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Taking The Mickey
by Mickey Arthur Neil ManthorpMickey Arthur was one of SA's longest-serving and most successful coaches. In 2008, along with the national team, he created history when the Proteas beat both England and Australia on their own turf. Beating Pakistan away from home the year before, set in motion an unprecedented journey to the number one ranking in both ODI and Test cricket. Since the world ranking system was introduced to international cricket, Australia has been the only other team to achieve this feat. In 12 tours 'down under' spanning almost a century, South Africa has never managed to win a Test series in Australia. But Arthur, captain Graeme Smith and the rest of the team overcame incredible odds to chase a toal over 400 in the first Test in Perth. They faced what seemed certain defeat in Melbourne to win again and take an unbeatable 2-0 series lead. South Africa became the top ranked team in Test cricket, finally unseating the mighty Australians who dominated for years. Soon after, they repeated this feat when they became the top ranked ODI team. But behind the scenes, things weren't always progressing smoothly. Whereas Arthur would do anything for the team, his umcompromising approach to administrators and refusal to be dictated to by men he believed were 'out of touch', was beginning to count against him. Not surprisingly, the Proteas failed to live up to the heights of 2008. They suffered the ignominy of a first rount exit from the Champions Trophy at the beginning of the 2009 season. Soon after, they had to win the final Test of a four-match series against England to salvage a draw. But there was nothing ominous about the players' collective form and spirits were high as the squad prepared for a tour to India. The tour was to all intents and purposes a Test match 'world championship' between the two nations ranked first and second in the world. A week before the team's departure, Arthur 'resigned'. He was given no choice. A press conference was hastily called in his home town of East London and Smith flew from Cape Town to appear alongside him and quash rumours of deterioration in their personal relationship. Arthur never elaborated on the reasons for his untimely dismissal. Until now...
Touch, Pause, Engage!: Exploring The Heart Of South African Rugby
by Liz McgregorSouth Africa is a land of contrasts, as the tourist brochures promise, and this is true for the game of rugby. From the Pretoria heartland to the aspirant Eastern Cape, from the hardscrabble Cape Flats to the islands of privilege at Bishops and Grey College. No other rugby-playing nation has to grapple with so much diversity. Different languages, classes, races and cultures - each bearing the wounds of the country's fractured past - have to be melded into winning teams. Liz McGregor has spent the past three years shadowing Currie Cup, Super 14 and Springbok teams across the country, and has come to the conclusion that it is this very diversity, combined with the pain of the past and the dreams of a great united future, that provide the elusive alchemy that separates a good team from a great one. Touch, Pause, Engage! is more than a book about rugby. It is an intimate look at how South Africa's erstwhile elite is adapting to its new circumstances. Team South Africa has been through many a maul and bruising scrum, but is inching closer and closer to the tryline. Liz McGregor is a veteran author and journalist who started off her career on leading South African newspapers and subsequently moved to Britain where she worked for the Guardian for several years. Her first book, Khabzela: The Life and Times of a South African, laid bare the complex reasoning behind a DJ's refusal to take medication to stave off AIDS. She has co-edited and contributed to two collections of essays: At Risk and Load-shedding.
The Springbok Handbook
by Eddie Grieb Stuart FarmerThis fact-filled handbook will: • Give you information on all past Rugby World Cup encounters • Amaze your mates with Springbok statistics past and present • Provide you with hours of entertaining reading • Help the Bokke win the next World Cup! Okay, the last point might be an exaggeration. But The Springbok Handbook does contain everything there is to know about our team, from the very first match played in 1891 to the present. It's all here, everything you wanted to know about the 'Bokke' - including a special section on the World Cup.
Bouch: Through my eyes
by Mark Boucher Neil ManthorpWhen Mark Boucher played one of his first games of cricket for South Africa, a senior player took him aside and bluntly told him he was the worst wicketkeeper ever to play in the national side. Over a decade later, when Bouch finally retired with a plethora of records under his belt and to huge acclaim from the public, he took grim satisfaction in relating this piece of history. Through my Eyes is the story of a man with remarkable sporting prowess. Born into a sports-mad family in East London, he excelled in squash, tennis and rugby before choosing cricket as his preferred sport. His extraordinary achievements on the field are well known - he was voted SA player of the year in 1998, 2000 and 2006. What is not so well known, and makes up much of this book, are the behind-the-scenes stories and anecdotes. Stories of staring down the barrel of defeat and of celebrating victory; of developing strong bonds with teammates Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and others that go way beyond mere friendship. What emerges is the image of a man who always fought for the underdog, whose never-say-die attitude inspires those around him. Bouch's career was brought to a dramatic end on a cricket pitch in England when the bail of a stump punctured his left eye. But, in his own words, 'I lost sight but gained vision.' True to his character of gritty determination, Bouch has rededicated his life to a new cause, that of the environment and particularly the critically endangered rhino.
