Jason Leonard: The Autobiography

by Alison Kervin (Contributor), JasonLeonard (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2009

  $3.76

  Leonard's story starts as rugby started - in the amateur days, when the Cockney Carpenter began playing for Barking and Saracens in the days before multi-million pound business owners and sponsorship deals. His big break came when he was invited to join the England squad for their tour to Argentina in 1990 and has been capped 100 times.

  It was a tour that precipitated one of the greatest periods in the history of the British game, and Leonard provides a compelling insight into life behind the international scenes with England and the Lions, as well as the domestic game through his time at Saracens and Harlequins.

  Once told that he would never walk again after undergoing life-saving surgery on his neck, Leonard describes the torment he went through during this period - both physical and financial - and how he fought against all the odds to re-establish himself on the international stage. With 100 Test caps won to date, and a career in rugby union spanning two decades, there is no more experienced player in the modern game.

  Leonard has plenty to tell about the people he has met during his career - Rob Andrew, Will Carling, Lawrence Dallaglio, Brian Moore, Dick Best and Clive Woodward all feature - and with nicknames like 'The Fun Bus' and 'The Scourge of the Barking Barmaids' the stories are as colourful and controversial as the man himself.

  All is revealed in this fascinating portrait of an English rugby legend who also reflects upon England's 2002 Six Nations campaign, his hopes for his international future and a tough year for Quins.

• Used

  Paperback
  2002

  $3.25

  Leonard's story starts as rugby started - in the amateur days, when the Cockney Carpenter began playing for Barking and Saracens in the days before multi-million pound business owners and sponsorship deals. His big break came when he was invited to join the England squad for their tour to Argentina in 1990. It was a tour that precipitated one of the greatest periods in the history of the British game, and Leonard provides an insight into life behind the scenes with England and his new club Harlequins as the personal records continued to tumble. Rob Andrew, Will Carling, Lawrence Dallaglio, Brian Moore, Dick Best and Clive Woodward are just some of the high-profile characters of whom Leonard has plenty of stories to tell. He also recalls some of the greats such as David Campese and Jonah Lomu, whom he has played with or against on Lions tours, for the Barbarians and in three World Cups. Once told that he would never walk again after undergoing life-saving surgery on his neck, Leonard describes the torment he went through during this period, and how he fought against all the odds to re-establish himself on the international stage. With more than 90 Test caps to his name to date and a career in rugby union spanning two decades, there is no more experienced player in the modern game. With nicknames like The Fun Bus and The Scourge of the Barking Barmaids , Leonard has lived a colourful and at times controversial life.

• Used

  Hardcover
  2001

  $3.25

  The rag-to-riches tale of rugby union's most capped forward of all time - how a brilliant young player overcame a life-threatening injury to make it to the very top of the international game. Jason Leonard's story starts as rugby started - in the amateur days, when the Cockney Carpenter began playing for Barking and Saracens in the days before multi-million pound business owners and sponsorship deals. His big break came when he was invited to join the England squad for their tour to Argentina in 1990. It was a tour that precipitated one of the greatest periods in the history of the British game, and Leonard provides a compelling insight into life behind the scenes with England and his new club Harlequins as the personal records continued to tumble. Rob Andrew, Will Carling, Lawrence Dallaglio, Brian Moore, Dick Best and Clive Woodward are just some of the high-profile characters of whom Leonard has plenty of stories to tell. He also recalls some of the greats such as David Campese and Jonah Lomu, whom he has played with or against on Lions tours, for the Barbarians and in three World Cups. Once told that he would never walk again after undergoing life-saving surgery on neck, Leonard describes the torment he went through during this period, and how he fought against all the odds to re-establish himself on the international stage. With more than 80 Test caps to his name to date and a career in rugby union spanning two decades, there is no more experienced player in the modern game. With nicknames like The Fun Bus and The Scourge of the Barking Barmaids , Leonard has lived a colourful and at times controversial life. All is revealed in this portrait of an English rugby legend.