A Very Tall Story

by Martin Bayfield

A hilarious and, at times, moving and soul-searching account of rugby union’s rollercoaster days in the 1990s, told through the eyes of a player who saw it all as the sport lurched shambolically from the crazy final days of amateurism into the professional era.

Martin Bayfield has a story to tell. Indeed, some might describe it as a very tall story. Standing at 6ft 10ins, the former England and British and Irish Lions second row remains one of the tallest players ever to have played international rugby, and his immense physical stature made him one of the most destructive forwards in the world game. He played for England during one of the most successful eras in English rugby, winning two Grand Slams alongside legendary players such as Will Carling, Jeremy Guscott, Brian Moore and Rory Underwood . 

His international heyday came at a seminal moment for rugby union when, almost overnight, it was transformed from a noble minority sport to a celebrity event, with stories appearing on the front pages of the British tabloids. Now Bayfield is ready to reveal the inside story of that rip-roaring decade that changed forever the face of English rugby. The book provides an emotional link between the generations, so that today’s fans can reconnect with rugby's soul. Renowned as one of rugby's best and most entertaining storytellers, the former policeman and Hagrid's body double has written a brilliant and very funny love letter to a sport that continues to inspire and entertain millions.

Audiobook

Published September 15, 2022

Reviews

[Rutger Gerrits]

Yer' a rugger Harry. Playing both the body double of Hagrid and playing rugby? This man had some life.

[Tim Tat]

In Bier, Bloed & Modder nummer 7 stond een artikel over Martin Bayfield getiteld ‘Van Rugby naar Zwerfbal’. Het was heel in het kort het leven tot nu toe van de beroemdste rugbyer, ja bekender waarschijnlijk dan Jonah Lomu, maar niet als rugbyer. Nee, honderden miljoenen mensen kennen Bayfield waarschijnlijk alleen als ‘stuntdubbel’ van het karakter Hagrid in de Harry Potterfilms. Of zoals Bayfield het zelf zegt; “Robbie Coltrane’s Ass”. Maar voor rugbyfans zal hij nu vooral bekend zijn als presentator voor BT Sports.

Bayfield was bij kind al bijzonder, op twaalfjarige leeftijd was hij al langer dan alle leraren op school en als domineerde hij het rugbyveld alleen al door zijn lengte. Hij zou uitgroeien tot 6ft 10, oftewel 2 meter en 8 centimeter, U raadt het al hij ging in de 2e rij spelen. Zo’n vijfentwintig jaar geleden mochten springers nog niet getild worden in de line-out en was iemand met de lengte van Bayfield natuurlijk vitaal in je team. Zo kwam Bayfield via Bedford, Northampton Saints, Engeland en de British and Irish Lions tot een indrukwekkende carrière voor iemand die eigenlijk te mager was om op dat niveau te acteren. Met de komst van professionalisering moest hij meer trainen en spiermassa kweken maar eigenlijk betekende dat juist voor Bayfield het begin van het einde. Hij ging van blessure naar blessure en moest uiteindelijk op 27-jarige leeftijd stoppen nadat iemand tijdens een training op zijn nek belandde.

Veel rugbyfans zullen Bayfield ook kennen van zijn hilarische anekdotes op YouTube. ‘The difference between football and rugby’ en zijn geweldige verhaal over zijn grote held Wade Dooley zijn miljoenen keren bekeken en via zijn ‘after diner speeches’ rolde hij in het werk voor tv en film. Bayfield is een natuurlijk verteller en zonder vreselijk in details te treden weet hij gedurende het boek te amuseren met anekdotes over zijn tijd in rugby, televisie, film en als spreker. Wat ik vooral bijzonder op prijs stelde was zijn kijk op het rugby van na 1995, de proftijd en de toekomst. Alhoewel hij zelf al jaren met rugbypensioen is, heeft hij vanwege zijn werk als presentator wel een perfecte inkijk op de ontwikkeling van onze sport. Zijn bedenkingen over de alsmaar toenemende aantal wedstrijden, de hersenschuddingen, de rol van geld en de driegende neergang van de amateursport worden hopelijk door veel bobo’s gelezen en ter harte genomen.

