These new books by Haskell, Marler & Hartley...

[Akkerman]

Any good ? Worth the time and money or just a load of self-promoting crap ? I'm looking for some decent rugby reading.

[Hugo]

Haven't read any but the Hartley one sounds like it would be decent based on the interviews he did to promote it a couple of months back.

I think he talks about the unprofessional behaviour of the England team at the 2011 RWC and the toll that rugby takes on the body, the sense of feeling used and abused once your playing days are over, mental health & concussions.

[Slick]

Don’t know about any of these but if you want to know about any other rugby books I’ve just ordered Brothers in Arms from my wife for my birthday

It’s by a British journalist in France who travels the country interviewing the great French team of the 80’s with of course Jean Pierre Rives as the central figure. He talks to them not just about rugby but about how their lives have turned out and what keeps them together even now. It’s also a look at French food, culture etc. Sounds brilliant

[assfly]

I'd probably give Hask's book a read. He used to drive me nuts, but I've come to enjoy his storytelling on his podcasts and the book must be full of a few gems, like Rory Best story.

[Blackmac]

I've found that any rugby autobiographies post professionalism are totally shit.

[Saint]

Hartley's is very good.

[Grandpa]

I've found that any rugby autobiographies post professionalism are totally shit.

I have read a few... McCaw's autobiography was pretty feeble. Justin Marshall was a bit better, but not great. But Anton Oliver's was superb...

[Uncle fester]

Don’t know about any of these but if you want to know about any other rugby books I’ve just ordered Brothers in Arms from my wife for my birthday

It’s by a British journalist in France who travels the country interviewing the great French team of the 80’s with of course Jean Pierre Rives as the central figure. He talks to them not just about rugby but about how their lives have turned out and what keeps them together even now. It’s also a look at French food, culture etc. Sounds brilliant

That sounds ace. Hints dropped to my significant other.

[clydecloggie]

I've found that any rugby autobiographies post professionalism are totally shit.

I liked Sam Warburton's one. Although 'like' is maybe the wrong word, as it is a pretty grim read where even the highs are coated in existential angst.

You wouldn't wish being a professional rugby player on your worst enemy after that.

[SaintK]

Hartley's is very good.

Bough it for my 85 year old FiL's birthday. He reckons it's one of the best rugby biograpies he's read

[tc27]

I recommend Hartley's too.

[Akkerman]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try the Hartley one.

[Kawazaki]

I don't plan to read any of those books. Two narcissists and a very average thug.

[SaintK]

I don't plan to read any of those books. Two narcissists and a very average thug.

If you don't fancy any of those I can recommend Fringes by Ben Mercer.
About life as a semi-pro player who moves to France to play for an ambitious lower tier town club
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48986351-fringes

[duke]

I don't plan to read any of those books. Two narcissists and a very average thug.

If you don't fancy any of those I can recommend Fringes by Ben Mercer.
About life as a semi-pro player who moves to France to play for an ambitious lower tier town club
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48986351-fringes

I can second that on Fringes, an excellent read about the differences of playing in France.

[sockwithaticket]

I don't plan to read any of those books. Two narcissists and a very average thug.

If you don't fancy any of those I can recommend Fringes by Ben Mercer.
About life as a semi-pro player who moves to France to play for an ambitious lower tier town club
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48986351-fringes

I can second that on Fringes, an excellent read about the differences of playing in France.

Interestingly (to me anyway) Dave Flatman was saying on his pod that Dupont and Ntamack don't adhere to any of the stories we commonly here about certain differences in French attitudes and application regarding diet and conditioning. It'll be interesting to see if that manifests more widely and these tales of a somewhat lackadaisical approach are condemned to aging biogs.

[Uncle fester]

I don't plan to read any of those books. Two narcissists and a very average thug.

If you don't fancy any of those I can recommend Fringes by Ben Mercer.
About life as a semi-pro player who moves to France to play for an ambitious lower tier town club
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48986351-fringes

Always wanted to learn more (and write) about Scottish borders rugby. Fascinating rugby culture.

[Kawazaki]

I don't plan to read any of those books. Two narcissists and a very average thug.

If you don't fancy any of those I can recommend Fringes by Ben Mercer.
About life as a semi-pro player who moves to France to play for an ambitious lower tier town club
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48986351-fringes

[Saint]

I don't plan to read any of those books. Two narcissists and a very average thug.

Whatever you think about Hartley, his book gives a LOT of insight into what the top-level of pro rugby looks like. It's not pretty