The Hurt

by Dylan Hartley, Michael Calvin

'Rugby is great for the soul,' he writes, 'but terrible for the body.'

Rugby hurts. It demands mental resilience and resistance to pain. It explores character, beyond a capacity to endure punishment.

Dylan Hartley, one of England's most successful captains, tells a story of hard men and harsh truths. From the sixteen-year-old Kiwi who travelled alone to England, to the winner of ninety-seven international caps, he describes with brutal clarity the sport's increasing demand on players and the toll it takes on their mental health, as well as the untimely injury that shattered his dreams of leading England in the 2019 World Cup.

The Hurt is rugby in the raw, a unique insight into the price of sporting obsession.

'Few have had more twists and turns in a pro rugby career' Robert Kitson, Guardian

Genres: Autobiography

328 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Thomas Reimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read, fascinating story, and a surprisingly emotional insight into the world of rugby

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stinging take on the life of a top-level hard athlete. Bits of unpleasant thuggish behaviour rub along with amazing psychological insights. You can see why he was England captain. Definitely a cut above the normal sports biography.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good rugby autobiography about Dylan Hartley - I really liked how he came across in this book.

[Rutger Gerrits · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different kind of player, that's how I could describe Hartley the best. In the last two years I read books about some great players and inspirational captains (Paul 'O Connell, Sam Warburton, Kieran Read). I don't put Hartley in that list. Hartley was an old school kind of player, who was rough and was cited a lot, like a lot lot. But I really liked reading his book, his stories were different. Hartley is a different breed of rugger, and it shows. In his own words "Rugby is great for the soul but terrible for the body".

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest account of a life in rugby. Hartley seems like a genuine guy who put his body on the line for the sport. His work ethic and desire to be the best he could be comes across strongly in this well written book.

[Sebastian MacLeod-Bonnar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read and fantastic Christmas present!
It was interesting to hear the hardships and the pain that these rugby players go through. What may be an excellent sport, it does a huge amount of damage on the body. After reading his book, I still think he is a prat...or to put it gently, just an idiot. He has definitely made some stupid decisions in life and I would have respected him more if he owned up to his mistakes. For example, he created excuses for the incident with Wayne Barnes, instead of owing up to the fact he was a complete idiot.
I really enjoyed reading about life under Eddie Jones. Although I despise the English team whenever they play against Scotland or any other team, credit has to be given to Eddie for the sheer amount of work and effort he puts in to make an amazing squad. It makes Gregor Towsend look weak in comparison.
In addition, Dlyan Hartley may be an absolute part, but Eddie was right in making him captain. An excellent leader on and off the field!!

Highly recommend!!!

[Mr Michael R Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read by a vastly underrated player. Brutally honest about himself and the state of the game, this book, unlike other sports biographies, doesn’t revolve around personal or team achievements. Of course the get mentioned but only in passing as Hartley describes his single minded drive from club rugby at Eastbourne to the pinnacle with England.
Anyone thinking of making a living as a professional rugby player should read the injuries these players sustain.

If you can only fit in one sports biography this year let it be Dylan Hartley’s.

[James Giles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read about (/by) an interesting character. Part biography about his early years in the game, part leadership and sports psychology from his time as England captain, and the training and intensity required from elite sport, part cautionary tale about injury and concussion. Considered thoughts about the structure of the club game and RFU politics. Struggled a little with the non-chronological structure of the biographical elements and ordering of various tours and world cups, but keeps it engaging.

Overall would thoroughly recommend as a well written book on the game.

[Godowd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well put together book .. whilst no earth shattering revelations it does give a good record of his journey to the top of his profession. Always liked him as a player .. always played on the edge.

It is a good book for young players to get an insight of the challenges, fickleness and health consequences of a professional career.

[Mr A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good old Dylan. Great captain for England. Gutted his career finished like it did. Would have loved him to lift the WC. The book is very honest, talks a lot about the hard times. Would have loved a bit more on the good times, the wins, the parties. The funny stuff. But maybe there is book 2 to come? The Joy maybe haha

[david price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good insight into professional rugby at the highest level

Excellent read. Good insight into the dedication it takes to play rugby at the highest level. And the toll it takes on the body

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. Dylan spoke frankly and passionately about his life and career. The book was hilarious at times and poignant at others. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the sport.

[Shahiron Sahari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and honest account about the brutality and pain of life as a rugby player, but the language, the voice, doesn’t quite ring true to me. Maybe ghost writer Michael Calvin shouldn’t have written it as a first-person account but as biography.

[Magic Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Painful

[Charlotte Wastell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every page

[Phil Altimas · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very open and revealing book, Dylan is a marmite player, I love the guy and found this book amazing. his inside track is brilliant and his honesty refreshing

[Ian Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into the murky world of the front row in proffessional rugby. An honest account of life in the spotlight.

[Paul Lehane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling story..well written.

[Anssi Grekula · Rating 3 out of 5]

En tiedä, tekikö 1990-luvun päätös tehdä rugby unionista ammattilaisurheilua lajille lopulta enemmän hallaa kuin hyvää. Kun tulospaineet, sponsorirahat, yleisömäärät, ottelumäärät joutuvat noudattamaan jatkuvan kasvun lakeja, ihmiskehot eivät välttämättä siihen pysty. Toisaalta, mitä rugbysta jää jäljelle ilman fyysistä kontaktia? Jotenkin samoja fiiliksiä useasta muustakin urheilulajista. Huipulle päästäkseen pitää aloittaa yhä nuorempana, pelissä on yhä isommat rahat ja riskit. Toisaalta yleisönä haluamme nähdä yhä upeampia, atleettisempia suorituksia ja kokea yhä vahvempia tunne-elämyksiä. Säilyykö liikunnan ilo? Siirtyykö se liikkujalta katsojiin? Tuleeko urheilun riemusta penkkiurheilun riemua?