Froome: The Ride of his life
by Michael VlismasFrom the day he joined a ramshackle Kenyan cycling club made up of orphans and street children, Chris Froome was destined for greatness. Froome: the Ride of his Life chronicles Froome's journey from the dusty mountain tracks outside Nairobi to the historic roads of the world's most famous bicycle race and his victory in the 2013 Tour de France. It's a journey that begins by learning to fix punctures in a Kenyan village under the mentorship of his long-time friend David Kinjah. It's the story of a boy who once sold avocados on the side of the road and lived with his mother in the servants' quarters at the back of a lavish homestead in Nairobi, but who had a free spirit and a drive to follow his dream. From his challenges and triumphs on the road to the tragedy of his mother's death, Froome emerges as a man apart but loyal and compassionate to those nearest to him as he sought to capture road cycling's ultimate prize - the Tour de France. From Africa to the Alps, this is the story of Africa's greatest cycling moment. This is the ride of Chris Froome's life.
South Africa's 50 Most Famous Rugby Photos
by Gallo ImagesIn South Africa's 50 Most Famous Rugby Photos you will see over 50 photos of South Africa's most famous rugby stars covering over 50 years of memorable rugby moments. SPORT STARS FEATURED INCLUDE: Francious Pienaar, Bryan Habana, John Smit, Jean De Villiers, Morne Styen, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Tendai Mtawaira, Percy Montgomery, Joost van der Westhuizen, Bakkies Botha and Joel Stransky and many more. This book is a collector' dream and will bring back many happy (and a few not so happy) memories of great South African rugby moments.
Heyneke Meyer: How to Cultivate Excellence
by Marco BothaBrilliant advice and insights from Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer. This ebook is drawn from Marco Botha's recently published book Coach. At 34, Heyneke Meyer was fired as head coach of a Super Rugby team for the second time. But when on 19 May 2007 his Bulls side became the first South African team to capture the Super title, the dark years at Loftus Versfeld were suddenly forgotten. And Meyer was regarded as the coach among coaches. Because it is there - on the playing field - that coaches and players are judged. And yet the scoreboard never tells the full story of how people achieved success 'overnight'. In Meyer's case it was an arduous journey of more than seven years during which he defined and changed professional rugby. This is leadership. And leadership is what Heyneke Meyer is about - someone who has fundamentally changed a sport, an industry, a way of thinking, and, ultimately, lives. Marco Botha, specialist reporter at Die Burger in Cape Town, sat in conversation with Heyneke Meyer and interpreted his success story in his engrossing narrative writing style.
The Springbok Captains: The Men who shaped South African Rugby
by Edward GriffithsFor more than a century, the Springbok captain has represented the pinnacle of rugby achievement in South Africa. In this revealing narrative, Edward Griffiths and Stephen Nell tell the stories of the elite group of men who have been able to call themselves ‘Springbok captain’, exploring their backgrounds, their triumphs and their disappointments. The Springbok Captains offers an epic historical perspective on this remarkable country, viewed through the prism of rugby. Compelling and emotional, the book brings the story of the Springbok captains right up to date. Relive the heyday of legends such as Bennie Osler, Danie Craven, Hennie Muller, Johan Claassen, Naas Botha, François Pienaar, Gary Teichmann, Joost van der Westhuizen, Andre Vos and others. This revised and updated third edition includes up-to-date accounts of the careers of Bob Skinstad, John Smit, Victor Matfield and Jean de Villiers, as well as the story of the Springboks’ 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign.
