Jonathan: An Autobiography

by Jonathan Davis (Author), Jonathan Davies (Author), Peter Corrigan (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  1990

  $3.25

  In early 1989, the rugby international Jonathan Davies caused a sensation when he decided to renounce Rugby Union to become a Rugby League professional with Widnes for a world-record fee of 200,000 pounds. In this autobiography, he talks freely about the reasons for his move and his career. Constantly written off as being too small and delicate for rugby, Davies was nineteen before Neath gave him a chance. Following a serious knee injury he became Captain of Wales and was rated the world's best outside-half, then came the shock announcement that he was turning professional. Giving his first full account of his motives for the changes, Davies attacks the attitudes in Rugby Union - the back handers and the callous disregard for players.

• Used

  Hardcover
  1989

  $3.25

  Jonathan Davies did not have an easy start in Rugby, he was constantly written off as too small and too delicate for rugby and he was 19 before Neath gave him his chance. He was an immediate success but suffered a knee injury that knocked him out of the game for 2 years. At 21 he began a comeback that took him to Welsh team and to glory. He became Captain of Wales and was rated the world's best outside-half but then he caused a sensation by deciding to renounce Rugby Union and become a Rugby League professional with Widnes for a world-record fee of close on #200,000. He said his main motive was to secure his family's future financially but there were other reasons and, in this autobiography, since he is now free to air his views, Jonathan Davies attacks the attitudes in Rugby Union; the rewards for the silver spoon brigade but disdain for the needs of the working class players, the holy image presented by administrators while blind eyes are turned to illegal back-handers and the callous disregard for players feelings. Jonathan is the story of a boy from a small mining village in West Wales who has won his fame in the hard way and has now elected to earn a living in an even harder way.