But is it also about perthyn – playing for Wales, working his way through the age grades and club rugby and his regional side. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products.

James Haskell, former England rugby player'Alun's consistency over such a long time has been amazing, an incredible career. In March 2009 against Italy he captained the Welsh side for the first time before being selected on the 2009 Lions Tour of South Africa. Told with characteristic honesty, this is his unique personal story of what it takes and what it means to play for your country: what it means to belong. Belonging is the story about how the boy from Mumbles became the most capped rugby union player of all time. natuurlijk moet ik zijn magisch herstel na een schouder blessure tijdens de Lions tour even benoemen, in een kort aantal weken herstellen van een schouder uit de kom en op het top level het veld weer opduiken?

From playing on the rain-swept pitches of Swansea to making his test debut against Argentina in Patagonia in 2006; from touring with the Lions in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021 to dealing with loss and creating a family – Belonging is the autobiography of one of the most compelling figures in world rugby. Told with unflinching honesty, this is the ultimate story of what it takes and what it means to play for your country: what it means to belong . There was one occasion when he didn’t want to train but he can be forgiven that – it transpired that he had septicaemia and was rushed into intensive care. It would also be an asset in schools and sports clubs as a practical text promoting motivation, determination and humility.

The authors engage the reader with an insightful, honest and emotionally challenging text that addresses the personal drive, support of family, players and coaches as well as dilemmas of a personal nature.He doesn’t intend to coach because he doesn’t want to be an absent dad, as his own late father was when busy working all hours in his office. What it takes to go from sitting cross-legged on the hall floor at school watching the 1997 Lions tour of South Africa, to being named the 2021 Lions captain. Olivier Magne, former French rugby captain Alun Wyn Jones is the most capped rugby player of all time. He is one of only a small group of Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams, including Gerald Davies, Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams, Ryan Jones, Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins and two Six Nations championships. Brilliant, Alun Wyn Jones is always such an enigma, so it was was really interesting to get insight in to his life and how he views rugby.

At Ospreys he would bug Lyn Jones on Monday mornings for a one-to-one review of his performance at the weekend. Or who struggles to believe that Francois Pienaar would recognise him at a dinner, let alone wander across to his table to say hello.

This personal dedication to developing character by working hard and achieving personal satisfaction was evident at a young age.