The Big Fix: How South Africa Stole the 2010 World Cup
by Ray HartleyBetween June and July 2010, 64 games of football determined that Spain was the world’s best team at the World Cup in South Africa. South Africans – and the world – celebrated a brilliantly hosted tournament where everything worked like clockwork and the stands were packed with vuvuzela-wielding fans. But the truth was not yet known. Behind this significant national achievement lay years of corporate skulduggery, crooked companies rigging tenders and match fixing involving the national team. As late as 2015 it was revealed that the tournament’s very foundations were corrupt when evidence emerged that South Africa had encouraged FIFA to pay money to a bent official in the Caribbean to buy three votes in its favour. As Sepp Blatter’s FIFA edifice crumbled, a web of transactions from New York to Trinidad and Tobago showed how money was diverted to allow South Africa’s bid to host the tournament to succeed. In The Big Fix: How South Africa Stole the 2010 World Cup, Ray Hartley reveals the story of an epic national achievement and the people who undermined it in pursuit of their own interests. It is the real story of the 2010 World Cup.
Wayde van Niekerk: Road to Glory (Road to Glory #0)
by Carlos AmatoWayde was quick off the mark from the day he was born: two months premature and weighing no more than a litre of milk, his life was in danger. But little Wayde survived and grew to become the world’s leading sprinter.Wayde van Niekerk tells the extraordinary tale of a boy who defied the odds, time and again. He was small and skinny, but he tackled big rivals on the rugby field. And just when he was about to become a world sprinting star, Wayde suffered a series of terrible hamstring injuries. At one point, he was so depressed he almost gave up athletics for good. But his faith, courage and dedication – along with his magnificent talent – kept him going.We learn that Wayde was deeply motivated by his mother Odessa’s brilliance as a sprinter before his birth – back in the apartheid era when black athletes were unable to shine on the biggest stage. Wayde’s sense of honour also shines through in the story: how he stands up for the weak against bullies, and gives generously to those less fortunate than himself.In the climax of the book, Wayde flies his family to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where his greatest moment awaits him.
AB de Villiers: Road to Glory (Road to Glory #0)
by Jeremy Daniel‘AB hopped over the boundary rope and onto the field, grinning at the sight and sound of a packed Wanderers Stadium. He swung his bat from side to side and listened to the crowd roaring his name.’So begins the wonderfully entertaining story of the rise to fame of one of South Africa’s favourite sporting stars. Written specifically for youngsters aged 10 –14, it takes the reader close to all the action, and the ups and downs.AB was already building a name as a great schoolboy tennis and rugby player, but when he decided to focus on cricket the word spread quickly about a talent that could not be contained. With two brothers a lot older than him, AB learned early how to play hard and never give up. In this inspiring story we watch as AB progresses through high school, then ’varsity, and learns how to play against the best. In his first Test series, AB struggles and wonders if he’s good enough to make it at this level. However, the outcome is an inspiration to sports fans and readers who love a good story.
Siya Kolisi: Road to Glory (Road to Glory #0)
by Jeremy DanielThis is a moving story of the rise to fame from humble beginnings of one of South Africa’s most popular rugby stars, written specifically for young readers.Early on in his life, Siya discovered that rugby could be his route out of the grinding poverty in which he had grown up in the Eastern Cape. He worked hard, made sure he was noticed and managed to secure a scholarship to the prestigious Grey High School. But he had to adapt quickly to a world he had never encountered, while keeping his roots in the community that he knew and loved.His hard work and natural ability saw him moving to Cape Town to join the Stormers, trying to break into the Springbok team, and learning to adjust to life at the top of the game that is a national obsession.Siya Kolisi is part of the ‘Road to Glory’ series, which covers some of South Africa’s sporting legends as they set out on their journeys to becoming national and international stars.
Hashim Amla: Road to Glory
by Jeremy DanielHashim Amla began his career in Tongaat, Durban, where he and his brother played cricket in the street in front of their neighbourhood mosque. Hashim was noticed by scouts and won a place at the prestigious DHS school, where he made a name for himself as a schoolboy cricketing prodigy. Through many highs and lows, he developed into an international sporting star – one who stayed true to his background while changing the nature of South African cricket for the better.
Caster Semenya: Road to Glory (Road to Glory)
by Jeremy DanielIn the fifth book of the Road to Glory series, Jeremy Daniel shows us how Caster Semenya developed into a world-class athlete. Growing up in poverty in Limpopo, Caster’s early experiences at school are marked by many ups and downs: while her friends and family accept her for who she is, she is constantly bullied for her appearance. But she discovers soccer and immerses herself in the game – even making the boys’ team. It is only after she enrols at the University of Pretoria that her life changes completely. Away from village life, she impresses on the track and is noticed as a talent, eventually meeting Coach Daniels in whom she finds a trainer and mentor. Battling controversy over her gender on the track and in the media, she nevertheless goes on to win gold at the 2016 Olympics, becoming an ambassador for South Africa.
