Matt Dawson: Nine Lives

by Matt Dawson

The most capped England rugby scrum-half of all time, a captain of his country, and a two-times British Lions tourist, Matt Dawson’s career story is a colourful tale spiced with controversy, from club rugby at Northampton to England winning the Rugby World Cup in Australia. Now fully updated with England’s first year as World Champions. The boy from Birkenhead learnt the game the hard way, working as a security guard and an advertising salesman in his formative years, in the days when rugby players found relief in an active and alcoholic social life. ( ‘The drinking started on Saturday night, continued all Sunday and most nights until Thursday.’) Despite the frequent visits to the operating theatre and the physio’s table, hard graft for his club Northampton eventually heralded international recognition. Dawson talks about the influential, and occasional obstructive figures in his blossoming the likes of John Olver, Will Carling, Ian McGeechan and, more recently, Wayne Shelford, Kyran Bracken and Clive Woodward. In typically opinionated mode, he also reflects on the successes and failures of the England team and, famously, the Lions in Australia in 2001. After speaking out against punishing schedules, disenchanted players and lack of management support in a tour diary article, Dawson was almost sent home in disgrace. He revisits that bitterly disappointing period in his life and is still not afraid to point out where everything went wrong. Following England’s Rugby World Cup 2003 success, Dawson provides a first-hand account of all the dressing room drama – including a troubled Jonny Wilkinson – and the memorable final itself, followed by the stunning reaction to this historic win back home. And in a new updated chapter for this paperback edition, he reveals how the World Champions have overcome the retirement of key players, reviews the 2004 Six Nations, and looks at his own future in the game.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Autobiography

Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawson the man involved in England’s triumphant 2003 World Cup won.
Not much is described about his personal life, if that’s what you’re after, however, the book focuses on rugby from start to finish and let’s face it, that’s why we’ve all picked it up.
Interesting insight from Dawson himself, charting his rise, fall and rise again through the ranks of England’s sporting gods.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admire Dawson's career as scrum-half for Northampton Saints, England and the British Lions. Spanning over a decade from the amateur game into the professional era, the five nations into the six, battling controversies and injuries along the way and culminating in his fifty seventh cap in Sydney with the World Cup winners. It was interesting to read his thoughts on Will Carling in comparison with that of Gerry Guscott in his autobiography.
'Nine Lives' can be recommended to all followers of the Union game.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never liked him. But he won a World Cup. Didn't like Graham Henry on the 2001 Lions tour to Oz and can tell a good tale.