood out as a symbol of the ethics, values and romance at the heart of rugby union. To represent the Lions is the pinnacle for every international player in Britain and Ireland, and the dream of tens of thousands of avid fans who follow them. A Lions tour, undertaken every four ye

For 125 years, the British and Irish Lions have stood out as a unique emblem in world sport, and this book, written by four esteemed rugby writers from each of the Home Nations, delves into the heart of what it means to be a Lion. Interviewing a vast array of former players to uncover the passion, pride, and exhilaration experienced when wearing the famous red jersey, this is a tale of heartbreak, ecstasy, humor, and poignancy is at once inspirational and utterly compelling.