Chad le Clos: Road to Glory (Road to Glory)
by Jeremy Daniel‘Chad took a deep breath. He pulled on his goggles, pushed them up onto his forehead and slipped on his swimming cap. It was time for the men’s 200 meter butterfly final at the London Olympics of 2012. This was the moment he had been dreaming about for over a decade.’This is the story of Chad le Clos, Olympic gold medallist and record breaker, the swimmer with the never-say-die attitude.It all started on a beach in Durban: every Sunday, Bert and Geraldine le Clos would take their family to the seaside to spend a lazy afternoon at the beach. They soon realised that there was something special about their son: Chad, only eight years old, was a natural in the water. They couldn’t take their eyes off him as he kicked his little legs and fought off the giant waves that came crashing down.Soon enough, Chad joined the swimming team and started breaking all the records in his age group. With his dedicated coach and supportive father, Chad spent hours honing his skills in the local swimming pool, which eventually led him to compete in the 2012 Olympics, where he broke a world record and beat his long-time rival, Michael Phelps. Unbelievable!Despite his strict training program and learning how to live a healthy, balanced life, there was still one more important lesson Chad needed to learn: how to trust his feelings, follow his heart, and stay true to himself. With the support of his family, coach, friends and fans all over the world, he knew he had what it takes to make it all the way to the top.
Percy Tau: Road to Glory (Road to Glory)
by Jeremy DanielPercy Tau grew up with seven siblings and a single mom in the mining town of Witbank. For Percy and his family, life is tough as their mother struggles to make ends meet. But there is one thing that brings the Tau boys together: soccer. At the Mmagobana Primary School, they quickly make a name for themselves on the soccer team.Despite the boys’ enthusiasm for the game, Percy’s mom is against him playing soccer. She wants him to get a ‘real job’ – after all, she doesn’t want to see her son struggle in life. But Percy persists, and is invited to join the Sundowns Youth Academy. Here he meets Pitso Mosimane, the Sundowns coach who will teach him all about what it takes to become a professional footballer.In March 2017 Percy’s life changes forever: he is called up to play for Bafana Bafana and is named as the leading goal-scorer of the season. But just when all is going so well … heartbreak: Percy’s brother is killed in a car crash. Old fears from his childhood come rushing back as his mother blames their misfortune on soccer. But, through it all, the family pull together in their support for one another.Then, one day, a call comes: Percy is offered a position to play for Brighton – one of the biggest deals ever offered a South African footballer. What will the future hold for one of the brightest stars in South African soccer?Join us on this action-packed adventure in the Road to Glory series.
Road to Glory: Cheslin Kolbe
by Jeremy DanielCheslin roared with happiness as the final whistle blew in Yokohama. They were champions! Later, as his captain lifted the 2019 Rugby World Cup trophy into the air, he felt prouder than he’d ever been before — of himself, his team and his country.Cheslin Kolbe tells the story of a kid from Kraaifontein, Cape Town, whose talent took him to international sports stardom, first to Toulouse, France, and eventually to the call-up that would change his life forever: to play for the Springbok 2019 World Cup squad. It’s the heartwarming story of a small player with a big heart whose signature sidestep helped the Springboks win the World Cup trophy for South Africa.Cheslin Kolbe is part of the “Road to Glory” series, which covers some of South Africa’s sporting legends as they set out on their journeys to becoming national and international stars.
Thrilling Sporting Moments: Road to Glory (Road to Glory #9)
by Jeremy DanielSport is all about thrilling moments. It takes just a few seconds of inspiration and talent to change the course of sporting history. A kick, a pass, a burst of speed and courage in the right place at the right time — that’s what separates winners from losers. Great athletes spend their whole careers preparing for when a career highlight might happen. Nobody can predict them. But, once in a while during a match, out on the track or in the pool, all the elements line up perfectly.In Thrilling Sporting Moments you’ll read about some of the most exciting moments in our sporting history.Featuring: Lungi Ngidi, Quinton de Kock, Akani Simbine, Faf de Klerk, Ernst van Dyk, Luvo Manyonga, Kevin Anderson, Cheslin Kolbe, Chad le Clos, Percy Tau, Louis Oosthuizen, Lucas Radebe, Josia Thugwane, Bongiwe Msomi, Caster Semenya, Janine van Wyk, Sunette Viljoen, Tatjana Schoenmaker.
Siya Kolisi: Against All Odds
by Jeremy DanielWhen Siya Kolisi leads the Springboks out onto the field at the Rugby World Cup in September 2019, it will be the crowning glory of an incredible journey that began on the impoverished streets of Zwide, a township outside Port Elizabeth. As the first black South African to captain a Springbok rugby team, Kolisi’s remarkable story is unique and deserves to be heard.His mother was a teenager when he was born. She left him in the care of his grandmother who brought him up until she died (in his arms) when Siya was twelve. He found love and acceptance playing junior rugby with the African Bombers club until his talent was spotted by the prestigious Grey High School who offered Siya a full scholarship that changed his life.He adapted well to the posh private school, but it was on the rugby field where he excelled. Siya was rewarded with a call-up the SA schools team and a contract to join the Western Province rugby union.Author Jeremy Daniel tracks Siya’s journey from running wild on the streets of Zwide, through some crucial games in high school, into the Western Province rugby set-up and his fight to become Springbok captain. He goes deep inside the systems that identify junior talent, the characters who shaped his journey and the moments where he showed who he really was. Siya never forgot where he came from, and ultimately adopted his mother’s other two children after she died when he was in high school.His life has not been without controversy, and his marriage to a fiery young white woman was a lightning rod for racial politics. But he is a shining beacon of hope for South Africa, he is massively popular and there is a huge appetite from the public to know about his life and to support him as Springbok captain.
Shane Bond - Looking Back
by Dylan CleaverShane Bond — Looking Back is the remarkable story of one of New Zealand's greatest fast bowlers; a bowler who in his heyday was so ruthlessly efficient at his art, that he was feared by cricketers the world over. In November, 2001, a 26-year-old Christchurch policeman took the field for New Zealand in a test match against Australia. He did so without the weight of expectation. Less than a decade later, Bond retired as one of New Zealand's finest cricketers. In this fascinating account of his career, Bond relives those early days as a raw international cricketer with a terrible dress sense to his emotional retirement in May, 2010. Bond showed courage in coming back from several career-threatening injuries, though it was not his body that robbed him of two years of his international career. After signing for the fledgling Indian Cricket League, Bond was effectively banned from playing for New Zealand in one of this country's most controversial sporting episodes. Bond takes you through the political quagmire that enveloped him during those dark days, through to his unlikely return in 2009. Bond's is a remarkable story which he tells with typical honesty and frankness.
Benji My Story: My Story - The Authorised Biography
by Glenn JacksonBenji Marshall is a once?in?a?generation footballer. To some, he is a once?in?a?lifetime footballer. There has never been anyone like him. Phil Gould has written that Marshall is a "mystery wrapped inside a riddle". Now, all the mysteries and riddles of Marshall, the brilliant Wests Tigers and Kiwis five?eighth, are solved. Where did that step come from? How on earth did he conjure up the flick pass that won the 2005 grand final? What on earth is he doing sometimes? Benji: My Story details how a skinny kid from a small town in New Zealand became arguably rugby league’s most exciting talent. From his single parent upbringing, and the lows of his sporting career and the off?field scrutiny which shadows him constantly; to the triumphs, the Tigers’ stunning premiership win and New Zealand’s World Cup and Four Nations victories. It introduces the uncles and wider family who helped raise him, as well as the man he would call his father, whose life — and death — changed him forever. This is Benji Marshall as you have never seen him before.
Harry - The Ride of My Life: The Noel Harris Story
by Wally O'HearnOne of the oldest jockeys still riding. Noel aka Handbreak Harry is the Keith Richards of the racing world. Talks of drugs, gambling and race fixing. His father is also a well known figure in the racing world. Bursting to prominence in the 1980s, Noel may 'smoke like a chimney, drink like a fish and eat like a sparrow' but he rides like a true champion. And he has outlasted many of his competitors, still leading them home in his late fifties after having notched up over 2000 wins. Along the way he has gained the loyalty of owners and trainers, the respect of fellow jockeys and the admiration of race-goers. He has also had a few beers, a bit of fun and lots of laughs, enjoying life and loving racing. Colourful - including green hair on occasions - and sometimes outlandish, Noel has stood out for his singular riding style, his optimism, commitment, sense of humour and straight-shooting sincerity. Racing is a game of wins and losses, highs and lows, and in this book, Noel takes us on the rollercoaster, from growing up in a racing family and apprenticeship days in a wild and scary Singapore, the rides and races of the NZ and Australian racing calendars, and the trials, tribulations and triumphs of staying at the top. Noel gives us the goods on the horses, owners, trainers, jockeys, races and officials, friends and family - the emotions, experiences, anecdotes and accolades of a long and successful career.
Piri - Straight Up: Cups, Downs & Keeping Calm
by Heather KiddPiri Weepu’s story is one of the most fascinating New Zealand rugby stories ever told. Born into a strong rugby league family — Piri’s brother Billy actually played for the Kiwis — Piri has risen to the very pinnacle of rugby union, while at the same time never losing his great love of the 13-man code. At 28, and in the year of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Weepu was finally given his opportunity . . . . and didn’t he take it well. For years he had been in the shadows of Jimmy Cowan (not to mention a number of other first-choicers) but on the world stage, Piri stepped up to the mark and won the hearts of a nation. He kicked the goals for the All Blacks, he kicked for position and, in the absence of the incomparable Dan Carter, he ran the backline. His man of the match performance for the All Blacks in the quarter-final against Argentina and then another superb display against arch-rivals Australia in the semi-final cemented his place in New Zealand rugby folklore. This is more than a rugby story, though. This is a story of a little battler who has struggled with serious injury and fitness for a number of years, who has struggled to express himself because of an innate shyness, but who finally won over a nation on the greatest sporting stage.
A Stadium of 4 Million
by Martin SneddenThe hero of 2011 was Martin Snedden. Not even a terrible earthquake prevented him from staging a magnificent World Cup. The hospitality and warmth of the New Zealand welcome at the World Cup is a memory I will always cherish.' - Paul Ackford, Sunday Telegraph, London. The story of New Zealand's greatest sporting event - and, ultimately - one of its greatest triumphs. Fascinating insights into some of the political machinations, this is not a sports book per say, although A STADIUM OF FOUR MILLION will still appeal to sports fans on many levels. Rather, this book is a compelling behind-the-scenes look at the managing of a large international event. As such it will appeal to business people and others in many fields, as a story of how a vision can be brought to stunning reality. On the night of 23 October 2011, anxious fans endured the heart-stopping last minutes of the Rugby World Cup final as the All Blacks ground out a win by the narrowest of margins to again lift the Webb Ellis Cup. Watching in the stands was Martin Snedden, who had been charged with organising and delivering the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. In A STADIUM OF FOUR MILLION, Snedden provides an erudite and brilliantly insightful analysis of the event, the largest to date in New Zealand, with a detailed background of its successful staging. He takes us on the journey from the drama and excitement of 'selling our story' bidding for the tournament, through the organisation process to getting everyone working together to deliver it, with all the successes and speed bumps on the way. National and provincial rugby unions, tourism, accommodation and transport providers, two successive governments and, ultimately, all New Zealanders rallied to the cause. The 'stadium of four million' delivered - and delivered something special.
Jonah - My Story: Revised Edition
by Jonah LomuHe was rugby’s first truly international celebrity and he remains one of the game’s greatest heroes. A decade after the publication of his blockbuster autobiography, Jonah Lomu opens up like never before about life after the All Blacks. In this deeply moving, sometimes explosive update to Jonah: My Story, the big man talks candidly of his life and his loves, of reconciliation and betrayal, and of the tragic illness that has been the one constant in his life since he first thundered on to the world’s sporting stage. It’s 10 years since he played his final match for the All Blacks, but still Jonah Lomu remains the most recognisable rugby face on the planet. In this much awaited update to his 2004 best-selling biography, Jonah talks about the highs and lows of that last decade with candour and honesty. Packed with astonishing revelations, including the split with his long-time manager, the breakdown of his marriage and the deeply moving reconciliation with his father, Jonah is also open about his on-going health problems. He details his brave battle with nephrotic syndrome, which eventually led to a kidney transplant and talks about his current health situation, which sees him again in complete renal failure and requiring a second transplant. Despite the cruel hand Jonah Lomu has been dealt, he remains cheery and optimistic, sharing the good times along with the bad — including his joy at becoming a father and how his two young sons have helped save him from the ‘dark times’.