Hij zal er vast voor gekozen hebben, maar over zijn privéleven is hij vrij summier, op een vreselijke gebeurtenis waarbij zijn dochter bijna verdrinkt na. ‘A very tall story’ kwam deze zomer uit en is misschien niet de hilarische opsomming van rare verhalen die sommigen verwachten, maar het weloverwogen en goed door Gavin Mairs opgeschreven verhaal van een intrigerende sporter die worstelde met zijn lichaam, hoogte- en dieptepunten als sporter, de leegte nadat hij moest stoppen en een nieuwe carrière vond waardoor hij zijn liefde voor de sport terugvond. Mooi verhaal, prima boek, geef gerust cadeau met de feestmaanden aan een rugby fan.

Natuurlijk bestel je dit boek bij je plaatselijke boekhandel, zo steunen we de lokale ondernemer.

[Chris Barrett]

Reposted from CB Book Reviews on Instagram:

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Martin Bayfield - The talk man who presents the Rugby on TNT Sports (BT Sport)

I recently read Gabby Logan’s autobiography (The First Half) and started my review by saying that before starting the book I couldn’t tell you much more Gabby than she’s a BBC Sports presenter, and therefore the book was purchased out of curiosity to learn a little more about her, her life and her career. Martin Bayfield and this book are a very similar story. Before reading this book all I knew of Martin was that he was a retired Rugby player, and that he presented Rugby coverage on TNT Sports. As I became interested in Rugby only a few years ago, I didn’t have any knowledge of the era in which Martin played and couldn’t have told you when he retired or which club team he played for.

I have enjoyed this book, it has been an easy read and informative; I feel like I have learned about Martin, the era he played Rugby in and a little about his career path following his retirement from the game. For example, I wasn’t aware that he was also a police officer in Bedfordshire during the amateur era, or that he retired fairly early due to a neck injury, or that he then tried to go into coaching at his club, Northampton Saints. I also wasn’t aware that he was Robbie Coltrane’s body double in the role of Hagrid throughout the entire Harry Potter film series.
One area that I feel Martin could have discussed better/in more detail is the role in which I know him best, as a TV Presenter. I think aspects of this could have been interesting, such as more detail regarding how he got into it, the practicalities of the role, stories from when the cameras aren’t rolling, and his relationships with the presenters and pundits he now works alongside.

🌟🌟🌟✨

[Peter Foster]

A good memoir and surprisingly frank about personal issues and his career. Great to hear the inside on so many games I was at or watched down the years. I enjoyed it and having met the man and booked him for hospitality in the past it was fascinating to hear his side of events as the game transitioned from amateur to professional and beyond to what's wrong today.

[Phil Altimas]

i simply devoured this book, martin is a legend
i once had a beer with him, saints were playing a Friday night game at Moseley baffs was injured and that Friday it was pi$$ing down . we shared a beer and he indulged the fan boy that was me, a real gent

this book tells of his life in rugby and beyond and is by far the best rugby book i have ever read

[Adam]

As a rugby fan, it's easy to enjoy this. Martin is well know as a former player, pundit, guest speaker and acotor. Martin has plenty of anicdotes to keep you smiling and he's not afraid to laugh at himself, which is why he's become so likeable.
Reading his perspective on the 1995 world Cup is a treat also.
This is well worth a read.

[Dan Moore]

Great book from start to finish. Some funny stories from the amateur era of rugby

[Trevor Vick]

Great listen for all rugger buggers. A guy whose career transcended the amateur and professional eras.

[Sophie Osborn]

Despite not being a round for some of the era of rugby he discusses, the recounts and anecdotes are entertaining and the description of the transition to the professional rugby is insightful

[Richard Luck]

Terrific stuff, especially if you're old enough to remember rugby union's last flush of amateurism.