Alun Wyn Jones: The Autobiography

by Alun Wyn Jones

Alun Wyn Jones is the most capped rugby player of all time. Seen by many as one of the greatest Welsh players of all time he has won three Grand Slams for Wales, and was named the best player of the 2019 Six Nations Championship.

Born in Swansea, AWJ made his test debut for Wales in June 2006 against Argentina, and came to prominence in the 2007 campaign before Wales won the Grand Slam in 2008. And he has not looked back. 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. He was subsequently selected for the 2013 Lions Tour of Australia, and the 2017 Lions Tour of New Zealand. On 31st October 2020, against Scotland, he became the most capped rugby player of all time with 149 caps.

Brilliant, honest and combative Rugby is My Life , written with Tom Fordyce, is the story of one of the most compelling and singular figures in rugby. Told with unflinching honesty, this is the ultimate book for all fans of the sport.

Genres: Sports

320 pages, Hardcover

Published December 15, 2021

Reviews

[Mark Salmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look into the behind the scenes of elite players and what drives them . Enjoyed it

[Jeff Howells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lion. Legend. Arguably one of the greatest players ever to have pulled on a Welsh jersey. Alun Wyn Jones is all of those things, yet remains something of an enigma. Part shyness, part aloofness, part steely determination. This (ghost written) book goes some of the way to peeking behind the curtain to look at the man behind the myth. In that respect it’s only a qualified success. AWJ plays his cards to his chest - sure he can be honest, brutally so at times (he can be selfish for example) but you never get the impression that you’ve been given a full account. He remains almost silent on his teammates and opponents only one or two are ever spoken about (Shane Williams & Leigh Halfpenny) and there are some odd omissions (Sam Warburton isn’t mentioned at all).
Ultimately it’s a workmanlike effort and the pen of the ghost writer is clear to see, which is a shame.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I marvel at the dedication and sacrifice that is needed to be a great sportsman and for a rugby player at the heart of the scrum the physicality, for me an armchair fan is awe inspiring particularly with the pressure of leading your country in a nation where the sport is a religion .
Alun Wyn Jones is a towering figure in the Welsh and british lions team but in this book he reveals much about his own insecurity as an individual. He is very honest about his love, but complicated relationship with a father who was a larger than life character, but also how he has sacrificed much of his own personal life to rugby.
A complicated man but as he says at the end the book allows the reader to learn more about the man behind the legendary feats on the pitch.

[Phil Altimas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book, you can feel the passion, the love and the determination in every sentence, in every word

I didn’t know much about AWJ before reading this book, but now I feel I know him so much better.
He lays his heart open in the book and that's refreshing
Well written, it’s probably the best rugby book I have ever read

[Gareth Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good sports biography where you can really sense how much playing rugby for Wales and the Lions means. The bits about his father’s death was particularly poignant and showed that rugby really isn’t that important after all.

[CA · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. He is often presented in the media as being stand offish and not the shy and focused player that he sees himself to be. A great read for any British rugby fan

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you possibly rate a book by your hero? Impossible. It was good to read in the man’s own words of his path to the pinnacle of the sport he so obviously loves. He is my Prince of Wales. Thank you Alun Wyn

[Mr A · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasnt hugely gripping but readable enough. Sure that the ghost writer did much of the heavy lifting. Very strait laced. Wish these had to dish a little more dirt than they do. Still great player and commitment unquestioned.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/5. So many tears. So many giggles. So. Much. Pride. Will be a very very sad day when this man retires. What a life. What a career <3

[Jbondandrews · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very singular topic, rugby, seemed to be nothing else in Alun Wyn Jones' life. No family, wife or children and no law school.

[Gerald Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok.