Me And My Mouth

by Austin Healey

Austin Healey is one of English rugby's best-known characters. His extraordinary career has seen him with 50 England caps, star on two British Lions tours and play a leading role in England's most successful club ever - Leicester Tigers. He's rightly regarded as perhaps the most versatile and skilful English player ever and has won fans the world over. But his outspoken nature means he's courted controversy along the way. In "Me and My Mouth", he lays bare the backstage wrangling that bedevilled England's World Cup winners and wrecked those Lions tours - and lifts the lid on the hilarious behind-the-scenes escapades fans rarely get to hear about. Now with a new career as a BBC TV presenter ahead of him, Austin's sure to stay in the public eye...and this book will ensure he keeps on ruffling feathers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Autobiography, Biography

Paperback

First published April 12, 2006

Reviews

[Phil Altimas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great insight into the mind of a professional rugby player
lets face it Austin Healy is like marmite , you either love him or hate him
but hes a 50 cap England player as well as one of the most gifted backs tigers have ever had
he to some hes a nutter, i love his side swipes and his pi$$ takes

it also shows his human side and his vulnerability

a top read

[Mike Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty standard fare as sporting autobiographies go lifted to a good read by Austin' account of Henry's Lions' Tour and Healey missing out on the World Cup winning squad.



It does reveal that he's actually plagued with a huge amount of self-doubt which is also surprising and interesting in equal measure.



It could have done with him being retired from the game for a couple of years before he wrote it to give him a little more perspective. However, his frankness and willingness to blame everyone else when things don't go right acxtually make him comically endearing.



One for die-hard rugby fans,

[Gareth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only bought this as it was £2.99. It's a fairly enjoyable read. Austin is quite a funny guy and his humour is clear in the stories he tells. Other insights from the book: Clearly Austin has always liked 'banter' but when he was a little more vulnerable near the end of his career he didn't appreciate being on the receiving end. Comes across as happy to dish it out but not so happy to get it back. I know that Austin was one of those who took up rugby as an amateur and then became professional. With all the stories of drunken behaviour it is clear that he was not very professional in his attitude to being a professional sportsman. He was obviously a product of the culture that he came from and was around but might he have had an extra few years playing (and even a World Cup winners medal) had he adopted a more professional approach? I recently saw a clip of one of his old team mates saying he was a sound person one to one but a complete plank (or words to that effect) when in a crowd. From the content of this book I can see that. Overall he is obviously a quick-witted person who likes to socialise but seems like he was quite immature in his outlook when he was playing. An entertaining read by someone who did achieve a lot in his day.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Austin Healey was a Rugby Union player known more for his forthright views expressed in newspaper columns and on the pitch as a player than for actually playing. He was as it happens a brilliant rugby back who was extremely versatile and represented Leicester, with whom he won the Premiership and the Heineken Cup and England for whom he won 51 caps. All in all a distinguished career. He has continued as a commentator and tv presenter where he continues to dish out banter and abuse in equal measure. Love him or hate him you’ll love this book.

[chris harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good easy read

Easy to read. Keeps you wanting to turn the page, brings back memories from watching him play, feel like your alongside him

[Richard Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Austin Healy. The quintessential mouthy scrumhalf

A Great insight into the career of Austin Healy. His frequent run ins with his coaches and his fights with injury

[Garry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quality no other words

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes me think I can do it too

[Josh Flood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Austin gives a candid and frank account of his playing career. The stories of his injuries and how his life could be different is very heartfelt

[Gareth Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read, managed to read the whole book in an 8 hour shift at work on a Sunday!

His tale of the 1997 Lions squad announcement with Will Greenwood had me laughing out loud!