Behind the Dragon: Playing Rugby for Wales

by Ross Harries

‘Punchy, revelatory, irresistible. Gorge yourself on a history of Welsh rugby like you’ve never read before’ - Rugby World

‘A tremendous book. What an array of fantastic characters and insights . . . both laugh out loud and poignant’ - Tom English, BBC SPORT

‘An epic story, revealed by the words of the men who created legends in the Welsh jersey’ - Stephen Jones, The Sunday Times

‘No country can have endured as volcanic a love affair with one sport as the Welsh and rugby union, a passion still going strong after almost 140 years. No code of football can have had quite as many colourful characters in its dramatis personae and in telling their stories, Ross Harries has written a history book like no other’ – Peter Jackson, JOURNALIST AND BROADCASTER

From the first Test match in the 1881 all the way through to the 2019 Grand Slam, this is the story of Welsh rugby – told in the players’ words.

Based on a combination of painstaking research into the early years of the Wales team to interviews with a vast array of Test match players and coaches from the Second World War to the present day, Ross Harries delves to the very heart of what it means to play for Wales, painting a unique and utterly compelling picture of the game in the only words that can truly do so: the players’ own.

Behind the Dragon lifts the lid on what it means to pull on the famous red shirt in the fire and fury of Test match rugby – the trials and tribulations behind the scenes, the glory, the honour and the drama on the field, and the heart-warming tales of friendship off it.

Absorbing, illuminating, hilarious and poignant, this is the ultimate history of Welsh rugby – told by the men who have been there and done it.

Genres: Sports

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2019

Reviews

[Gareth Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read of the history of Welsh rugby through the words of those who played. A good read for any welsh rugby fan.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unusual book in the way the story was told. It was made up almost entirely of quotations from the players, coaches and officials who were involved with the game. Even with the beginings of the game in Wales when all the participants are now dead there were anecdotes from people who had heard directly or indirectly about the exploits of the people involved with the early games. I very much liked the way tours and games were related by the players as if you were watching the game. This made for very interesting reading and gave an insight of just how hard the games were. There was also a good coverage of the way in which it became necessary to adopt more rigorous coaching methods to meet the highe standards of other national sides and the rather high handed attitudes of the officials towards the players it was a wonder that there were not more rebellions but the honor of playing for your country over rode any feelings of being taken advantage of. A very enjoyable read with some good touches of humour in the players comments.

[Jack Aneurin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest books on sport I have ever read. Encapsulates the drama, humour and calon at the centre of Welsh rugby. A masterpiece.

[Patrick Barritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read for a rugby fan. The early stuff was a bit slow going but once it get to events I can remember - seventies onward - it was entertaining and i learn't a lot of the background to events that have become a little mythologised over the years . The Mike Ruddock thing etc.
shame it ended just before the 2019 world cup as that would have been a neater place to finish

[Dai Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This veritable hefty tome (464 pages) of rugby treasure is simply the best and most entertaining book on Welsh rugby (or rugby anywhere for that matter) I have ever read – and, believe me, I have read many!

The insights, philosophies, and anecdotes gleaned from hundreds of hours of lengthy, informal, individual chatty interviews the author has had with a vast number of past and present Welsh international players, and coaches, are gems of absolute rugby gold.

The monumental task of curating and ordering the various aspects of these conversations into a seamlessly flowing superb account of welsh rugby history (from 1881 to the present day) is astounding.

If you love the beautiful game of rugby, and especially if you are Welsh, this is the one rugby book you should not be without. This is the stuff you always wanted to know – what really goes on in and around the international game....... from those who actually do the business on the field.

“Behind the Dragon” really does go behind the spectacle of the game, like no other – and the author has done a fantastic job in getting those involved to tell it like it really is!