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Pulling the Strings: My Autobiography
his is the long-awaited autobiography of Ireland's most beloved rugby player: Peter Stringer. When Peter Stringer played youth rugby, he was so small that people told his parents he shouldn't be allowed on the pitch. Fortunately for Munster and for Ireland, they paid no attention. Over 200 provincial caps and 98 international caps later, Stringer is a legend. Since making his Munster debut in 1998, his lightning-quick passing, sniping breaks and brave defending have electrified fans - never more so than when he deceived the entire Biarritz team at a scrum to sneak in for the try that brought Munster its first Heineken Cup in 2006. In Ireland's breakthrough season of 2009, his man-of-the-match performance at Murrayfield helped overturn a late deficit en route to the Six Nations Grand Slam. Now, for the first time, Peter Stringer tells his own story - a story of overcoming the odds, and a story every Irish rugby fan will want to read.
- GenresBiography
277 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 15, 2015
Peter Stringer – Pulling the Strings
I don’t read many autobiographies, but this one sounded promising. After slogging half way through the recent Brian O’Driscoll book and giving it up as a lost cause, I was hoping that this would be something different, and thankfully, it was.
I’m a huge fan of rugby, and I’ve always liked and respected Peter Stringer as a player. Someone once described him as the perfect scrum-half, “He’s exactly what it says on the tin.” I thought this comment very apt.
Many other scrum halves try to be an extra centre, and coaches are looking at bigger, scrum half’s to impose more physicality of the game. Me, I prefer a clever, sniping scrum half; a bundle of energy with good hands, quick feet and a sharp mind. Peter Stringer fits that bill. Watching his play for Bath last season, I’m glad to say that he still does.
But you want to know about the book, right?
The first impression you get from the book is Peter’s love of the game. The second is his work ethic and professional approach to everything he does, even at an early age.
The story is a fascinating read, but it’s more than that. It’s an insight into the personality behind the persona of Peter Stringer.
For instance, there is very little blowing of his own trumpet in this book. Far from it, in fact. He does, however, give enormous credit to those around him, his family, team mates, and the back room staff he respected. He gives credit where it is due, but isn’t afraid to criticise either. This book packs a few punches too.
As Peter’s life progressed into the era of professional rugby, he is quite frank about his frustrations at being left on the bench, his self-doubts, and the struggles he had to overcome to fight for his place on the starting fifteen, or even the squad.
It tells us about the hard decisions he was forced to make in order to keep on doing what he always loved; playing rugby. He speaks candidly about leaving Munster, a team he was fiercely loyal to, and making a new life for himself in the English Premiership.
The story ends with two positive notes; his time in Bath, and his wife.
Personally, I loved the book from start to finish, and wish Peter success in his new contract in Sale, his career as a player, and hopefully, at some later stage, that of a coach.
I’m sure that his professional attitude and passion for the game will be in high demand in the near future, so that he can inspire a new generation of scrum halves to wear the red of Munster, or the Green of Ireland.
I don’t read many autobiographies, but this one sounded promising. After slogging half way through the recent Brian O’Driscoll book and giving it up as a lost cause, I was hoping that this would be something different, and thankfully, it was.
I’m a huge fan of rugby, and I’ve always liked and respected Peter Stringer as a player. Someone once described him as the perfect scrum-half, “He’s exactly what it says on the tin.” I thought this comment very apt.
Many other scrum halves try to be an extra centre, and coaches are looking at bigger, scrum half’s to impose more physicality of the game. Me, I prefer a clever, sniping scrum half; a bundle of energy with good hands, quick feet and a sharp mind. Peter Stringer fits that bill. Watching his play for Bath last season, I’m glad to say that he still does.
But you want to know about the book, right?
The first impression you get from the book is Peter’s love of the game. The second is his work ethic and professional approach to everything he does, even at an early age.
The story is a fascinating read, but it’s more than that. It’s an insight into the personality behind the persona of Peter Stringer.
For instance, there is very little blowing of his own trumpet in this book. Far from it, in fact. He does, however, give enormous credit to those around him, his family, team mates, and the back room staff he respected. He gives credit where it is due, but isn’t afraid to criticise either. This book packs a few punches too.
As Peter’s life progressed into the era of professional rugby, he is quite frank about his frustrations at being left on the bench, his self-doubts, and the struggles he had to overcome to fight for his place on the starting fifteen, or even the squad.
It tells us about the hard decisions he was forced to make in order to keep on doing what he always loved; playing rugby. He speaks candidly about leaving Munster, a team he was fiercely loyal to, and making a new life for himself in the English Premiership.
The story ends with two positive notes; his time in Bath, and his wife.
Personally, I loved the book from start to finish, and wish Peter success in his new contract in Sale, his career as a player, and hopefully, at some later stage, that of a coach.
I’m sure that his professional attitude and passion for the game will be in high demand in the near future, so that he can inspire a new generation of scrum halves to wear the red of Munster, or the Green of Ireland.
October 22, 2015
I'm a huge rugby fan but not usually a fan of autobiographies. But this one had something quite different to offer. A very honest, exciting read. A very good autobiography with a compelling insight into his personal & professional life.
October 14, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. When I got it as a present, since I came to Cork, the person who gave it to me had not realised that Peter played for Munster, and of course I am a Leinster fan! Nevertheless, Stringer's honesty and candour and sense of humour really endeared him to me. He is from near where I live now and many things he talked about were familiar to me. He talked about many Ireland matches which I had been at and it was fascinating to hear about them from his perspective.
It left me feeling sad that he never got proper farewells in either Munster or Ireland. Air play to you Peter, your contributed so much to Irish rugby.
It left me feeling sad that he never got proper farewells in either Munster or Ireland. Air play to you Peter, your contributed so much to Irish rugby.
March 19, 2018
I'm a big fan of rugby autobiographies. This is among the better ones mainly because he talks frankly about being dropped first by Ireland and then Munster. Having held the Ireland number 9 shirt for about 11 years and getting to 98 caps, he gives a great insight into how players have to deal with the uncertainties of professional sport, the manner of how he was dropped by both and his regrets. But what comes through strongly is his ability to bounce back and believe in himself. The book ends with him moving to Sale Sharks.
November 28, 2021
Mildly interesting in places found it a chore to get to the end
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews