Book description
England has contributed some of the greatest players and most
colourful characters to the rich history of the Lions, and never more
so than in recent years. During the course of little more than a
decade, a golden era for the Red Rose yielded four Grand Slams en
route to the thrilling climax of the World Cup victory in Sydney, a
triumph which has catapulted some of the side's stars to a higher
plane in the nation's affections. It is not surprising, therefore,
that English players have dominated the last four Lions tours in a way
which none of the home countries has done before.
Lions of England presents the country's most famous players
in a series of revealing portraits, each telling a fascinating story
woven around monumental Test matches. Rich in previously untold
anecdote and humour, these accounts illustrate the lives and times of
the greats spanning three-quarters of a century - from one pre-war
knight of the realm, Carl Aarvold, to a more recent one, Clive
Woodward. All the evocative names of English rugby are featured here,
from Dickie Jeeps to Martin Johnson, Jeff Butterfield to Jason
Robinson, Dean Richards to Lawrence Dallaglio. Other chapters are
devoted to Peter Jackson (a rather better player than the author),
John Pullin, Roger Uttley, Fran Cotton, David Duckham, Bill Beaumont,
Peter Wheeler, Jeremy Guscott, Rob Andrew, Jason Leonard and, of
course, Jonny Wilkinson.
Peter Jackson, the Daily Mail's award-winning rugby writer,
has drawn on all his experience and eye for the unusual to give the
reader an insight into what makes these talented players tick as
people, the early influences which shaped their careers and the
momentous events which made them household names.
Bang up to date with the inclusion of the summer 2005 series against
the All Blacks and a comprehensive records appendix, Lions of
England is sure to inform and entertain rugby lovers of every
generation in equal measure.
Peter Jackson has spent a lifetime in sports journalism, specialising
in rugby union since joining the
Daily Mail
in 1974. A failed fly-half who had the misfortune to make his school
1st XV debut in direct opposition to a boy who went on to become one of
the all-time greats, Mike Gibson, Jackson saw his first international on
the terracing at Lansdowne Road in 1959, when England beat Ireland 3-0.
He has covered all five World Cups, followed the Lions all over the
southern hemisphere and won awards for his reportage of the revolution
in the wake of the sport being declared open in August 1995.
